From a fans perspective this game feels like potentially a tipping point for both programs. For UCLA a win would go a long way to validate the Kelly hire. And ironically a Duck win feels like it could go a long way to extinguish the nostalgia that many have had for Kelly era.
Odd way to put it. Most Duck fans I know are perfectly well past his era. It was fun, but Lanning is building his own excitement that Fans are starting to believe in.
The thing Duck fans need to get over is the expectation of an undefeated season every year! Kelly brought some of that thirst, but I think defeating his bruins will have the complete opposite effect, making duckfans crave even more!
Likely a fair statement but IMO he called a terrible game vs Auburn. With the way Nick A's D showed up and shut down CAM that was a very winnable game if Kelly had been less stubborn about running the ball directly into the strength of the Tigers D.
I disagree. I think that Chip called the perfect game for his philosophy. Tigers roar out to an early lead and the blur simply wears them down to an exhausted pulp. They are totally unable to stop the Ducks in the 4th and if the Michael Dyer Miracle Rollover not occurred, no way on earth that team stops Oregon in OT.
But "if" is the biggest little word in the English language. It still burns like hot coals in my gut eleven years later. But that is why we love sports!
But I think that this was the problem. His philosophy overwhelmed his judgement. The Ducks passing game was very effective. Yet he continued to run the ball instead of trust the passing game.
It is obviously water over the duck pond but with the Nick A's D played that was a winnable game. No team held down Malzahn's O that season than did the Ducks in the title game.
The B1G ref who chocked on his whistle when Dyer's forward progress was stopped did not help the Ducks cause.
But it is irrelevant come this Saturday and I appreciate your well reasoned reply.
Mike Bellotti is the best coach Oregon has had in the last 25 years. He brought us to the the next level of relevance after taking over from Brooks and he is the one who decided to change Oregon's offense and bring in an unknown OC from friggin New Hampshire. Without Bellotti's head coaching foresight, there would be no Natty or CFP games for Oregon.
UCLA has yet to be tested on the road. A very big TBD. Oregon hasn't really faced anyone since the Georgia game. We'll learn a lot more about both teams Saturday.
Hasn't faced anyone? How about them Cougars? Beat a ranked BYU team that everyone was hot about. And these Ducks beat the spirit out of a very good looking undefeated WSU team. It isn't fair to say "Oregon hasn't really faced anyone since the Georgia game".
It might be fair to say this is the best team they have faced since the Georgia game.
Walter… wash your mouth with a bar of soap and go stand in the corner. It’s one thing to think what you said, but to verbalize it to this bag of vagabonds is unforgivable!
Chip Kelly is going to come in to Autzen and beat the ducks in the house he built. Duck fans,put on your number 8 jerseys, pray to your disciples: Marcus,Mark,Willie and Mario. Kelly is going to give Uncle Phil his 85th Birthday parting gift.
Clearly you don't know much about Oregon football or what makes Ducks fans tick.
UCLA may very well win, but Chip didn't build Autzen. It was full when he got there. And Nobody is praying to Willie or Mario. Maybe to thank God they didn't stick around! The Florida connection can take credit for some good recruiting, but it ends there.
BTW, Len built it. Rich caught peoples attention. Mike filled it, expanded and filled it again. Chip entertained the filled seats.
Too bad there isn't anyone to entertain in Pasadena.
I think we can agree this is Chip's best UCLA team - and as others have said, they don't have a 'signature' win yet (UW and UTAH at home are nice but tell only so much). Oregon doesn't have have a signature win either. Somebody gonna get one on Saturday. Go Ducks.
Both QBs have a history of looking fantastic ... but then occasionally really falling flat.
We've seen it many times from DTR, and there's a reason people down South would say "will we get good Bo or bad Bo today?"
If both play as well as they've been playing of late, this should be a phenomenal game, right down deep into the 4th quarter.
Something I'm keeping an eye on: any hint of penalty resurgence from Oregon, particularly in a big home spot like this where the players are likely to be amped. They've been cruising against lesser teams of late ... different cut of steak on Saturday
I couldn't agree with you more, John. This meeting of these teams and these coaches in this stadium with the same College Gameday that Chip lured to Eugene so many times in his tenure. I will always love the guy and be eternally grateful for being fortunate enough to be a Ducks fan while he changed the landscape of football in so many ways.
Now, Go Ducks. I would love nothing more than to see Dan Lanning and company beat his considerable brains out while the Autzen faithful roar in deafening approval and SHOUT rings in his ears from a different time.
I began hating Willie the day he dropped that team slogan instead of embracing it as part of the culture of Oregon. I was never so happy to see a one season coach as with that guy.
Fun to read the comments. Thank you John for having this format for us fans. As I don’t care what team wins I will just sit back and watch the zebra team and replay booth at command center work their magic. I hope it infuriates both sides.
