Here’s where they’ve got them picked: Rivals – 7th. CBS – 3rd. ESPN – 3rd. Sports Illustrated – 2nd.
• “College Football Rankings: Oklahoma, Oregon Top 2011 Early Rankings” – By Jeremy Mauss.
• No. 14 recruiting class. – According to ESPN.
• Finished 2010 as AP No. 3. – Best of the 1-loss teams.
• CBS picks Oregon No. 3 in 2011. – By Dennis Dodd CBSSports.com Senior Writer.
• Bleacher Report has Oregon No. 3, Stanford No. 1. – By Danny Flynn
• “NationalChamps.net” has Oregon No. 4. – by Joel Thorman.

Sadly, Oregon didn’t win the National football title this year (they sure came close though) but the Ducks have won a couple of NCAA men’s National titles since 2000. Here is a list of how its all gone down in NCAA men’s sports. The Pac-10 has represented well… except in hockey of course!

Men’s NCAA National Champions
• = Pac-10 teams

FOOTBALL
2010 – Auburn
2009 – Alabama
2008 – Florida
2007 – LSU
2006 – Florida
2005 – Texas
• 2004 – USC
• 2003 – USC
2002 – Ohio State
2001 – Miami
2000 – Oklahoma

BASKETBALL
2010 – Duke
2009 – North Carolina
2008 – Kansas
2007 – Florida
2006 – Florida
2005 – North Carolina
2004 – Connecticut
2003 – Syracuse
2002 – Maryland
2001 – Duke
2000 – Michigan State

BASEBALL
2010 – South Carolina
2009 – LSU
2008 – Fresno State
• 2007 - Oregon State
• 2006 – Oregon State
2005 – Texas
2004 – Cal State Fullerton
2003 – Rice
2002 – Texas
2001 – Miami
2000 – LSU

TRACK
2010 – Texas A&M
2009 – Texas A&M
2008 – Florida State
2007 – vacated
2006 – Florida State
2005 – vacated
2004 – vacated
2003 – Arkansas
2002 – LSU
2001 – Tennessee
• 2000 – Stanford

TENNIS
• 2010 – USC
• 2009 – USC
2008 – Georgia
2007 – Georgia
2006 – Pepperdine
• 2005 – UCLA
2004 – Baylor
2003 – Illinois
• 2002 – USC
2001 – Georgia
• 2000 – Stanford

CROSS COUNTRY
2010 – Oklahoma State
2009 – Oklahoma State
• 2008 – Oregon
• 2007 – Oregon
2006 – Colorado
2005 – Wisconsin
2004 – Colorado
• 2003 – Stanford
• 2002 – Stanford
2001 – Colorado
2000 – Arkansas

SWIMMING
2010 – Texas
2009 – Auburn
• 2008 – Arizona
2007 – Auburn
2006 – Auburn
2005 – Auburn
2004 – Auburn
2003 – Auburn
2002 – Texas
2001 – Texas
2000 – Texas

WRESTLING
2010 – Iowa
2009 – Iowa
2008 – Iowa
2007 – Minnesota
2006 – Oklahoma State
2005 – Oklahoma State
2004 – Oklahoma State
2003 – Oklahoma State
2002 – Minnesota
2001 – Minnesota
2000 – Iowa

ICE HOCKEY
2010 – Boston College
2009 – Boston University
2008 – Boston College
2007 – Michigan State
2006 – Wisconsin
2005 – Denver
2004 – Denver
2003 – Minnesota
2002 – Minnesota
2001 – Boston College
2000 – North Dakota

SOCCER
2010 – Akron
2009 – Virginia
2008 – Maryland
2007 – Wake Forest
2006 – UC Santa Barbara
2005 – Maryland
2004 – Indiana
2003 – Indiana
• 2002 – UCLA
2001 – North Carolina
2000 – Connecticut

VOLLEYBALL
• 2010 – Stanford
2009 – UC Irvine
2008 – Penn State
2007 – UC Irvine
• 2006 – UCLA
2005 – Pepperdine
2004 – BYU
2003 – Lewis
2002 – Hawai’i
2001 – BYU
• 2000 – UCLA

This season has truly been one for the record book for University of Oregon football. Take a look at these records set by the Ducks already this season, with still a game to play.

TEAM RECORDS
Single Game
Most Net Yards Rushing: 528 vs. Portland State, 2010
Most Yards Total Offense: 720 vs. New Mexico, 2010
Most First Downs: 35 vs. New Mexico, 2010
Most Points (Modern Record): 72 vs. New Mexico, 2010

Season
Most Yards Rushing: 3,646, 2010
Most Yards Total Offense: 6,450, 2010
Most First Downs Rushing: 181, 2010
Most First Downs: 322, 2010
Most Points: 592, 2010
Most Touchdowns: 79, 2010
Most 1-Points PATs: 72, 2010
Most PATs Total: 77, 2010
Most Consecutive PATs: 69, 2010
Most Victories: 12, (2010, 12-0)
Longest Winning Streak: 12 (2010)

INDIVIDUAL RECORDS
132 points LaMichael James, 2010
22 TDs LaMichael James, 2010
21 rushing TDs LaMichael James, 2010
9 100-yard games LaMichael James, 2010
7 consecutive 100-yard games LaMichael James, 2010
12 TD receptions Jeff Maehl, 2010

– click on image for full size.

I watched the University of Hawaii play against Chicago State last night on the island of Maui in the Lahina Civic Center, the home of the Maui Invitational. Granted this wasn’t the caliber of play you’ll see @ the Maui Invitational, but who doesn’t love a college basketball game!? Right? And what’s better than D1 basketball in a high school size gym? Such a great feel! Add to that the fact that the gym is about 1,000 meters from the ocean… sick!

The Maui Invitational is a must see on my 2011 list. Just checkout the history of the amazing teams and players who have taken part in the tournament. It takes place in November.

UConn won the 2010 tournament and UConn’s Kemba Walker was tournament MVP.

The 2011 field includes Duke, Georgetown, Kansas, Memphis, Michigan, Tennessee, UCLA and host Chaminade as well as four additional teams yet to be announced.

Tournament Champions
2009 Gonzaga (vs. Cincinnati – 61, 59)
2008 North Carolina (vs. Notre Dame – 102, 87)
2007 Duke (vs. Marquette – 77, 73)
2006 UCLA (vs. Georgia Tech – 88, 73)
2005 Connecticut (vs. Gonzaga – 65, 63)
2004 North Carolina (vs. Iowa – 106, 92)
2003 Dayton (vs. Hawaii – 82, 72)
2002 Indiana (vs. Virginia – 70, 63)
2001 Duke (vs. Ball State – 83, 71)
2000 Arizona (vs. Illinois – 79, 76)
1999 North Carolina (vs. Purdue – 90, 75)
1998 Syracuse (vs. Indiana – 76, 63)
1997 Duke (vs. Arizona – 95, 87)
1996 Kansas (vs. Virginia – 80, 63)
1995 Villanova (vs. North Carolina – 77, 75)
1994 Arizona State (vs. Maryland – 97, 90)
1993 Kentucky (vs. Arizona – 93, 92)
1992 Duke (vs. BYU – 89, 66)
1991 Michigan State (vs. Arkansas – 86, 71)
1990 Syracuse (vs. Indiana – 77, 74)
1989 Missouri (vs. North Carolina – 80, 73)
1988 Michigan (vs. Oklahoma – 91, 80)
1987 Iowa (vs. Villanova – 97, 74)
1986 Vanderbilt (vs. New Mexico – 87, 71)
1985 Michigan (vs. Kansas State – 80, 58)
1984 Providence (vs. Chaminade – 60, 58)

Tournament Most Valuable Players
2009 (TIE) Steven Gray and Matt Bouldin, Gonzaga
2008 Ty Lawson, North Carolina
2007 Kyle Singler, Duke
2006 Darren Collison, UCLA
2005 Adam Morrison, Gonzaga
2004 Raymond Felton, North Carolina
2003 Keith Waleskowski, Dayton
2002 Bracey Wright, Indiana
2001 Mike Dunleavy, Duke
2000 Michael Wright, Arizona
1999 Joseph Forte, North Carolina
1998 Jason Hart, Syracuse
1997 Steve Wojciechowski, Duke
1996 Raef LaFrentz, Kansas
1995 Kerry Kittles, Villanova University
1994 Mario Bennett, Arizona State
1993 Travis Ford, Kentucky
1992 (TIE) Bobby Hurley, Duke | Anfernee Hardaway, Memphis State
1991 George Gilmore, Chaminade
1990 Billy Owens, Syracuse
1989 Doug Smith, Missouri
1988 Glenn Rice, Michigan
1987 Entire Iowa Team
1986 Will Purdue, Vanderbilt
1985 Dell Curry, Virginia Tech
1984 Patrick Langlois, Chaminade

• Terrence Jones makes early splash with Kentucky Wildcats, gets early homecoming game in Portland
• Portland 86, Denver 83: Finally, some good news … LaMarcus Aldridge, Wesley Matthews lead Blazers past Nuggets
• Kyle Singler would beat you in H-O-R-S-E – ESPN video
• Kevin Love: Wolf … or cheetah?
• 2011 NBA mock draft – Terrence Jones 7th, Kyle Singler 15th.

