Pac-10: Rob Gronkowski

Pac-10 top-30: Then and now

January, 26, 2010
Jan 26
4:17
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By Ted Miller
Some of you may recall we ranked the top-30 players in the Pac-10 during the 2009 offseason.

There were some hits and misses.

With national signing day just around the corner, it shortly will be time to put the 2009 season to bed and start looking ahead.

But first we're going to re-rank the top-30 based on what actually happened this fall.

For reference, here is the preseason list. Feel free to critique.

1. Taylor Mays, S, USC
2. Jahvid Best, RB, California
3. Rob Gronkowski, TE, Arizona
4. Jacquizz Rodgers, RB, Oregon State
5. Kristofer O’Dowd, C, USC
6. Brian Price, DT, UCLA
7. Damian Williams, WR, USC
8. Syd’Quan Thompson, CB, California
9. Jeremiah Masoli, QB, Oregon
10. Walter Thurmond, CB, Oregon
11. Jake Locker, QB, Washington
12. Joe McKnight, RB, USC
13. Dexter Davis, DE, Arizona State
14. LeGarrette Blount, RB, Oregon
15. Alterraun Verner, CB, UCLA
16. Ed Dickson, TE, Oregon
17. Charles Brown, OT, USC
18. Will Tukuafu, DE, Oregon
19. Josh Pinkard, DB, USC
20. Reggie Carter, LB, UCLA
21. Stafon Johnson, RB, USC
22. James Rodgers, WR, Oregon State
23. Daniel Te’o-Nesheim, DE, Washington
24. Lawrence Guy, DT, Arizona State; Stephen Paea, DT, Oregon State
25. Toby Gerhart, RB, Stanford
26. Tyson Alualu, DE, California
27. Devin Ross, CB, Arizona
28. Keaton Kristick, LB, Oregon State
29. Brooks Reed, DE, Arizona
30. Everson Griffen, DE, USC

What we can tell you in advance of our post-season list is there are plenty of new names, considering six players were knocked off the list for missing all -- or at least significant portions -- of the year with injuries (or in one high-profile case a suspension):

3. Rob Gronkowski, TE, Arizona
5. Kristofer O’Dowd, C, USC
10. Walter Thurmond, CB, Oregon
14. LeGarrette Blount, RB, Oregon
21. Stafon Johnson, RB, USC
29. Brooks Reed, DE, Arizona

Nos. 30, 29 and 28 will be posted this afternoon.

No Pac-10 surprises with NFL early entry

January, 19, 2010
Jan 19
3:17
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By Ted Miller
The NFL has announced the names of the 53 players who were granted early entry into this spring's draft, and there are no last-minute surprises in the Pac-10.

The six Pac-10 players on the list are:

Jahvid Best, RB California
Everson Griffen, DE USC
Rob Gronkowski, TE Arizona
Joe McKnight, RB USC
Brian Price, DT UCLA
Damian Williams, WR USC

Pac-10 lunch links: Harbaugh rejected Bills, according to report

January, 19, 2010
Jan 19
2:30
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By Ted Miller
The mind is its own place, and in itself
Can make a heav'n of hell, a hell of heav'n.

Pac-10 lunch links: Prince excited Chow's staying

January, 15, 2010
Jan 15
2:30
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By Ted Miller
You know, I'm just a regular guy who grew up with the posters of these guys on my wall... and now I'm one of them! That's right, I'm standing here, living proof that if you work hard enough, and you want it bad enough... dreams do come true. So follow your dreams...

Gronkowski: 'It's right to go now' to NFL

January, 15, 2010
Jan 15
1:42
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By Ted Miller
The ultimate goal, said Arizona tight end Rob Gronkowski, is getting three brothers on the same NFL team.

[+] EnlargeRob Gronkowski
Chris Morrison/US PresswireRob Gronkowski had 672 yards and 10 TDs in 2008.
The day's news is that Gronkowski is leaving Arizona a year early to join his brother and Wildcats teammate, senior fullback Chris, in the NFL draft, after which they will join older brother Dan, who's already with the Detroit Lions.

"Three brothers in the NFL at one time? That's unbelievable," Rob Gronkowski said. "That was always my dream."

Gronkowski said that despite sitting out the entire season with a back problem that required surgery, he's healthy now -- doctors cleared him this week, he said -- and he and expects to be selected in the first round.

"I got all great reports [from the NFL] -- first round, if I can show them I'm healthy," he said.

Gronkowski said he was medically cleared by Dr. Robert G. Watkins III, who performed back surgery on Gronkowski, as well as Dr. James Andrews, but he admitted he's not sure if he will be able to participate in the NFL combine.

"If I'm not 100 percent, if I don't feel like I'm ready to go, then I might just go and do interviews," he said. "But I'm definitely going to be ready before the draft. I'll be ready for pro day or my own little pro day I'll do. I'm definitely going to show them I'm 100 percent."

He said he has hired Drew Rosenhaus to be his agent.

Gronkowski said he expects two years of game film to impress scouts and GMs. And when he's ready to work out, he expects to show off impressive physical skills that earned him All-Pac-10 honors as a sophomore.

"I'm going to wow the teams," he said.

Paea will return for senior year

January, 13, 2010
Jan 13
5:48
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By Ted Miller
Oregon State defensive tackle Stephen Paea, the 2009 Morris Trophy winner as the Pac-10's best defensive lineman, will return for his senior season, according to an athletic department spokesperson.

Paea joins Washington quarterback Jake Locker as the conference's top two underclass NFL prospects who opted to return for their senior seasons.

Arizona is still awaiting final word from junior tight end Rob Gronkowski, but he's expected to enter the draft if he's medically cleared to participate in the NFL combine. Arizona will hold a press conference for Gronkowski at 1 p.m. (EST) on Friday.

The deadline for underclassmen to declare for the draft is Friday.

Pac-10 lunch links: Prince talks about Chow's possible departure

January, 13, 2010
Jan 13
2:30
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By Ted Miller
This is a Kiffin-free zone.

Pac-10 lunch links: Gronk may be going

January, 11, 2010
Jan 11
2:30
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By Ted Miller
Parting is such sweet sorrow.

Will Locker be the only marquee junior not bolting?

January, 6, 2010
Jan 6
6:42
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By Ted Miller
Is Washington quarterback Jake Locker going to be the Pac-10's only junior star not entering the NFL draft a year early?

UCLA's junior defensive tackle Brian Price made official today what already had been reported -- he's entering the draft.

Price joins California running back Jahvid Best, USC defensive end Everson Griffen and USC running back Stafon Johnson as conference juniors who have announced they are leaving.

That group of four is almost certainly going to be joined by Stanford running back Toby Gerhart, who hasn't made an "official" announcement but every indication -- including an apparent Senior Bowl invitation -- is he's leaving. USC receiver Damian Williams also hasn't made an official announcement but is expected to enter the draft.

While there's almost always a surprising declaration or two before the deadline -- recall California tight end Cameron Morrah out-of-the-blue decision to bolt last year -- three other marquee players are on the clock before the Jan. 15 deadline to make a decision: USC running back Joe McKnight, Arizona tight end Rob Gronkowski and Oregon State defensive tackle Stephen Paea.

McKnight has told reporters he plans to return, but that was before he got mixed up in some potential NCAA trouble and was suspended from the Emerald Bowl.

Gronkowski has said he will only leave if he's given a first-round grade, but Wildcats fans probably shouldn't be too confident he will be return in 2010.

As for Paea, he's evaluating his situation now. The general feeling is that he could improve his draft status with another year of seasoning -- he's only played football since his senior year of high school -- but it might prove to be too tempting to pass up an opportunity to start getting paid.

Fact is, there are many financial reasons to leave early, not the least of which is the NFL's uncertain labor situation.

Pac-10 lunch links: Gronkowski hasn't decided on NFL

December, 23, 2009
Dec 23
2:30
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By Ted Miller
It's Christmas Eve. It's the one night of the year when we all act a little nicer, we smile a little easier, we cheer a little more. For a couple of hours out of the whole year, we are the people that we always hoped we would be.

Which juniors jump?

December, 11, 2009
Dec 11
12:19
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By Ted Miller
Every year teams lose stars a year early to the NFL draft.

