does this make your blood boil a little, too?

[Autzen Powers]

http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/200...11/08/mailbag/

I'm talking about the part where it says Oregon doesn't belong...etc. They failed to mention the Ducks latest win against then ranked #23 Cal. I know we're a long shot - but seriously, people, what does it take to prove that your team is for real?

Oregon fans - do you think if we pull it off (10-1) that we don't belong?

[talkwest.com]

It's going to be hard for Oregon to gain respect. Losing a starting qb doesn't help, either.

In reality, the whole country -- perhaps correctly -- sees the Pac-10 as simply USC. The Trojans have dominated every conference team (Oregon 45-13) so there is clearly nobody else that can compete at that level.

We'll see... but I imagine that Oregon will be embarassed in its premier bowl game come December (or are you still thinking January?).

[Autzen Powers]

Aw, man. Serious buzz kill, talkwest. You may be right – about proving it. My guess is that Oregon’s defense will prevent a total embarrassment at whatever bowl. But I may have to eat some crow on that one later.

It’s too bad if the rest of the country sees USC as the only good team in the pac-10, because that sort of undermines their credibility, too. People can say, well they only had to play easy pac-10 teams and Notre Dame almost won, etc, etc. I suppose that it’s the inconsistency of the other programs (Oregon included) and their failure to prove it by not staying in the high rankings year after year (or even at all).

I’m still just happy that Oregon is 8-1 and going to a bowl. But it’s always fun to dream about the possibilities and gauge what other fans think of Oregon’s program. But I guess if Oregon can’t even convince people in its own conference, then you’re right – it’s a harder sell outside the pac-10.

[brady_44]

Talkwest has a huge point about the Pac Ten's lack of respect. I think more than anything it comes from all the late games. When people on the east coast are getting up at the crack of dawn to watch games from the Big 10, SEC, and other conferences, what are the chances they are going to see all the games in the Pac Ten at 11 or 12 at night their time?

As far as Oregon goes, they have proven themselves to me. They are as solid as any other one loss team in the nation. Sure they lost badly to USC, but do you remember last years 40+ point blowout over undefeated Oklahoma on Jan. 4? It's not just Oregon going down at the hands of the mighty Trojans. I think Oregon will make a January bowl and at the very least be competitive, but... only time will tell.

[BigBadDuck]

Hey TALKWEST!!!! Suck it!!!!Were you at the OREGON- U.S.C game ? Because I was, and never has a score not told the true story of the game. Granted S.C's running backs ran wild in the second half, we had 2 touchdowns called back (later pacten officials admitted one was incorrect). Which would of made the score 31-24 in the closing minutes of the third quarter. I think the only point you hit on the head was not alot of people watch the pac ten i.e late games. What team you for anyway?GO DUCKS, #10 B.C.S what ya want?

[BigBadDuck]

Oh your a huskie. I'd be bitter too. When was yall's last pac ten conference win ? About three years ago wuzzin it ? What bowl are you guy's going to again ?

[talkwest.com]

Originally Posted by BigBadDuck

Hey TALKWEST!!!! Suck it!!!!Were you at the OREGON- U.S.C game ? Because I was, and never has a score not told the true story of the game. Granted S.C's running backs ran wild in the second half, we had 2 touchdowns called back (later pacten officials admitted one was incorrect). Which would of made the score 31-24 in the closing minutes of the third quarter. I think the only point you hit on the head was not alot of people watch the pac ten i.e late games. What team you for anyway?GO DUCKS, #10 B.C.S what ya want?

I wasn't there but I watched it on television. USC has for two years struggled in the first half of all its games. Heck, Washington was even up on USC 10-7. When a team scores 45 unanswered points, though, I don't think there is any doubt who is the better team.

People on the West Coast can cry all they want, but the Pac-10 doesn't deserve respect until they start winning bowl games -- it's as simple as that. The conference cried wolf when Cal didn't get fitted for a BCS bowl -- and look how that turned out.

[Autzen Powers]

these are both good points. I'm paraphrasing:

talkwest's
1) pac-10 needs to win bowl games.

Was it my imagination or was USC the only pac-10 team to win a bowl game last year? It might be my imagination, but I think I remember being pretty disappointed.

brady's
2) East coasters don't stay up till the crack of dawn to watch the late pac-10 games.

these have got to both be factors in the country's outlook on pac-10.

[talkwest.com]

Originally Posted by Autzen Powers

these are both good points. I'm paraphrasing:

talkwest's
1) pac-10 needs to win bowl games.

Was it my imagination or was USC the only pac-10 team to win a bowl game last year? It might be my imagination, but I think I remember being pretty disappointed.

brady's
2) East coasters don't stay up till the crack of dawn to watch the late pac-10 games.

these have got to both be factors in the country's outlook on pac-10.

I don't know if I buy the whole "Late Pac-10 game" thing. That may be the case in college basketball when every game is at 7 p.m. But there is maybe one night football game a week in the Pac-10. Plus, most games across the country get regional coverage anyway, so it's not that the Pac gets less views -- it's just that the Pac isn't as good.

