Has
anyone in Eugene given any thought to how terrible it would be to lose a
golden era that was gone before we realized what we had? I doubt very
many Oregon Duck football fans have even considered the notion of their
team falling back to "good.. but not good enough." This new generation
of UO football is just too young, too promising and the Ducks have just
been too damn FAST!
We've come a long way, baby... And the finish line
is right there. Just a few years ago everyone could "smell the roses"
and sure as the promise that some dared not whisper, the roses were in
our mouths. A nation of Ducks fans young and old couldn't believe and
cherished the final seconds that promised the Rose Bowl championship
would finally come back to Eugene for the first time since 1917.
Belotti
built a culture that Kelly mastered and drove all the way to perennial
title talk in Track Town. Staying true to the nickname of our beautiful
city, Duck football has ignited a frenzy of coaches switching to the
ultra fast hurry up spread offense that even (not surprisingly) the NFL
has adopted, now making the position of half back almost obsolete.
Coaches want versatile weapons, players who can line up in the slot, the
backfield and even as the first option wideout all within just a single
three-down stretch. It's fast, exciting, and damn does it put points on
the board. The system that was once taboo is now proven and no one has
done it better than the Mighty Ducks over the past 5 years, that we are
sure of.
But, what about the uncertain? It seems as though everyone has
already forgotten the Mighty Trojans as if they were as played out and
old as the tiring moth ridden annual Notre Dame hype (this coming from a
former Chicagoan that grew up cheering and still does for his beloved
Fighting Irish). It seems we forget that all of this great success has
come during one of the worst stretches (by their University of Spoiled
Children standards) of USC football in decades. The days of fearing the
Trojans vanished so suddenly since the demise of Pete Carroll's dynasty
when the NCAA hammer came falling down hard.
The sanctions came and BCS
dreams for Barkely, Reggie's Heisman, and fear of the Trojan Horse all
disappeared. What will happen when all those sanctions are lifted and
their scholarships reinstated? Will Oregon still be able to recruit the
De'Anthony Thomas's of the world? How about the Kenjon Barner's or even
the Kiko Alonso's? All three stars of the Rose Bowl team, all three from
the sunshine of Californ-I-A. I'm not sure how many Eugene natives
realize this, it could be a lot, could be a little. But coming from
someone who has spent 3 years in Southern California and with all the
history, former success, sunshine, women and stardom that come along
with playing for the best thing LA has had in terms of football since...
well, ever; I have seen first hand it is pretty much every young
California football player's dream to play for USC. Yes LA once had the
Raiders (twice actually) and also the Rams. But after LA ran Al Davis
out of town and the Rams skipped town for St. Louis people finally
realized they only had one true team in LA, one that hardly ever
disappointed and definitely never truly broke their hearts.
And, those would be the Trojans.
I've been to my share of frat
parties, keggers and all manner of suares on the lovely USC campus all
in the name of research of course (insert wink face here) and believe me
those guys are treated like royalty. Even walk on's get attention that
is unheard of up here in the Emerald state. They have entourages,
they're recognized everywhere, they get free meals everywhere they go
and they live the most lavish college lifestyle imaginable. And why?
BECAUSE IT'S LA! Now yes, Oregon took the bull by the horns and did one
hell of a job of capitalizing on the opportunity to finally rule the
Pac-10 and now 12. Despite some poor luck against Stanford, in the
absence of USC, UO firmly seated themselves atop the Pac-12 throne. That
was evident after Chip (who is an amazing coach but also an incredible
recruiter) left for the riches of the NFL Oregon was still ranked in the
pre-season top 5. I can't think of one other program aside from MAYBE
Alabama who could have done the same. Don't get me wrong and don't take
this out of context, Mark Helfrich is a great coach. Before being given
the reigns to the hyper-speed Ducks he was the longest tenured assistant
in the country who grew under the tutelage of Belotti (who was offered
the USC job before Carroll) and Kelly who is possibly the most brilliant
mind in all of football.
Let me state this clear, Helfrich was indeed
the right hire. But after that mind boggling and embarrassing defeat at
the hands of the Wildcats last year wasn't the writing if not in bold
font, parhaps maybe even scribbled on the wall? Stanford didn't miss a
beat after Jim Harbaugh departed for the NFL, in fact they have
performed arguably even better. Winning the Rose Bowl in 2013 and just
barely losing an upset to Michigan State last year. But, here we are in
the midst of pre-season hype and speculation once again. Football hype
no matter how silly and how unrealistic it can be is ALWAYS fun. And
last I checked Oregon was once again ranked in the top 5 after spring
game polls. Absolutely amazing, especially after last year in which we
missed a BCS game for just the first time in 5 years.
One thing the
Ducks do have in their corner and it's not just a trump card it's a pair
of pocket aces, is returning Heisman favorite Marcus Mariota. And
another thing that may not be as celebrated as Mariota but certainly
just as, if not more important is one year of head coaching experience
and recruiting under Coach Helfrich's belt. That is experience that
truly is priceless and more than anything else will lead Oregon to the
new four team Championship playoff in it's first year of existence,
giving them a shot at their first National Title. Something that even
his great predecessors could not accomplish. And with that I say this in
confidence, this could finally be our year to bring it home. Hell, I'll
just say it, this IS our year. So everyone stay tuned, if nothing else
this year is gonna be fun, it's gonna get ugly, and we all know.. it's
gonna be FAST. GO DUCKS!
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