Heck, sometimes they even lose middling players -- see California tight end Cameron Morrah leaping early last winter so he could catch one pass for three yards as a Seattle Seahawks seventh-round draft choice.

Some big Pac-10 names appear to be on the cusp of bolting early so they can get paid to play on Sundays.

The deadline to declare is Jan. 15.

Here are the candidates.

Arizona

TE Rob Gronkowski

Gronkowski figures to be torn. He's said he will return to Arizona if he's not a certain first-round draft pick. He's certainly got first-round talent. The issue will be whether NFL teams will be worried about the back injury that sidelined him the entire season. And Gronkowski surely has to look at the quarterback Nick Foles and the offensive firepower the Wildcats will welcome back in 2010 and know he could play his way into the top-half of the first round with a big showing next fall.

Should he return? Yes. Will he return? No.

California

RB Jahvid Best

Best is a first-round talent who might fall out of the first round for a variety of reasons, chief among them his durability. That also is a big reason the Best should take the leap. Running backs only have so many years in them.

Should he return? No. Will he return? No.

Oregon State

DT Stephen Paea

The first-team All-Pac-10 defensive tackle didn't put up huge numbers this year and he's still learning the game, but he is a powerhouse whose measurables would be impressive and he might star in the right scheme.

Should he return? Yes. Will he return? Yes.

WR James Rodgers

Rodgers has put together three consecutive strong seasons, each better than the last. He's not big, but he's a playmaker with diverse skills and will be one at the next level. Of course, he's poised to become a star next fall, which likely will be his last opportunity to play beside his brother, Jacquizz.

Should he return? Yes. Will he return? Yes.

Stanford

RB Toby Gerhart

He's gone. Good for him.

Should he return? No. Will he return? No.

UCLA

DT Brian Price

Price was the most dominant defensive player in the Pac-10 this year. He might be a first-round pick, though there are some big-time D-tackles who figure to get selected ahead of him. If he came back, he might be the first one taken in 2011.

Should he return? No. Will he return? No.

USC

WR Damian Williams

Williams was the best pure receiver in the Pac-10 this year and he also can return punts. He could be a late first-round pick. In fact, he might be the second receiver off the board behind Oklahoma State's Dez Bryant.

Should he return? No. Will he return? No.

DE Everson Griffen

Griffen is a great talent and he had a good year, though not a great one. NFL scouts will be impressed by his combination of size and speed and his ability to rush the passer off the edge. Of course, with the Trojans entire front seven returning next fall, he could put up huge numbers and play his way into the top-10 in 2011.

Should he return? Yes. Will he return? No.

Washington

QB Jake Locker

For some Washington observers, even great admirers of Locker, it seems slightly strange that Locker is widely projected as a top-10 pick, perhaps the second -- or even first -- quarterback taken this spring. Locker is an outstanding talent who eclipsed expectations with how quickly adapted to a pro-style scheme, but he's still a work in progress. The reason to return is fairly simple: At his present pace of development, Locker would go first overall in the 2011 draft.

Should he return? Yes. Will he return? No.

Preseason vs. postseason All-Pac-10 teams

December, 10, 2009
Dec 10
6:30
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By Ted Miller
Before listing my preseason All-Pac-10 team in August, I wrote this: "Perhaps this list will be much different by mid-December."

So take a look.


Some changes are obvious. Gronkowski, Best, Thurmond and O'Dowd were switched out because of injuries. That also applies in large part to Carter, who played with a sprained knee much of the season.

Some nagged at me a bit.

Safety: Nelson had a great season at safety, but Moore led the nation with nine picks. I know lots of you folks aren't impressed with the way Mays played this year, but most coaches and scouts don't share your opinion. He's still going to be a first-round pick.

Offensive line: Baxter and Lauvao did nothing wrong. Peat just had a very good season, while Alfred in some ways gets a tip of the cap for a great career playing in obscurity for a lousy team.

Defensive end: Davis and Tukuafu have had great careers, and it was hard to leave off Arizona's Ricky Elmore, who led the conference in sacks. Just how things go.

