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Oregon Ducks Fall Camp: Building a Relentless Defense

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Oregon Ducks Fall Camp: Building a Relentless Defense


The Oregon Ducks football program is looking to build on a strong defensive performance last season, with the goal of establishing an even more dominant identity in 2024. Thursday, after day two of Oregon’s fall camp, defensive coordinator Tosh Lupoi outlined key areas of focus for Oregon’s defense as it prepares for its first season in the Big Ten Conference.

“We want to be a relentless defense,” Lupoi siad. “We see a cohesive brotherhood that plays at an extremely relentless level and attacks the ball.”

Post-practice, Lupoi highlighted the development of multiple players on Oregon’s defense, including Derrick Harmon, an incoming transfer lineman from Michigan State.

Michigan State defensive tackle Derrick Harmon (41) celebrates after sacking Akron quarterback Jeff Undercuffler J

Michigan State defensive tackle Derrick Harmon (41) celebrates after sacking Akron quarterback Jeff Undercuffler Jr. (13) during the second half at Spartan Stadium in East Lansing on Saturday, Sept. 10, 2022. / Junfu Han / USA TODAY NETWORK

“I have high expectations,” Lupoi said. “He has high expectations for himself. He’s a guy that’s here to take his game to the next level. We’re gonna do everything humanly possible to assist him in that and continue his development.”

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Last football season, the Ducks were a force to be reckoned with, ranking in the top 10 in scoring defense and top 25 in total defense. Despite Oregon’s defensive success, Lupoi emphasized the importance of never being satisfied and pushing for more.

“No one here on this defense has arrived,” Lupoi said. “We’re not talking about the accomplishments of last season. It’s all about moving forward. It’s a daily grind mentally and physically. That’s what we’re trying to do.”

Oregon defensive coordinator Tosh Lupoi rallies the defense as the Oregon Ducks host Portland State in the Ducks    season op

Oregon defensive coordinator Tosh Lupoi rallies the defense as the Oregon Ducks host Portland State in the Ducks season opener Saturday, Sept. 2, 2023, at Autzen Stadium in Eugene, Ore. / Ben Lonergan/The Register-Guard / USA TODAY NETWORK

Although the Ducks were an elite defense last season, there was still room for improvement. One of these areas was Oregon’s red zone defense.

“Something we got to get better at is red zone defense. We did a lot of things this offseason, looking at possible different schematics and then taking what we do and doing it better,” Lupoi said. “We want to be winning at a much higher percentage on third downs.”

Lupoi believes Oregon’s new personnel can help take Oregon’s defense another step further. In the offseason, Lupoi worked to recruit some of the top defensive talents in the nation. In the offseason, Oregon added Washington transfer defensive back Jabbar Muhammad, Houston transfer defensive lineman Jamaree Caldwell, Michigan State transfer defensive lineman Derrick Harmon, and more. These transfers are part of a transfer class ranked No. 2 in the nation.

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Despite the talent Lupoi and the rest of Oregon’s coaching staff were able to add, Lupoi is looking to develop these talents even more.

Texas Longhorns wide receiver Xavier Worthy (1) and Washington Huskies cornerback Jabbar Muhammad (1) reach for a pass intend

Texas Longhorns wide receiver Xavier Worthy (1) and Washington Huskies cornerback Jabbar Muhammad (1) reach for a pass intended for Worthy in the second quarter of the Sugar Bowl College Football Playoff semi-finals at the Ceasars Superdome in New Orleans, Louisiana, Jan. 1, 2024. The Texas Longhorns take on the Washington Huskies for a spot in the College Football Playoff Finals. / Sara Diggins/American-Statesman / USA TODAY NETWORK

“We got to continue to coach those guys and improve and get them better within our system.,” Lupoi said. “I don’t think we’re ever going to be satisfied.”

As the Ducks prepare for the upcoming season, the defense’s identity is clear: relentless, attacking, and playing for something bigger than themselves. If Oregon can translate that mentality into consistent, dominant performances, they could emerge as one of the top defensive teams in the country.



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Fireworks on sale in Oregon until July 6

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Fireworks on sale in Oregon until July 6


PORTLAND Ore. (KPTV) – Fireworks are on sale in Oregon until July 6, but state and local rules limit where they can be used and what types are allowed.

In Portland, fireworks use and sales are banned year-round.

Fireworks are also banned on beaches and in state and national parks.

Statewide, fireworks that fly into the air, explode, act unpredictably or move more than 12 feet horizontally are illegal. Banned fireworks include sky lanterns, missiles, rockets, Roman candles, firecrackers, cherry bombs and M-80s.

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Fountains, sparklers, ground spinners and smoke devices are among the fireworks allowed under state rules.

Officials said people should not call 911 to report illegal fireworks. They said reports should go to the non-emergency line for the area.

First responders said there were 263 fires across Portland during last year’s fireworks season, and 27 were caused by fireworks.

For more details about fireworks regulation in Oregon, click here.

In Washington, fireworks sales legally begin Sunday and run through July 4.

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Gray whale carcass washes ashore in Gearhart on Oregon coast

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Gray whale carcass washes ashore in Gearhart on Oregon coast


Another gray whale washed up on the Oregon coast last week, this time in Gearhart, according to Seaside Aquarium.

The 41-foot-long male had been dead for months before washing up on the beach, Seaside Aquarium general manager Keith Chandler said.

He noted that there have been 19 total whale strandings or carcasses washing up on beaches just this year on the Oregon coast region.

The Cascadia Research Collective is reporting at least 30 on Washington coastline alone. | TIMELINE

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Of those deaths, more than half were at least partially attributed to malnutrition. That could have been the cause in more strandings, however, necropsies were not performed in roughly a dozen of the 30 strandings.

Chandler said strong wind from the west this year has been contributing to why coastal towns are seeing a lot of whales and other things washing up on shore. However he also noted that many of the Grey whales washed ashore were emaciated with necropsies showing signs of malnourishment.

“The food sources have been compromised. The warmer water means the nutrients that they’re getting aren’t as good, so the whole food chain is kind of not as healthy,” Chandler said.

He pointed to the warming waters with climate change as the main reason noting that warm water plankton–Grey Whale’s main food source–is thinner and has fewer nutrients than plankton in cooler waters.

Chandler says this whale will not have a necropsy done because of its level of decomposition.

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“The fresher ones, the team from Portland State [University] will come down and they’ll go in and do measurements, take samples and stuff, measurements of the internal organs. But on one this decayed, you won’t gain anything from it scientifically. And it’s just kind of a mess to do when they’re this rotten,” he said.

KATU VAULT | The Exploding Whale of 1970: ‘Should a whale ever wash ashore again’

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You can report a whale stranding to the West Coast Marine Mammal Stranding Network Hotline by calling 1-866-767-6114.



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Oregon Gov. Tina Kotek appoints Nathan Lichvarcik to Lane County Circuit Court bench

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Oregon Gov. Tina Kotek appoints Nathan Lichvarcik to Lane County Circuit Court bench


Gov. Tina Kotek announced today that she will appoint Nathan J. Lichvarcik to the Lane County Circuit Court bench, filling a vacancy created by the upcoming resignation of Judge Debra K. Vogt.

Lichvarcik’s appointment is effective Aug. 1, 2026.

Lichvarcik is a criminal law attorney with the U.S. Attorney’s Office. He has worked in the office’s Eugene branch for the past 14 years and has served as branch supervisor for the Eugene and Medford offices since 2020.

He has also taught Trial Advocacy at the University of Oregon Law School for the past 10 years.

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