1 Something New - Oregon’s style of play is the next evolution in football. It’s basically taking what many people have been doing for years on video games and now doing it real time, in the real world. Oregon’s fast-paced no fear approach is the next step in football, if you play at Oregon you’ll be a step ahead of what many will be imitating for years to come.

2 Play for a National Title – Oregon is in position right now to play for a National Title. If you go somewhere like Boise State, you may go undefeated but not qualify. If you go to an SEC team, you may be really good, but those two league losses will keep you out of the National title game.

3 Win the Heisman – Dennis Dixon was on his way, but got hurt. LaMichael James is by many opinions the front runner right now in the Heisman race. Being on a winning team that puts up insane numbers makes winning a Heisman a real possibility @ Oregon.

4 Score a ton of points – Oregon leads the Nation in scoring. That means several good things: Lots of highlights on ESPN, lots of high fives and jumping up and having a teammate catch you and lots and lots and lots of pushups by the Duck. Oregon scores so many touchdowns that there are plenty to go around.

5 Get playing time – Because of the Ducks frantic pace, they go deep into their lineup… really deep! But since they run a ridiculous amount of plays this means that everyone gets a lot of snaps.

6 It’s not the SEC – Why would anyone want to play in the Southeastern Conference? Just listen to the experts. They say things like, “The SEC is the most physical league.” “Every game in the SEC is like a bowl game.” Will why would you want to do that when you’re just likely to get hurt and not qualify for the National Title game?

7 Play in LA (but you don’t have to live in LA) – USC and UCLA will be on the schedule, but you don’t have to live in Southern California.

8 Biggest deal in town – Eugene is “Track Town USA” the next coolest guys in town weigh 130 pounds and runs 150 miles a week. Not just the biggest deal in town, but because the state of Oregon has no NFL team, Saturday’s @ Autzen Stadium are like a holiday for the whole state.

9 Nike – Have you noticed that the Ducks have the coolest uniforms in football? Will Oregon is the home state of Nike and the Nike man himself Phil Knight is an U of O guy and the Ducks biggest fan. Not a bad way to start a longterm relationship with Nike!

10 Did I mention Nike – Oh yeah, and aside from all those sick uniforms, Oregon has AMAZING facilities. Facilities that seem to be getting better all the time… thanks Nike!

Oregon Duck running back LaMichael James continues to dominate and is making a strong case for winning the Heisman trophy. He even has a facebook fan page “LaMichael for LaHeisman” that has over 12,000 fans!

If James keeps going like he has and the Ducks keep winning, I don’t think anyone can stop him!

Team, Defensive Rank (points allowed per game), Points allowed vs Oregon:
• New Mexico, 120 (52.6), 72.
• Tennessee, 76th (24.8), 48.
• Portland State, NR (39.75) , 69.
• Arizona State, 68th (24.4), 42.
• Stanford, 45th (21.4), 52.
• Washington State, 116th, (42.8), ?Score by quarters for Ducks:
• New Mexico -28-31-6-7
• Tennessee -3-10-14-21
• Portland State -21-24-24-0
• Arizona State -14-14-14-0
• Stanford -3-21-14-14
• Washington State -15-14-7-7
TOTALS -84-114-79-49

Score by quarters for Ducks opponents:
• New Mexico -0-0-0-0
• Tennessee -6-7-0-0
• Portland State -0-0-0-0
• Arizona State -7-17-7-0
• Stanford -21-10-0-0
• Washington State -14-3-6-0
TOTALS -48-37-13-0
Season totals by quarter
Ducks 84-114-79-49=326
Opponents 48-37-13-0=98

DUCKS AVERAGE POINTS BY QUARTER
Ducks 14-19-13.2-8.2=54.3
Opponents 8-6.2-2.2-0=16.3

Oregon is the top scoring team in the Nation and that doesn’t mean that they run up the score, in fact they are doing the bulk of their damage in the first half and are scoring over 85% of their points in the first three quarters.

(Here’s what the Ducks have done through five games this season.)
DUCKS AVERAGE POINTS BY QUARTER
Ducks 13.8-20-14.4-8.4=56.6
Opponents 6.8-6.8-1.4-0=15

TOTAL BY QUARTERS
Ducks 69-100-72-42=283
Opponents 34-34-7-0=75