SI on DAT: 'He’s not a running back or a receiver. He’s a bullet'
EUGENE, Ore. - Duck fans know De'Anthony Thomas is a rising star in college football.
Now sports fans across the nation do, too.
“You watch the NFL, you watch college, there’s no one like him," Oregon left tackle Kyle Long told Sports Illustrated. "He’s the next generation of position. He’s not a running back or a receiver. He’s a bullet."
A smiling Thomas stands tall above the headline "The Fastest Man in Football" on the cover of the new issue of Sports Illustrated, on newstands now.
The story chronicles how Thomas got a boost as a youth football player when rapper Snoop Dogg saw him run an opening kickoff back from 6 yards deep in the endzone for a touchdown.
As the story goes, Snoop Dogg rushed to the press box, grabbed the mircrophone and yelled, "The Black Mamba!"
A nickname was born - although on Chip Kelly's squad, the "Quack Mamba" has become a new kind of threat: "a touchdown waiting to happen," Sports Illustrated says.
Thomas is the sixth Oregon football player to make the cover following LaMichael James (Nov. 15, 2010), Jeremiah Masoli and Jordan Holmes (Aug. 18, 2009), Jason Fife (Sept. 29, 2003) and Joey Harrington (Aug. 13, 2001).
Please, someone get this poor guy off the cover of SI! It's a curse! He doesn't deserve this. He's too good.Â
I saw the headline and wondered exactly what the heck it was trying to convey. How about not using texting "language" in a title for a story? How about including the name De'Anthony Thomas in the title. Not everyone knows what a DAT is. Anyways, very fun to watch him play!
 @randomdude LOL!! Until reading the story, I thought "DAT" was ebonics for "that".
He is a joy to watch! Stay out of trouble my friend and it will be a joy to watch you in the NFL.
Go DUCKS!!!! ...quack, quack....
Once that kid from Aloha starts playing next year Thomas will be a distant memory.
@Beergod Doubtful. Tyner is just going to take Barner's (Jame's former) spot. DaT gets a lot of touches when he is not lined up in the Back field with the other Running back. They are going to be a ridiculous combo for Marcus to have in his 2nd season as primary weapons.
I though UO didn't like guns on campus; how can anyone labeled "a bullet" play there? LOL
Oh brother! You'd think he Christ returned from the dead the way they talk about him. He's a football player. Nothing more. Nothing less. Let's laud over people who actually contribute something valuable to society.
 @peckishpete I agree. The Great Reverand Chip Kelly King Jr. will figure something out for him. I wonder where Darron Thomas is these days.
 @peckishpete Considering your an OSU Beaver fan, I'd expect an ignorant comment like that coming from you. They call the magazine Sports Illustrated for a reason. HELLO?!?!?!?!
 @shek069  @peckishpete football is a sport?
@peckishpete You realize Sports Illustrated is a magazing dedicated to sports, right? Perhaps you should complain when Time has an article about Thomas.
What an ignorant statement, considering this is an official "sport" magazine; that historically highlights "sports" achievements. Now if this were Newsweek or some other similar mainstream media your stupid comment might hold some weight.
Go Ducks! Can't wait to watch this guy win a Heisman and take us to a National Championship :)
@Rae0224 Whaddaya mean....us? Are you a student or alumnus?Â
Well I went there and I am female so that makes me an alumna. Does that answer your important and strage question? And when I say "us" I mean I WILL be going to the National Championship to watch him WIN.
 @on shing dao  @Rae0224 Shows what you know. Green Bay Packers - 13 titles, Blazers - 1 title, Ducks, - Pac 12 Champions 3 years running, Rose Bowl Titles - 2.Â
Â
Do some research before you post idiotic crap like this.
 @shek069  @Rae0224 Damn you cheer for some crappy teams. What is the combined count of championships between them all? Like one, I think.
 @Rae0224 Oh, excuseme. $750.
 @on shing dao Season ticket holders put in for their tickets and pay face value and it is not $1,500.Â
 @Rae0224 you're going to pay $1,500 for a ticket? you can buy a 3d tv and a sectional and have a much better view.
 @Rae0224 You know it! I didn't go there but I'm still a fan and I often refer to the Ducks as "us" because I am a fan. I get tired of the Beaver fans who accuse Duck fans of being band wagon fans, especially when they have no clue who these people are. When anyone accuses me of being a band wagon fan I just simple tell them I can prove otherwise because I openly admit I'm a Mariner and a Blazer fan.
Great! And good for you! Go Ducks!
 @jpk  @Rae0224 Why does it matter if Rae went to U of O or not. Is it a bad thing to root for the home team?
 @jamez503  @jpk  @Rae0224 Ya cheer for a real champion.Â
@Rae0224 Nope! Timbers...... hahaha
There are people who didnt go to UofO who went to other schools who cant stand that Oregonian's with all types of backgrounds have chosen to root for the Ducks instead of the Beavers. It's ridiculous and apparently JPK must be one of them!
I think JPK must be a Beaver fan.
 @Portlander29  @jpk Yeah right....when did that become a "rule"?
@jpk I'm not sure where you got that "home team" refers to professional sports. I've never heard that before in my life. You just made that up.
@jamez503 @Rae0224 Home team refers to professional sports. DAT plays for the UO, not quite the same, even if you live in Eugene.