Good

• It’s always good to have some perspective. While in Colorado for this weekend’s football game, Ducks at the Beach — a group of Oregon football boosters — has decided to donate 250 backpacks full of school supplies and other items in light of last month’s Colorado floods. The backpacks were a product of donations from Nike, the Gearhart schools and the Duck Store, and will be given to the Lyons Colorado School District. The gifts are estimated to be worth $10,000.
• This Saturday’s Bill Dellinger Invitational will be the Oregon cross country team’s one home meet of the season, as the squad will make the short drive to the Springfield Country Club. The No. 4 men’s team will face a tough challenge from No. 8 Portland, while the No. 5 women will battle No. 7 Washington, among others. Freshman Edward Cheserek will look to follow up his win at last weekend’s Boston College Invitational, while seniors Parker Stinson and Sarah Penney will compete in the final home meet of their collegiate careers.

Bad

• After ESPN’s Reggie Rankin reported yesterday that power forward Ray Kasongo had verbally committed to Oregon, the 6-foot-9 senior out of Phase 1 Academy in Arizona took to Twitter to distance himself from the report. The Ducks will lose power forwards Mike Moser and Richard Amardii after the 2013-14 season, making interior big men a key focus for the upcoming recruiting class.
• USC receiver Marqise Lee did not participate in Wednesday’s practice after suffering a knee sprain last week against Arizona State. The junior wideout indicated that the injury has gotten better daily, but he will continue rehabilitation treatment in the meantime. USC is on a bye this week and play their next game against Arizona on Thursday, Oct. 10.

Ugly

• If there weren’t enough reasons to appreciate the Duck, Throwback Thursday gave us one more. The University of Oregon Athletics posted this gem to its official Instagram account on Tuesday, presenting the oldest Oregon mascot uniform to exist. While this version of the Duck more closely resembles the stork from Dumbo than a mascot that cranks out push-ups on Saturdays, the flashback is likely to make you chuckle.