Gettin' Whacked by the Books.

David R.

November 11, 2010 - 8:27 PM

This week may have been the toughest week of my fall term so far, but I think I made it through alright. The onslaught of academic work won't stop until after next week, so I just need to push through one more grueling week of school before things finally start to slow down.

Going into this term I really didn't think that it was going to be that grueling. It hasn't been that my classes are extremely difficult, but that I have a lot of physical demands that need to be met. This term has presented more exams than I have ever taken in any other term in my college career. This week, I had an exam on Wednesday and Thursday, and I just finished a project paper for my biology class that is due tomorrow. Next week I have a test on Tuesday, a paper and a presentation on Thursday, and another final paper due on Friday. It's never fun, but sometimes you just need to buckle down and do work.

This weekend the Ducks are on the road taking on the California Golden Bears. On paper, the game doesn't seem like it should be too difficult, but at the same time, every team in the nation always has their figurative scope on the head of the number one ranked team. Losing at Cal two years ago doesn't make me feel any better about this matchup, but I know in my heart that our Ducks are simply the better squad.

With the heisman race getting tight, the talk of the town is heisman favorite Cam Newton of Auburn, and how he may be ruining what might have been a lock on this year's heisman trophy. Until about a week ago, Cam Newton was America's favorite guy. The 6'6" quarterback from Auburn was scorching defenses and was well on his way to a heisman trophy. He may still be on his way, but recent allegations have cast a negative light on highly praised figure. ESPN reported today that Cam Newton's father, at one point in time, told Mississippi State University that it would take between $100,000 and $180,000 to get his son Cam to play football for the Bulldogs. Before that, Newton and head coach Gene Chizik had a press conference concerning Newton's academic dishonesty charges coming from the University of Florida. It could very well be that these issues are just minor speed bumps in the road to Newton joining the elite club. But with such negative coverage surrounding him, is it unlikely to think that maybe LaMichael James could sweep into contention? Not at all. Even as an Oregon fan, I have to admit that Newton's numbers on the season are hard to beat, but at the same time, no one likes a bad apple (just ask Reggie Bush about that).

The fall term is flying by and Thanksgiving is right around the corner. Before I know it the the holidays will be here, and the would be no better Christmas present in the world than watching the Ducks play after the New Year.