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Entries in 1947 (2)

Friday
Sep092011

1947: Nevada at Oregon

The history between these two teams is a bit lopsided — the Ducks lead 5-1, and some of the games have been monumental blowouts — but it’s worth noting that in the first meeting, in 1947, the Wolf Pack came to Eugene and took a bite out of Oregon’s ego. 

Joe Santoro, over at the Nevada blog SilverAndBlueSports.com, has a terrific look back at the 1947 Nevada - Oregon contest, which to date is Nevada’s only win in the series, and a win that must have felt great to the Nevada faithful, still bitter over Jim Aiken leaving after the ‘46 season to coach the Ducks.

Guess Norm Van Brocklin didn’t want it bad enough.

Tuesday
Mar222011

Is it "The System?"

In 2007, some experts posited that Dennis Dixon’s remarkable progress was more a function of Chip Kelly’s offensive system than anything else. Kelly had made DD a “system quarterback.” Thus implying that Dixon wasn’t really that good.

In 2010, the experts were at it again, late in the season, suggesting that LaMichael James’ Heisman campaign maybe wasn’t quite legitimate because he gained his yardage on opportunities given him within Chip Kelly’s offensive system. He was a “system running back”. Thus implying that LMJ wasn’t really that good.

This argument is nothing new. Really. And fans of DD and LaMike shouldn’t be too upset by it. Because one of Dixon’s predecessors had the same argument made against him, almost 60 years earlier.

Star-divide

1200272051_b5pzo-x2_medium
Collier’s Magazine article, Sept 1948, by Bill Fay; illustration by John Cullen Murphy.

“Aiken’s system made Van Brocklin”. 

The Dutchman went on to a Hall of Fame pro career.  

Some system.