The Year of The Duck

[Lacker]

2 years out from this program I hope it's not too self-congratulatory to shout out to the 2011 NPDA / NPTE national champs. Other coaches have posted congrats to their teams at the tail end of outstanding accomplishment, I think this more than counts.

As many of you know Oregon has now participated in 5 national championship finals in the last 4 years with 3 different teams made up of 5 different students. The NPDA sweepstakes championship we won my last year there was sweet, but as everyone in Eugene is want to say "it's all about the 'natty.'" I am so tremendously proud of everything that program has become and all that the students have accomplished. While the team receives tremendous support from the University and it owes its very existence to the current and long-time Director Dr. Frank, it is a program run primarily by the students. Grad students do the admin work more than outstripping the hours required for their scholarship and, during my time there at least, the teams more or less coach themselves and each other. None of the undergrads receive significant financial scholarship for debate. It was an honor to stand in their competitive glory knowing all I did was push paper and I am still always immensely proud when I get to butt in on the cynical voices complaining about how "all the successful teams get all their arguments from their coaches" or "to be good you have to be x policy." Not at Oregon. Not these champs.

I think this accomplishment is an incredible testament to the power of motivated young people determined to succeed and to bring their friends along the way. Not many programs remain like Oregon's, most are either run top down or with nothing but grass roots support. Oregon is an amazing hybrid which transformed my education beyond my years of competition and which offers it's competitors an amazing opportunity to take the reins and drive.

Last, a word or two about the champions.

Matt came to the Oregon Debate Institute 2 years before becoming a duck, I knew him then as well as his first two years on the team. A quiet, confident, brilliant kid who knew his Oregon public debate success was more the result of charisma than technical skill and who thus dedicated himself to the difficult and frustrating task of learning the cold fundamentals of debate. Young Matt knew how to listen in a way uncommon for folks his age. Many of you remember that he gave up an incredibly successful debate partnership with Jon so Ben could have a debate partner at the NPDA, that was Oregon's first trip to the national final so it's only fitting that Gander be a part of the engine that finally breaks through.

Hank or as I've often heard him called "Big Country" is bar none one of the sweetest, most genuine, most caring individuals I've had the privilege to meet. Calm, collected, smart, dependable and hard working Hank too made his mark at the ODI camp working his way through the small but intensely coached policy section. An unassuming guy he worked hard to improve in every aspect of his life, always vigilant for good ideas or sound advice and always eager to take up the crap work that went into making a team run. What's more, he'd do it with a good attitude. Every coach has their share of pouters or whiners, not every coach gets a student as hard working and open minded as Hank.

Both of these people have grown tremendously since I've met them and yet both have in many ways stayed wonderfully the same. Here's to whatever the future holds in store for them and to the next generation of Oregon debate. I'm proud as hell to be a Duck.

[Pattybar]

Hear Hear!!! I think Aaron did a lot more than just push paper... but, he's modest like that!!

The dual championship team sounds like an amazing couple of people and Oregon is right to be proud of them!!

I'd like to add a short shout out to one of the Duck's coaches -- Tom Schally...

Most of you met Tom when he was at WKY -- but I met him in the first section of Intro to Philosophy I taught at Century. Tom slouched in the front row flipping a pen and looking like a debater. When I mentioned that I was a debate coach, he responded "but Century doesn't have a team"... I told him I coached elsewhere and expected him to forget it. If you know Tom, you'll know that wasn't the case.

It was a pleasure to watch Tom grow as a debater, from a kinda mixed-up but sweet dude to someone who taught himself theory debate from back-files. When it came time for him to leave Century, I knew he'd do well at WKY (and he did!!), but his coaching at Oregon is what makes me quite proud as his "debate Mom".

When Tom was entering his last year at Century I told him I'd get a tattoo if he and Dan won a tournament. When he went to WKY, it became winning nationals -- and that lasted. So, it looks like I'll finally get that tat -- but, I'm not getting two .

[Alan]

Wow. I don't even know what to say. Of those Ducks on the team I know, I've known many of them since the beginning of their careers. Watching them grow to become the most successful team in school history has been amazing.

To unify the titles is more than any coach or alum could ask for. Great job to Matt, Hank, Tom and Sarah. You guys exemplify what this activity is all about.

Congrats!