I’m just going to come right out and say it: I have been captivated by the Oregon football program recently. Call it an unparalleled love for green and yellow that dates back to my junior high school days or my deep appreciation of amazing uniforms (which the Ducks are in no short supply of), but there is something about Oregon Football that has really spiked my attention these last few months.
Any number of adjectives could be used to describe the fateful loss the Ducks suffered at the hands of the Arizona Wildcats back in early October: embarrassing, shameful, and concerning, to name a few that immediately come to mind. And while many in the college football realm thought that the 31-24 loss was unacceptable, something tells me they feel a bit silly right about now.
To start off, the Ducks are now 6-1 in conference play in the Pac-12. They were triumphant over the Utah Utes to take hold of the North and will have little trouble facing any opponent from the south based on their performance so far. I know I have mentioned this before, but it is worth mentioning again that the Ducks have taken their wins very seriously. They have stellar margins of victory, even more impressive when you consider the defensive wars that have been waged against them in the Pac-12.
The Ducks are leaving no room for error out on the field and it is truly showing. This side of the SEC, I think the Ducks are the best looking team out on the field. But there is more to the Ducks game than just drills and a team littered with talented athletes.
After the loss to the Wildcats, it seemed that coach Mark Helfrich was in hot water, along with the rest of the coaching staff. Dim-sighted followers of college football questioned where the Ducks could go after such a loss (though it was their fifth game of the season and only their first loss). Just over a month later, a proverbial phoenix has risen from the ashes of Wildcat decimation.
But just what has happened between the bookends of Arizona and Utah?
This is a team that learned to focus on coaching the minds of its athletes and how to better work as a team. Following the ever mentioned loss to Arizona, the coaches took their strategies back to the drawing board. The Ducks were showed hours of film, but not of the Wildcats loss, of their practices.
Soon, coaching staff and players alike noted what they were churning out in practice wasn’t up to their standards and they needed to make adjustments. Any former or current student athletes can attest to a coach saying that what you do in practice translates to what you do out on the field.
Oregon linebacker Tony Washington agreed with this sentiment saying,
“Honestly, the difference is we are playing harder. The coaches were showing us how we used to practice, and it wasn’t getting the job done. How we practice translates to how we play…”
All over the Oregon roster and amongst the coaching staff, it is evident that this is a group that truly believes in each other. I can’t imagine how tough it would be to get back on the practice field after a loss, but much more so after a win. After you face a tough opponent, it would seem like you wouldn’t have to put in the extra work if you held them off at an average of 24 points. The staff and players alike recognize that a continued effort is needed. You can’t make a case for the playoffs with four victories at the beginning of the season. You have to continue playing, even more so when you are met at the gates of inter-conference play.
There is also something to be said for the character of the team. It is so impressive when a young athlete has the grace to rise above a lagging score and extend a hand to an opposing teammate who got knocked over in the last drive. Or the star quarterback who is charged with leading his team to victory hangs back after a tough loss to shake the hands of the opposing teams players and coaches. I am not saying that Oregon is the only team with an ounce of character on its sidelines, but I am saying that even an ounce of character goes a long way in college sports, and there are many teams out there who would do well to remember that.
I think the character, dedication and the approach of Oregon football is what has the Ducks at the top, and what will keep them there through the Championship. Yes, this is college ball and anything can happen. Yes, the Ducks are going to have their work cut out for them when they battle formidable SEC opponents. But, more importantly, the Ducks have made their case for a championship, and are well on their way to earning it.
This week, the Ducks take a much deserved bye-week before taking on the Colorado Buffaloes, after which they will close out their regular season against Oregon State.
*Section Photo credit to Christian Petersen, Getty Images; Featured Photo (above) credit to Scott Olmos, USA Today Sports.