Good Luck Ducks, Week 1: Bulldoggin'

Ready or not, it's college football season. 

 

The Ducks are back, and they have a new head coach in tow. Normally, I'd be pretty peeved about this, but it's clear that college football in the '20s is vastly different than the sport we grew up with -- or even what it was like a decade ago. Players have the transfer portal now, which is effectively a free agent system for the sport. With the increased player movement, why shouldn't coaches look out for themselves and find the situations that suit them best? If it sounds like I enjoy this new reality, I really don't, but I'm just trying to accept the circumstances for the way that they are.

Oregon faces the defending champion Georgia Bulldogs today in enemy territory. To add intrigue to this already tall order, the Ducks new head coach is none other than Georgia's former defensive coordinator. While no one can expect Dan Lanning to stick around Eugene any longer than his recent predecessors, it'll be interesting to see what he can do with this collection of players he has on hand right now. Other prominent UO alums pushed for a coach with local ties, but Lanning it is for now. Let's hope he can improve on a team that was very difficult to watch in 2021.

Notes and other things:

• The Ducks don't even have a starting quarterback yet! Isn't that something? Lanning has refused to name a starter publicly, but everyone is expecting it to be Auburn transfer Bo Nix. Interestingly, it was Nix who started as a freshman against Oregon in the Ducks last playoff-caliber season opener.
• Oregon and Georgia have only met once, in 1977.
• I've switched up the formatting again a bit this season to make things a bit easier on me. Mostly, though, the idea is the same. I say a few things about today's game and post a (usually) completely unrelated Ducks card I've obtained somewhat recently. If you have any Ducks cards (college or pro uniform) you think I'd like, feel free to reach out!
• Georgia's quarterback is Stetson Bennett. Do you think he prefers cowboy hats?
• It's hard to really know what to expect from a game one in any given college season, even before the transfer portal era. Is there such a thing as a National Championship Hangover? Please let this be a thing.
• Game time is 12:30 PM PDT on ABC in Atlanta. Go Ducks!

Bonus Ducks card o' the week: