Talking Points 9/17

1

Oregon Ducks fans should be a little nervous today.

With news that Oregon has self-reported potential NCAA violations in its basketball program, the question has to be asked: Was there a lack of institutional oversight while Mike Bellotti was athletics director? How about when booster Pat Kilkenny was in charge?

We aren’t suggesting wrongdoing by those two gentlemen. We doubt either would intentionally do anything to put Oregon at risk of sanctions. But we are wondering if the UO might ultimately regret putting its athletic department in the hands of an insurance man and a football coach.

2

We do feel for new Oregon basketball coach Dana Altman. With only nine scholarship players in the program, the Ducks figure to win about as many Pac-10 basketball games this season as Washington State wins in football — not many.

And Oregon is moving into a fancy, and expensive, new arena this season. To pay for that palace, seats must be filled. And that only adds to the pressure on Altman to produce quick results.

3

Speaking of tough jobs, perhaps no one in college sports faces longer odds than Paul Wulff at Washington State. It’s his third season at the helm, and the Cougs still aren’t very good. We don’t know how much of the struggles are Wulff’s fault.

One factor that has made the WSU job tougher: the rise of Boise State. Not long ago, Pullman was the football destination for many athletes in the inland West. You know, players such as Kellen Moore from Prosser.

These days, it’s the Blue Turf Boys who own the hearts of fans — and recruits — in that region. Which only makes the situation gloomier for the Crimson and Gray.