LinkedUp: Oregon Track and Field, NFL Draft Coverage, Pac 12 Heisman Dark Horses, and Calling Les Miles

It was a big weekend for Oregon Track and Field, and although the Oregon Relays didn’t quite go as planned there were some good things that happened at Hayward, as well as across the country in New York for Oregon Track and Field over the weekend. With the NFL Draft this weekend, the two networks covering the event, NFL Network and ESPN have come to a gentleman’s agreement on coverage, plus a look at Dark Horse Candidates in the Pac 12 this season and an unconventional way to ask a head coach a question on a conference call, by drunk dialing it in.

Apr 20, 2013; Walnut, CA, USA; English Gardner of Oregon reacts after winning the invitational womens 100m in 11.00 in the 55th Mt. San Antonio College Relays at Hilmer Lodge Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee-USA TODAY Sports

Oregon Track and Field, Shining Moments for Men and Women Despite Loss

It was a very bright spot for Andrew Wheating this past weekend, winning the 800 meters at Hayward Field in 1 minute 49.24 seconds. Wheating blew past the competition during the competition at the Oregon Relays last Friday evening. Over the weekend there was also a dual meet between the Ducks and #2 Arkansas, which did not go Oregon’s way as the Razorbacks took the meet in the final event, the 4x4oo.

Away from Hayward Field the women made a statement at the Mt SAC Relays in New York as Junior Phyllis Francis set the pace in the 200 meters, going under 23 seconds for the first time in her career. while Anne Kesselring set a personal best in the 1500 meters.

Some new records were set over the weekend, according to a press release from the U of O: 

English Gardner turned the track and field community on its ears by running the fastest 100 meters in the world this season Saturday at the Mt. SAC Relays. (She is set to race in the Penn Relays in Philadelphia this weekend)

The Duck junior from Voorhees, N.J., beat a field of elite professionals by finishing in 11.00, with a legal tailwind of plus-1.8 meters per second. Not only was that the fastest time of 2013 but also a school record, No. 2 all-time in Pac-12 history and No. 6 all-time in NCAA history.

Laura Roeseler roared to one of the best 800 meters ever at Oregon. The junior from Fargo, N.D., won the meet’s top section in a personal best 2:01.76. That was the second fastest time in the NCAA this season, and the No. 4 time in Pac-12 history.

It was also the fourth-best time in school history and the fastest 800 run by an Oregon woman in 28 years.

Do You Feel a Draft In Here?

We all know by now who the players are for the Ducks that will be headed to the NFL. Now the networks, aka ESPN and NFL Network,  have figured out how they will provide the best coverage to the fans, including NOT using social media before the actual player announcements. In a way this is good as it keeps the drama and anticipation up, but a reporter should be able to do his job too. Most folks in Radio City Music hall know a good 4-5 minutes beforehand who is going where.

College Football is Not Far Away, A Quick Look at Contenders for the Heisman from the Pac 12

Lisa Horne from Fox Sports breaks down the Heisman Contenders for 2013, including a Duck on the list, albeit one who shouldn’t really be a ‘dark horse’ candidate, but she explains it’s because of late night games and poor National coverage. (aka Pac 12 Network)

and finally….

Drunk Dialing Makes the Media Laugh

…and why wouldn’t it, especially if a head coach like Les Miles answers the call. It was apparently a slow news day at LSU, but the head coach picked up a buzzing phone in a news conference to have a drunk reporter on the other end.