June 18, 2007
Ducks QB ditches scholarship for pro baseball
Oregon Ducks starting QB Dennis Dixon has opted out of his football scholarship and will play minor-league baseball this summer with Danville Braves. Dixon, who graduated this weekend, was a fifth-round selection of the Atlanta Braves in last week's Major League Baseball draft.
Dixon will return to Oregon to QB the Ducks in the fall, but will miss all voluntary workouts and film study with the rest of his team, which could be quite detrimental to the team given that OU will implement a new offense this season under first-year OC Chip Kelly. He must also forfeit his athletic scholarship, since his MLB contract pays him somewhere in the neighborhood of $150K/year.
Dixon will have a playbook, game film and a football with him for the summer, and pledged to endure a workout plan designed by UO strength and conditioning guru Jim Radcliffe. But it won't be the same as living, socializing and practicing with his teammates every day, he acknowledged."Yeah, I'm worried about it," Dixon said. "It's always a thought in your mind," that if he struggles in the fall, his participation in baseball might be blamed.
"I don't want that to happen, so I'm going to bust my butt, do whatever I can in both sports just to be better."
Dixon said his football teammates have been supportive of his decision to try baseball, and he plans to maintain regular contact with them over the summer. UO head coach Mike Bellotti and coordinator Kelly have been supportive as well, though they've cautioned him not to jeopardize his eligibility in any way.
Bellotti cautioned Dixon not to talk football in any way when he signs with an agent this summer for baseball, and not to sign any endorsement deals - otherwise he would lose his college football eligibility.
If I were a Ducks fan, I would be a little pissed about the approach that the Oregon coaches are taking. Yes, Dixon has every right to pursue his baseball career, but he may be putting himself and his team behind by doing so. It's a selfish move, but Bellotti and Company seem content to welcome him back into the fold this fall, so why wouldn't he jump at it?
Other college football players have gone down this road - hello, Ricky Williams - but I don't ever recall a BCS conference starting QB trying to pull double duty - even if it is just for one summer. I wouldn't fault the the boo-birds the minute a WR breaks one way & Dixon throws another. You know they'll be out in full-force if OU suffers on Saturdays.
Comments:
gatorhippy said:
posted on June 18, 2007 4:39 PM — 209.16.115.5 — link — abuse?
Dixon has been in the system for three years...
If he's the starter and can't run it blindfolded as a senior...
He shouldn't be the starter...
As far as timing and gelling with the offensive co-horts...
I would say it should work itself out in the fall camps...
If it doesn't, then Bellotti made a bad decision...
Live and learn...
MeTarzan-Eugene said:
posted on June 18, 2007 7:04 PM — 170.167.4.210 — link — abuse?
First, it's UO, not OU.
Second, if the purpose of collegieate athletics is to develop good citizens, provide education, and offer quality student-athletes opportunities, Dixon is a runaway success story. By supporting him, Oregon's coaches are illustrating that they encourage student-athletes to take advantage of great opportunities. It might cost them a few games in 2007, but the potential long-term gain far outweighs the outcome a few football games.
Third, Dixon isn't being selfish, fans that call him selfish are being selfish.
Oh, and regarding big conference QBs who have played baseball, ever heard of John Elway?
Mc Duck said:
posted on June 18, 2007 7:29 PM — 63.229.128.5 — link — abuse?
I was surprised to read in the Oregonian that Dixon was drafted by the Braves to play Baseball. Especially since the U of O doesn't have a Baseball team. I wish him well in his Baseball career. However, I think the role of starting QB should fall to either Nate Costa, or Cody Kempt. As for Brady Leaf, he will always be a backup QB no matter who starts.
Zac said:
posted on June 18, 2007 8:17 PM — 65.31.230.72 — link — abuse?
I have no objection with Dennis Dixon choosing Pro Base Ball over CFB. If that's where his heart is, I say God bless you son, go for it. I do object if he thinks he can just waltz onto the practice field and be OR's starting QB. With a new coach, new system, and new plays, how can he expect to start? Now, if he enters practice and comes out of it on top, then, there it is. If he comes out tied with an under classman, I say Dixon warms the bench. After all, he made his choice.