Quarterback: Masoli is preseason All-Pac-10, puts up great numbers, leads his team to the Rose Bowl and drops off the first team? Yeah, I winced at that, too. But Canfield had a great year and put up great numbers. And, yes, it matters that he is a senior and Masoli will be back next fall.

Arizona season recap

December, 9, 2009
Dec 9
5:51
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By Ted Miller
Arizona took another step forward under coach Mike Stoops in 2009.

Last year, the Wildcats earned their first bowl berth since 1998. This year, the Wildcats, picked eighth in the preseason media poll, tied for second in the Pac-10, despite breaking in a new quarterback, and earned a berth in the Holiday Bowl.

They also beat rival Arizona State for a second-consecutive year and ended a seven-game losing streak to USC.

The key moment was the decision to change quarterbacks from Matt Scott to Nick Foles after the offense looked terrible at Iowa on Sept. 19. Foles almost immediately established himself as a budding star, and his precise passing and quick release were critical when running back Nic Grigsby suffered a shoulder injury that killed most of his season.

Offensive MVP -- Quarterback Nick Foles.

Foles, a sophomore, didn't make his first start until the season's fourth game but he made up for lost time, completing 66 percent of his passes and throwing for 2,420 yards with 19 touchdowns and eight interceptions.

Defensive MVP -- Defensive end Ricky Elmore.

Yes, Arizona fans, it stinks that Elmore didn't earn All-Pac-10 honors. He would have been second-team for the Pac-10 blog if the Pac-10 blog had a second-team. Elmore basically came out of nowhere to lead the Wildcats -- and the Pac-10 -- with 10.5 sacks, and he was particularly important because Brooks Reed battled a sprained ankle much of the season.

Turning point -- The obvious turning point is the decision to go with Foles over Scott, who started the first three games. But, really, the the story of the Wildcats season was perseverance. Multiple times they suffered dispiriting losses -- at Iowa, at Washington, at California and in double-overtime against Oregon -- but in each case they bounced back and didn't suffer a hangover. That is the sign of a maturing program, which in itself is a turning point.

What's next -- The Wildcats figure to be in the thick of the Pac-10 race next year, particularly if tight end Rob Gronkowski opts to return after missing the entire 2009 campaign with a back problem. The defense will take a few significant hits -- safety Cam Nelson, cornerback Devin Ross, tackle Earl Mitchell and all three linebackers -- but that shouldn't be insurmountable, particularly with Reed and Elmore back. Of course, the biggest hit might be defensive coordinator Mark Stoops getting hired away.

Wrapping up the Pac-10 regular season

December, 8, 2009
Dec 8
2:00
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By Ted Miller
It was a strange, unpredictable and exciting year for the Pac-10.

All of those terms, however, can't hide the fact that the conference didn't produce a second BCS team for the seventh consecutive year. And didn't deserve one -- five teams finished 8-4 behind 10-2 Oregon.

On the plus said, the Pac-10, which finished 21-9 in nonconference games (.700), earned a widespread reputation among pundits as the nation's deepest conference, and perhaps its best, top-to-bottom. Nine teams received votes at some point this season in the AP poll and seven were ranked at some point. Seven teams won six or more games and earned bowl eligibility.

Gerhart
Ezra Shaw/Getty ImagesStanford running back Toby Gerhart is a finalist for the Heisman Trophy.
Five teams were ranked in the final BCS standings, more than any other conference.

That's dandy. But did we mention the lack of a second BCS bowl team? That costs the conference $4.5 million each year it happens.

For comparison's sake, the Big Ten has lost six consecutive BCS bowl games, but it's had two BCS bowl teams six of the past seven years. Do the math.

While the conference's nine-game round-robin schedule certainly hurts the effort to get two BCS bowl teams, the conference also deserves its share of the blame for not coming up big in a number of marquee nonconference games.

Oregon State lost to Cincinnati; Oregon lost to Boise State; Arizona lost to Iowa; Washington lost to LSU; Arizona State lost to Georgia; Stanford lost to Wake Forest.

Sure, no other conference played teams ranked No. 3, 6, 10 and 12 in the final BCS standings, but a couple of wins certainly would have helped the cause.

