Dante Moore, Evan Stewart Say the Quiet Part Out Loud at Oregon Media Day, But This Time It's a Good Thing

Usually players won't come right out and say it, but it was refreshing yesterday when Dante Moore and Evan Stewart just said what everybody else was thinking.

The Ducks want to win a national championship. That's the goal. That's the purpose of all this hard work. It's like Coach Taylor in Friday Night Lights, going to the whiteboard and writing a single word: "STATE."

A media member asked Dante Moore what the biggest thing for success was in 2024, and the sophomore quarterback transfer from UCLA didn't duck or generalize. He said right out after just barely sitting down, "I think the biggest thing for success is winning a national championship."

Moore continued, "Of course it hasn't been done yet at the University of Oregon. I feel like this year we're very much talented, mentally we're really prepared, physically prepared. It's on God's timing--I think this is a great time for us to get a natty and just go for the moment."

Thank legendary Oregon cornerback Cliff Harris for the "natty" part. He popularized the expression in one of his colorful, wildly candid interviews after the Oregon/Oregon State game in 2009. The man was electric on the field and a quote machine anytime someone pointed a microphone at him. More than a dozen years later his joyous originality bubbles up in football conversation and even from the mouths of national pundits and talk show hosts. To this day people call Oregon State, "Little Brother." Harris was the cheese on the nachos, and we all hope, wherever he is, that he finds redemption and peace after what's been a troubled post-football life.

Back at Media Days, A&M transfer wide receiver Evan Stewart echoed Moore's directness. He said, "I never won a state title or a district title or anything in football. To win with this team would mean the world."

With his ready smile and infectious personality, Stewart has a little Cliff Harris in him, in all the best ways:

You had to love that these guys didn't give the reporters any of the time-worn cliches of sports. Instead, they searched their hearts and minds and shared them. Remember Crash Davis and Nuke LaLoosh on the bus in "Bull Durham," working on their cliches?

"I just want to take it one game at a time, and the good Lord willing, help the ball club."

The Ducks will certainly take it one game at time, and many of them rely openly on their faith. Nothing wrong with saying that, but it's nice they also said something fresh and original. It shows that they're fully engaged.