Duckfan said:
posted on June 19, 2007 2:03 AM — 24.20.200.27 — link — abuse?
Dixon is a choke artist and a head case, the team would have had 10 wins last year if he could throw the ball to the right team. As for his much praised speed we have these guys called running backs that can do that job... Jonathon Stewart & Jeremiah Johnson, maybe you've heard of them, they're pretty good! Duck fans should all celebrate that Dixon is gone and pray that he loses his starting job permanently.
OU Fan said:
posted on June 19, 2007 3:23 AM — 139.139.51.70 — link — abuse?
T Smith post 4, OU is located in the dustbowl?? Either that was a stupid comment or you just do not know your history that well, but I will do my best to square you away. The dust bowl was a series of dust storms that swept through the Great Plains I believe to be back in the 1930's, and it was created by old farming techniques that caused erosion and a drought. It ruined crops, forced people to migrate out west, and it was the cause of death to many people. So NO, OU is not located in the Dust Bowl as you like to say. The Dust Bowl was a natural disaster. And since the Dust Bowl swept through the great plains, why don't you say that Nebraska, Kansas, Kansas State, Arkansas, Oklahoma, Oklahoma State, Iowa State, Texas, etc are also located in the Dust Bowl. GO SOONERS!
Mc Duck said:
posted on June 19, 2007 7:15 AM — 198.237.180.60 — link — abuse?
Gatorhippy (post #7) Oregon scuttled Baseball in favor of Track and Field (The Mayor can correct me if I'm wrong). There is talk however of Oregon restarting their Baseball program...even talk of building a new stadium. The U of O is the only School in the PAC 10 that is currently without a Baseball team. Apparently, Dennis Dixon must of been one hell of a Baseball player in High School to be drafted by the Atlanta Braves.
gatorhippy said:
posted on June 19, 2007 9:34 AM — 209.16.115.5 — link — abuse?
McDuck (#10):
Did some poking around...
Looks like Oregon has a strong club baseball program now...
http://www.uobaseball.com/index.php
And on their way to Florida for the NCBA World Series...
Looks like their pretty well financed too..
Mostly like a any other intercollegiate teams...
MeTarzan-Eugene said:
posted on June 19, 2007 12:09 PM — 170.167.4.210 — link — abuse?
TrojanHorse is correct, it was a Title IX. The Ducks dropped baseball, OSU dropped Track, UW dropped wrestling...etc.
I'm not sure what Mc Duck #12 meant, but "of" is optional. Oregon still owns its old interlocked UO symbol.
Dixon has graduated, and I hope he comes back in a couple of months with a fat wallet and enrolls in a ballroom dancing class. Then he can basically live college football for four months and have the time of his life, even if he's riding the pine.
While he hasn't exactly set the world on fire, he's been a great representative of the program, a good student, and a key player in a couple of very memorable games.
The asterisk game is already legend, and in Oregon, Dennis will forever be tied to 56-14!
posted on June 19, 2007 2:33 PM — 152.163.100.70 — link — abuse?War Eagle Atlanta said:
I don't see anything wrong with it--the kid gets to pursue a dream, perhaps grows up a little in the process, and Oregon gets the scholarship back and him back in the fall. Hopefully for Ducks fans, Dixon won't follow the path of Brave Jeff Francouer, who was supposed to go play quarterback for Clemson out of high school, but decided that this baseball stuff wasn't half bad...
The Mayor said:
posted on June 19, 2007 4:14 PM — 24.7.49.173 — link — abuse?
I agree, Title IX killed Oregon Baseball (which pretty much sucked anyway, terrible stadium, rained all the time)
In another sport I think Eugene's Danny Ainge played for the Blue Jays while at BYU...pretty good summer job if you ask me. Better than mine, working at the Pepsi plant sorting empties for $3/hr. You wouldn't believe what people put into a bottle after they've finished with their soda (I can't even what the beer bottle sorters must see?).
Best of luck to Dixon, but I don't think it bodes well for Oregon this year.
As far as Oregon Ducks and Baseball...well I'm a Baseball Beaver for the time being. Go Beav's and good luck in the CWS.
theREALUT said:
posted on June 19, 2007 4:51 PM — 204.181.6.4 — link — abuse?