Beyond the national issues, the internal churn within the conference standings was particularly noteworthy. For the first time in seven years, USC didn't at least share the conference championship and earn a berth in a BCS bowl game. Moreover, there was real mystery who would win the conference title until the final week of the season.

While the teams at the top scrambled, the Trojans, the preseason favorites, took a shocking tumble to fifth place.

That is as big a story as anything else.

Offensive MVP -- Stanford running back Toby Gerhart.

Gerhart turned in the best season of any offensive player in the nation. He finished second in the nation with 145 yards per game and first with 26 rushing touchdowns. The first-team All-Academic pick even passed for a TD. All that earned him an invitation to the Heisman Trophy ceremony in New York.

Defensive MVP -- UCLA defensive tackle Brian Price.

Price led the conference with 22.5 tackles for a loss, a number that ranked third in the nation. No one else in the conference had more than 14.5 TFL. He also had seven sacks and forced two fumbles. All that despite frequently fighting through double-teams.

Newcomer of the year -- Oregon's running back LaMichael James.

James, a redshirt freshman, ranked second in the Pac-10 and eighth in the nation with 123 yards rushing per game. His 1,476 yards set a new conference freshman rushing record. He also scored 14 touchdowns and ranked first in the conference with 6.87 yards per carry. James led the country with 20 runs of at least 20 yards.

Coach of the year -- Oregon's Chip Kelly.

It's impressive that Kelly led Oregon to a Pac-10 championship and its first Rose Bowl since the 1994 season in his first season as head coach. But everyone knows it was more than that. The performance at Boise State in the season-opener was abysmal. And LeGarrette Blount's behavior afterwards was even worse. But Kelly kept his locker room together, and the Ducks won 10 of their final 11 games. Not a single person in the country thought that would happen on Sept. 3.

Biggest surprise -- Arizona.

The Wildcats were picked to finish eighth in the preseason media poll. The Pac-10 blog, an unabashed Wildcats believer, only picked them fifth. But they are headed to the Holiday Bowl, which makes them first among the three teams that tied for second in the conference. Once embattled coach Mike Stoops led the Wildcats to an 8-4 finish, despite losing their quarterback, top receiver and dominant left tackle from 2008, and then seeing their All-American tight end, Rob Gronkowski, go down to injury in the preseason.

Biggest disappointment -- USC.

USC's dynasty wasn't going to last forever, but the general thought is a rival would seize the title in a tight race, not that the Trojans would go belly-up. An early loss at Washington was surprising, but it fit USC's previous M.O., -- a stumble vs. Pac-10 underdog followed by reassertion of dominance. Then came a 27-point loss at Oregon. And, two weeks later, Stanford gleefully ran up the score in a 55-21 win. Completing the deluge, Arizona handed the Trojans their second loss in the Coliseum, 21-17, in the season-finale. The Trojans, once ranked fourth in the nation, now have a date with Boston College in the Emerald Bowl as the Pac-10's No. 5 team.

Game of the year: Oregon 44, Arizona 41 2 OT

Speaking of Arizona, this double-overtime defeat at home ended up costing the Wildcats the Rose Bowl. But both teams played so well and with such energy in this back-and-forth affair, it was more about Ducks quarterback Jeremiah Masoli willing his team to victory. This might not just have been the best Pac-10 game of the year, it might have been the best period.

Opening the mailbag: Is Oregon taking the Civil War for granted?

November, 27, 2009
Nov 27
5:54
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By Ted Miller
Interest anyone in a turkey sandwich?

To the notes.

Shawn from Denver writes: If possible please let me know what you think of Oregon and Ohio St. in the Rose Bowl....there is no way the Beavs can take it in Autzen with such high stakes, although I will leave that for you to decide. Since you are correct 75% of the time I hope you feel the same way!!

Ted Miller: Oh, Shawn, I would not take a victory for granted. You may need to apologize to the college football gods for looking ahead. Chip Kelly, one-game-at-a-time taskmaster that he is, might recommend 50 lashes.

Because you seem like a nice person, I will send them an e-mail telling them you were consumed with holiday cheer.