The Pac-10 actually went 3/5 in bowl games last year... OSU and ASU both won. Oregon State's was against Notre Dame (after the whole Irish debacle). I think UCLA lost to Wyoming. I forget who ASU beat.

But everyone in the conference was upset by the lack of respect, that the Pac-10 couldn't get big bowl games. Cal was the litmus test -- they were supposed to be the Pac-10's other bigtime program. The same thing is happening to Oregon this year.

[BigBadDuck]

For your information: The pac-ten is 6-1 in BCS games since 2000, tops in the BCS conferences. Anyone gonna prove me wrong. And by the way what is happening to oregon this year ? What point are you trying to make, that last years cal team is like oregon ? OREGON is fighting for second in the pacten, WASHINGTON is fighting for second to LAST!!! Hey Johnny Doorocker (last name spelled wrong on purpose), nice decision to leave. Hope you guy's win the highly anticipated APPLE CUP. It is showing on t.v right ?

[talkwest.com]

Originally Posted by BigBadDuck

For your information: The pac-ten is 6-1 in BCS games since 2000, tops in the BCS conferences. Anyone gonna prove me wrong. And by the way what is happening to oregon this year ? What point are you trying to make, that last years cal team is like oregon ? OREGON is fighting for second in the pacten, WASHINGTON is fighting for second to LAST!!! Hey Johnny Doorocker (last name spelled wrong on purpose), nice decision to leave. Hope you guy's win the highly anticipated APPLE CUP. It is showing on t.v right ?

The Pac-10 always has one good team. It's the rest of them that get stuck in mediocre bowl games and still can't win.

The point I'm trying to make is that Oregon is in for a cruel wake-up call when they play Notre Dame or Ohio State in a bowl game. Same for UCLA. Neither team is at the same caliber as the rest of the schools in the BCS standings.

As for the Huskies, I honestly don't care if they win or not. They are just as fun to write about when they're losing.

[BigBadDuck]

[quote=talkwest.com]It's going to be hard for Oregon to gain respect. Losing a starting qb doesn't help, either.

In reality, the whole country -- perhaps correctly -- sees the Pac-10 as simply USC. The Trojans have dominated every conference team (Oregon 45-13) so there is clearly nobody else that can compete at that level.

We'll see... but I imagine that Oregon will be embarassed in its premier bowl game come December (or are you still thinking January?).[/QUOT....The only way to embarass a duck fan is to lose to WASHINGTON. Or the beavs for that matter.

[Autzen Powers]

Just did a little homework on bowl games and compared the pac-10 to the big-10. I thought the big-10 would be a good conference to compare against.

bowl appearances in from 2000-2001 to 2004-2005:

Pac-10: 28 total, 14 wins, 14 losses
Big-10: 33 total, 15 wins, 18 losses

(edited because I had to re-do my math, was off a little the first time.)

If I did my math right, Pac-10 was 6-1 in the BCS for these years and the Big-10 was 2-5.

seems to be pretty even down the road as to how many losses vs. wins, and just a few shy of total bowl appearances.

Just thought this was interesting.

[azcatsfan8120]

Originally Posted by talkwest.com

I don't know if I buy the whole "Late Pac-10 game" thing. That may be the case in college basketball when every game is at 7 p.m. But there is maybe one night football game a week in the Pac-10. Plus, most games across the country get regional coverage anyway, so it's not that the Pac gets less views -- it's just that the Pac isn't as good.

The Pac-10 actually went 3/5 in bowl games last year... OSU and ASU both won. Oregon State's was against Notre Dame (after the whole Irish debacle). I think UCLA lost to Wyoming. I forget who ASU beat.

But everyone in the conference was upset by the lack of respect, that the Pac-10 couldn't get big bowl games. Cal was the litmus test -- they were supposed to be the Pac-10's other bigtime program. The same thing is happening to Oregon this year.

i would have to agree with everyone in saying that the pac-10 doesnt get respect, everyone looks at USC as the pac-10, and that is not fair, i think that the pac-10 could be one of the most competive confrences in the country, everyone in the pac-10 plays very competive teams and fights hard all the time, we dont play teams like the SEC does, four of five cupcake schools and then one or two good games and a confrence championship and all of a sudden you have a team that is 10-1 or 11-0, and ranked high. i feel that oregon is one of the pac-10 teams that fight hard and they dont get the respect they deserve, i think they will prove that when they play there bowl game this year no matter who they play

[Autzen Powers]

here, here, azcatsfan! maybe someday it will be realized that the pac-10 is a difficult conference....

[Go-Pac]

The Pac-10 is comparable to any conference in the country. Most SEC fans though think the football world revolves around the South. Only after the bowl season can conference fans start claiming bragging rights. The Pac-10 has been very respectable in the past bowl seasons and I think Oregon will put on a good show regardless what bowl they go to.

[BigBadDuck]

Amen Brother!!!