I think alot of people on here are missing Kev's point. He's not questioning Dixon for making this move. I think anyone would jump at the chance to make 150K, then go play big time college football in the fall. He's questioning the Oregon coaching staff for not setting their foot down hard enough. If I was an OU fan, I would be pissed if their coaching staff had this passive attitude toward the situation like Kev is claiming. I mean I would not be happy if I knew Erik Ainge was spending his summer catching fly balls.
posted on June 19, 2007 4:56 PM — link — abuse?
@theREALUT - Exactly! What the hell are the Duck coaches thinking?! (Unless they're cleverly recruiting another two-sport QB on the down low!)
posted on June 19, 2007 5:49 PM — 152.163.100.70 — link — abuse?
Do either you, RealUT or Kevin, think that the Oregon coaches could have stopped him? They would come across looking bad and possibly poison this kid's attitude for the coming season. Why not be supportive? Sure, he risks injury, but there are trade-offs in everything. Besides, to hear some of the Ducks quacking on here, maybe he isn't the best QB--I don't know.
Mc Duck said:
posted on June 19, 2007 8:52 PM — 63.229.128.5 — link — abuse?
Duckfan (post #8) I agree with you wholeheartedly. Dixon needs to kiss his starting QB job with Oregon goodbye. I also concur that Dixon is a head case, who is afraid to get hit, and yet he's the one running Oregons' option styled offense! The fact that Bellotti and Chip Kelly did nothing to prevent him from playing Baseball has got me thinking he was the odd Duck out when it came to who would fill the starting role at QB this Fall for Oregon. When Dixon sat down with Bellotti to share the news with him, the conversation probably went something like this...
Dixon: Hi, Coach.
Bellotti: Hi, Dennis, what's up?
Dixon: Did you hear that I got drafted by the Atlanta Braves?
Bellotti: Yes, I did Dennis. And Coach Kelly and I think you should pursue your Baseball career.
Dixon: But, Coach, what about my starting job at QB for the Football team?
Bellotti: Don't worry about that, Dennis. We've got it covered. Now, go play ball...and don't let the door hit you in the ass on your way out!"Mc Duck said:
posted on June 19, 2007 9:07 PM — 63.229.128.5 — link — abuse?
I gaffed...(post #12)...what I meant to say was it is U of O...not OU...thanks to MeTarzan...for pointing this out...focus, Mc Duck...focus!!! But I hold to the comment that OU is somewhere between purgatory and hell...Go, Fighting Ducks!!!
Mc Duck said:
posted on June 21, 2007 6:39 PM — 63.229.128.5 — link — abuse?
gatorhippy (#13) while it is true that Oregon has an NCBA Baseball team, this is not Division 1 NCAA Baseball. Oregon plays teams like Montana, Weber State, Eastern Washington...Seattle...etc.,etc.
The plan is for Oregon to rejoin the rest of the PAC 10 and play teams like USC, Stanford, Oregon State...and contend for the NCAA College World Series.cookieman said:
posted on June 26, 2007 3:16 PM — 209.181.58.179 — link — abuse?
Pac 10 baseball at UofO? That's a far flung dream. If you take time to look at the real obstacles to the Ducks rejoining the conferance smallball circuit, there's a LOT of issues in the way. Costs and revenue issues are huge impediments. ie: Title IX will require UO starting 2 women's sports and dropping one man's. Drop what? Wrestling? Don't think so! The cost of starting a baseball program means big expense, and it generates very little revenue. And where do they recruit players? OSU has a lock on prospects statewide. UO would also need to find a ballfield for the team...sure, the local Padre's minor league field is nice--but it's not on campus. That's ill! Then ther's the matter of Kilkenny, the temporary Duck Athletic Director. His acknowledged hiring focus current was squarely on trying to fuindraise and build a new multi-million $ hoop arena. Not a good time for taking on the challenges of Baseball startup. Not at all!
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TrojanHorse said:
posted on June 18, 2007 3:09 PM — 208.54.95.129 — link — abuse?Best of luck to DD, I can't really blame him.. although as a Duck fan or coach (which I'm neither) I would not want him as anything but the backup QB or less.. however if leaf stinks that bad, maybe 1/2 a dixon is better than 100% of anything else that they have