And, by the way, Beavers fans might tell you that I tend to have mixed results picking their games (see last item in that mailbag).


Ryan from New York writes: To all those people proclaiming the end of 'SC, remember 1966? That year ND went to LA and buried the Trojans 51-0. The next year?John McKay won his second National Championship

Ted Miller: Ah, a reasonable observation. That 1966 USC team lost three in a row to end the season -- including 14-13 to Purdue in the Rose Bowl -- but certainly got their act together the following season, though Oregon State fans might remember that year fondly, too.


Brad from Portland writes: Arizona has done a remarkable job this year despite the RB injuries and the loss of Rob Gronkowski. How do you think the season would have differed if they had remained healthy? Rose Bowl?

Ted Miller: Just about every team has injury what-ifs, so asking how a team might do without them is like asking how a team might have done if it had converted a key third down in a loss. Still, Brad, I hear you. Gronkowski is one of the top 5 or 10 difference-makers in the Pac-10, and before Arizona had injury issues at tailback it was one of the country's best running teams.

So if you're asking me how Arizona might have done with a healthy backfield and a healthy Gronkowski, my guess is Rose Bowl.

Does that make you feel better? Or does it sting?


Gordie from Pasadena writes: In regards to ESPN.com's week 12 top 25 power rankings: I am just curious why you ranked Cal at #23 and Stanford at #18 right after the Bears out-muscled the Cardinal at Stanford, beating them in nearly every statistical category (a 1-1 tie in turnovers being the notable exception).

Ted Miller: I've always been a body-of-work guy. If you tried to rank teams based entirely on head-to-head results, you'd have a nutty poll.

Cal whipped Stanford, no doubt. But Stanford whipped Oregon and USC the two previous weekends, two teams that bludgeoned the Bears.

The previous week, I had Stanford ranked 12th. I thought losing by six in a rivalry game merited only a six-spot drop in the top 25. I also THINK Stanford is better than 18th -- I don't think there are 17 teams in the country that could beat Stanford.

I didn't rank Cal the week before. Twenty-third felt about right, based on their season's body of work.

Don't think I don't understand your issue, which is entirely reasonable. These are hard distinctions to make, but this is how college football operates. It's a beauty contest, and judging beauty is subjective.


Henry from Eugene writes: I work in Athletics at Oregon and am disappointed with your comments regarding [the Oregon marketing department]. I'm not sure if you make human resource recommendations about other schools' departments, but I feel that it is very inappropriate. You do not understand the full story, and certainly not the inside story of what is going on. [The individual in question] works her rear end off, sixty-hours per week, and receives no grain of thanks for her hard work. Don't smear her name regarding a situation in which her due diligence was required and appropriate action was taken.

Ted Miller: One, I didn't mention anyone's name. I wrote this:

Former Oregon coach Mike Bellotti deserves some credit for the Ducks' success this year, but he may want to make some changes in the marketing department, which has failed to embrace the best marketing effort for the program in years.

I still believe that. "Full story?" Hmm. What I do know is that video was a lot of fun. The university should have done EVERYTHING it could to embrace the video. Period. Problems? A resourceful marketing department would have said, "Our endgame is this video circulating virally. How do we get to that endgame? Don't tell me we can't find a way because that's how uncreative people think. As Chip Kelly would say, 'Win the day!' Ideas?"

My understanding is the university also didn't embrace the second-best marketing campaign this season: the fan-generated "blackout" plan for the Oregon-USC game. Again, mistake.

My job covering college football -- and all that goes with it -- often includes comments, positive and negative, on university business. Typically, it's about coaches. Sometimes its athletic directors. In this case, it was a marketing department.

It's not personal. It's just my perspective.


Matt from San Francisco writes: I want to pass something along to you if you have not already been alerted by other readers. A group of Ducks fans heard the story about a little girl in Oklahoma with cerebral palsy who cheers up whenever she sees the Ducks on TV.

Ted Miller: Here's the link.

Good job, Ducks.


Amber from Texas writes: Hi,We posted an article that we thought you and your readers might be interested in having a look at, "100 Best Twitter Feeds for College Football Fanatics"

Ted Miller: Here's the link.
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