Ducks football finally quiets the naysayers

Sitting on my couch, with two seconds left in regulation of last week’s Rose Bowl game, I nearly collapsed with anticipation. It had been such a long time coming — 95 years to be exact — since the town of Eugene and Duck fans nationwide had celebrated a victory in the Grandaddy of all Bowl Games.

The Ducks beat Big Ten champions Wisconsin 45-38 on Jan. 2 to take home the Rose Bowl championship title. The naysayers, who had previously called out third-year head coach Chip Kelly for his gimmicky offensive scheme and for failing to produce wins when it counted, including the Ducks sole loss last season to Auburn in the BCS Bowl, were silenced.

LaMichael James, De’Anthony Thomas, Lavasier Tuinei, Darron Thomas and a speedy offensive line took to the field like soldiers headed into combat. This heavy arsenal was outfitted in specially designed Nike uniforms, featuring liquid metal reflective helmets. This time, the stars were in alignment, adorned in yellow and green.

It was the perfect time, like the story often goes, for the program to produce a big victory. Despite the Ducks rough start to the season, dropping their first game to the SEC LSU Tigers, and a painful home loss to the USC Trojans, this time around just felt different.

On a day plagued with expectation and pressure, the Oregon Ducks showed up, dominating on offense from game start to game end. De’Anthony Thomas’ scary fast speed, including a 91-yard touchdown sprint, had viewers and fans in attendance looking around stunned. James, Oregon’s all-time leading rusher, operated like an old pro chuckling at the new-timers to the game.

It felt destined, something that was set into motion under the football Gods above and made a reality under the consistent, focused, “win the day” sound bites from Kelly. They showed up, they won the day and all at once the memoires of past couldas or shouldas didn’t seem to matter one bit.

Advocate Staff