Since the death of his father, John, last week, Oregon coach Willie Taggart has begun his days by talking to his late father.
"I spend time myself every morning, talk to pops," Taggart told reporters Monday, before UO's opened its third week of preseason practice in Eugene.
Then, the first-year UO coach delves into the business at hand, of preparing the Ducks for their Sept. 2 season opener against Southern Utah.
The work has helped.
"It's tough, but it makes it easier when you're around the guys, around the players having fun and with those guys," he said.