The Oregon Ducks have been dazzling us with their speed and explosiveness over the past few college football seasons. However, they seem to always stumble somewhere along the way ending any hopes of a national title. This season the Ducks have much the same ingredients that has helped them come close in recent years.
There is one thing that feels different about this team that separates them from Ducks teams of the past. A quiet confidence that seems to permeate throughout the locker room that starts with head coach Chip Kelly. The past few seasons, the Oregon Ducks were thought of as arrogant and cocky. Their personality has changed this season and it shows on the field. The Ducks are averaging 52 points a game, blowing out their opponent week after week.
I have had the opportunity to watch the Ducks play a lot since I live in the Pacific Northwest. Some may say I am biased because I live in this part of the country. Nothing could be further from the truth. I grew up a Washington Husky fan and then went to Washington State University and I am now a Cougar for life. The only thing I have to be proud of lately is watching my beloved Cougar flag flying high on College Gameday every Saturday morning.
Oregon (currently ranked No. 2) has more speed than any team I have ever seen. Led by Kenjon Barner and De'Anthony Thomas, the Ducks will continue to light up the scoreboard against the rest of the Pac-12. The Ducks defense has a bend-but-don't-break philosophy and a knack for creating turnovers.
Oregon has some tough contests during the month of November. November 3rd at No. 11 USC, November 17th at home versus No. 17 Stanford before wrapping up the Pac-12 regular season against state rival and currently undefeated No. 10 Oregon State. If the Ducks are able to survive November, they will be truly battle tested and ready to take on the heavyweights of the SEC.
The Ducks are a difficult team to like. They have a coach that likes to go for two whenever they get their first touchdown of the game to take an unconventional 8-0 lead. Oregon plays their games at Autzen Stadium where the fans are to be kind, ugly toward opposing team fans. Some people I know went to see the Huskies in Eugene and got to experience the feeling of spit coming down from above. And finally, the constant changing of uniforms and helmets with varying shades of green. Where are they getting all this money? Oh yeah, Nike is a sponsor and has their corporate headquarters not far away. Must be nice.
Although there are many reasons to dislike Oregon, the fact is, they are a very good football team loaded with talent. Chip Kelly has developed a system along with outstanding recruiting that has this program reloading each year rather than rebuilding. The Ducks have solidified themselves as a true Pac-12 power.
Most of the country is in love with the SEC and rightfully so. After all, the conference has provided the past eight national champions. The rest of the country better take notice because this Oregon Duck team is headed to the big game against Alabama. This just might be the year that the SEC goes down.
October 9, 2012
Joe Clark:
Get your facts right. Two years ago, the Ducks were in the National Championship, and lost on a last second field goal. That’s not a stumble. I sat in the section next to the Husky section, and the Huskies were treated fine. There were a spattering of Huskies in our section, and a few were arrogant jerks for a few minutes, and then surprisingly quiet for the rest of the game.
October 9, 2012
Paul campos:
Joe it’s just an article don’t get all mad about it. Btw nice article great to hear the ducks finally getting more respect.
October 9, 2012
Hope Johnson:
Pretty obvious Greg is not a fan. This is not a true reflection of the Ducks or their fans, but biased dribble written by a Husky.
October 10, 2012
Mitch J:
Greg, holy cow buddy. I’ve been to the last two home games and the opposing team fans I observed were treated with respect. So I don’t see at all the accounts you’ve noted. I’ve been going to games for several years, and I have never witnessed one on one abuse of any fan.
The big difference this year is better defense. The team that challenged Auburn was great although no one was willing to recognize that until the end. This years defense is better, and with freshmen on both sides of the ball, the potential to improve is large.
But it all comes down to execution. We’ll see.
October 11, 2012
Tommy B:
I have season tickets in section 40. Last week their was a fight between a Duck and a Husky that had police involved, honestly didn’t see who started it but both were hauled out. The hard part was a young lady in the Husky section, that kept after the Duck fans with a sign that read as an acrostic ESPN, for all of ESPN to read, yet litterally sat and pointed it at all of Duck fans to read, Eat Sh** Phil kNight ESPN. I guess this is normal for Husky fans. Go Ducks
October 11, 2012
jimbo:
The Nike Ducks will once again lose to the SEC if they can beat USC. They must be called the Nike Ducks because they only have 8 Oregon players on their team and 10 players from the deep south. There has to be a rule change requiring 50% of your players being from your region. LSU, Auburn and next Alabama will keep the Ducks from being considered footballs elite. Man up! More players from Oregon!
October 18, 2012
Thomas Hudson:
For starter that comment about there should be a rule change about teams having 50% of player from that region is the dumbest statement made all day look back in history there are plenty of college greats that played for colleges outside of their home region…. putting that rule in effect would basically ruin the point of recuitment. so getting angry because the ducks have good recuiting skills doesnt need to result in a rule change.. and for the uniform changes and the whole nike ducks bullshit… thats retarded just becuase the ducks budget around getting new uniforms is not something to hate on no one is stopping SC or any other team from budgeting accordingly for new uniforms so thats that and last but not least you guys should stop complaining about all the ducks benifits in their program… maybe if your program was blowing out every team by 20 point or more then you’d guys get more benefits lol being a winning team comes with benifts just fyi
October 28, 2012
Brad:
Yeah Jimbo (should of known by the name). One of the great assets of student athletes is that they can go to another part of the country and experience something different, to make a new life. If you were growing up in a bad part of LA, Eugene probably sounds pretty sweet.