Friday Walk-Through: News, Notes and Web Bites on Oregon at Washington State

Cougars, Cats, Huskies, Beavers and Bears: the crabby fighting Duck doesn't overlook anybody. He's got a double fighting bolo punch saved for every animal on the schedule, and plenty more where that came from if you wanna tussle.

Adam Jude of the Register-Guard has a feature on Duck tight end David Paulson, who's averaged 21.3 yards on his nine catches this season, with 19 of his 21 career receptions going for a first down or a touchdown. A clutch receiver with good hands, Paulson is lauded by coaches and teammate alike for his work ethic and productivity. Jude reports that two of his brothers went to Washington State, and his oldest brother Chris was a walk-on linebacker on the 2002-2003 Rose Bowl team. Amazing to think that the Cougars were Rose Bound just a few seasons ago. One bad hire and four poor recruiting years have left the program in ruins.

Multiple reports confirm Saturday's game versus WSU will be broadcast live on Comcast Sports Net, 2 p.m. on channel 37/737 HD, with the replay moved back to 11 p.m. Fox Sports agreed to a waiver to allow the telecast. The $100,000 shakedown proposed by Bill Moos was averted.

In addition to racking up the yards and Heisman hype, LaMichael James scores big in the classroom, carrying a solid B average. His favorite class is American Sign Language. James has said he only has two ambitions as an Oregon football player, to win games and make Academic All-American.

Rachel Bachman continues her odd, ceaseless, making-mountains-from-molehills vendetta against Oregon athletics. This time it's something about the student-athletes getting money from the general fund for academic support. It's not illegal; it just violates a claim of self-sufficiency. Not sure what the point is. Nobody stole any money, nobody misused any, it's just a bunch of big budget numbers to prove that Oregon sports are not as financially independent as Pat Kilkenny once claimed. The program is very successful, run cleanly, and managed capably by new athletic director Rob Mullens, who has a solid financial background in the business side of college sports. Oregon athletics have raised the profile of the university and represented the school admirably. The on-field success has many positive academic benefits, including increased enrollment and donations. But it's a good thing we have a fulltime self-designated watchdog to make sure all the commas and zeroes are in the right place.

The crabby fighting Duck leaves his fat wallet at home at game time, and he knows sign language. Here's a sign for all you Cougars: POW!