I loved the job Chip Kelly did when he coached Oregon football. It was a perfect storm, Kelly was in the right place at the right time, and his innovations changed the game. Kelly has UCLA clicking on all cylinders, but I think Oregon’s team is more talented over all and has yet to play their best game. Lanning has coached his team to improvement every game this season, and I appreciate how he and his staff have made Oregon football fun again. I also think the rainy weather, the Autzen crowd, and shaky Pac 12 officiating will effect the outcome of the game. I think Oregon is going to find a way to win this game.
I hope the Ducks destroy UCLA, as in devastation and annihilation level destruction. Just to be clear, I want the Ducks to win.
How do you really feel, Chip? BTW, get ready for your Xanax refill… Bruins in a squeaker, 42 to 36. Nix is mixed, backups can’t close the deal!
What a great story! Yes, nothing like watching the Ducks and UCLA play and makes us all forget the ugly stuff in the world. Thanks for a spirit boost!
From a fans perspective this game feels like potentially a tipping point for both programs. For UCLA a win would go a long way to validate the Kelly hire. And ironically a Duck win feels like it could go a long way to extinguish the nostalgia that many have had for Kelly era.
...extinguish the nostalgia...
Odd way to put it. Most Duck fans I know are perfectly well past his era. It was fun, but Lanning is building his own excitement that Fans are starting to believe in.
The thing Duck fans need to get over is the expectation of an undefeated season every year! Kelly brought some of that thirst, but I think defeating his bruins will have the complete opposite effect, making duckfans crave even more!
Chip was the best coach Oregon has had in the last 25 years
Likely a fair statement but IMO he called a terrible game vs Auburn. With the way Nick A's D showed up and shut down CAM that was a very winnable game if Kelly had been less stubborn about running the ball directly into the strength of the Tigers D.
I disagree. I think that Chip called the perfect game for his philosophy. Tigers roar out to an early lead and the blur simply wears them down to an exhausted pulp. They are totally unable to stop the Ducks in the 4th and if the Michael Dyer Miracle Rollover not occurred, no way on earth that team stops Oregon in OT.
But "if" is the biggest little word in the English language. It still burns like hot coals in my gut eleven years later. But that is why we love sports!
Go Ducks!
But I think that this was the problem. His philosophy overwhelmed his judgement. The Ducks passing game was very effective. Yet he continued to run the ball instead of trust the passing game.
It is obviously water over the duck pond but with the Nick A's D played that was a winnable game. No team held down Malzahn's O that season than did the Ducks in the title game.
The B1G ref who chocked on his whistle when Dyer's forward progress was stopped did not help the Ducks cause.
But it is irrelevant come this Saturday and I appreciate your well reasoned reply.
Mike Bellotti is the best coach Oregon has had in the last 25 years. He brought us to the the next level of relevance after taking over from Brooks and he is the one who decided to change Oregon's offense and bring in an unknown OC from friggin New Hampshire. Without Bellotti's head coaching foresight, there would be no Natty or CFP games for Oregon.
UCLA has yet to be tested on the road. A very big TBD. Oregon hasn't really faced anyone since the Georgia game. We'll learn a lot more about both teams Saturday.
Very true about road
I'm quite impressed with UCLA dispatching UW and the Utah (especially Utah) in subsequent weeks down at the palace of echoes (empty Rose Bowl)
UCLA's fanbase is pretty awful. And yes, I am a Bruin fan.
Me too. They/we get a pass for being so bad. In most cases, Kelly never would’ve made it to this breakout season.
Go Bruins!
Hasn't faced anyone? How about them Cougars? Beat a ranked BYU team that everyone was hot about. And these Ducks beat the spirit out of a very good looking undefeated WSU team. It isn't fair to say "Oregon hasn't really faced anyone since the Georgia game".
It might be fair to say this is the best team they have faced since the Georgia game.
Eastern Washington (1-5)
BYU (4-3)
WSU (4-3)
Stanford (*2-4, 1 of those was a toothpaste)
Arizona (3-4)
Oregon hasn't really faced anyone since the Georgia game. They may well blow UCLA out Saturday, but I stand by the initial comment.
Walter… wash your mouth with a bar of soap and go stand in the corner. It’s one thing to think what you said, but to verbalize it to this bag of vagabonds is unforgivable!
Hard to argue with Walter
The record of those opponents speaks for itself
Chip Kelly is going to come in to Autzen and beat the ducks in the house he built. Duck fans,put on your number 8 jerseys, pray to your disciples: Marcus,Mark,Willie and Mario. Kelly is going to give Uncle Phil his 85th Birthday parting gift.
Clearly you don't know much about Oregon football or what makes Ducks fans tick.
UCLA may very well win, but Chip didn't build Autzen. It was full when he got there. And Nobody is praying to Willie or Mario. Maybe to thank God they didn't stick around! The Florida connection can take credit for some good recruiting, but it ends there.
BTW, Len built it. Rich caught peoples attention. Mike filled it, expanded and filled it again. Chip entertained the filled seats.
Too bad there isn't anyone to entertain in Pasadena.
I’m married to a duck and even I don’t know what makes Duck fans tick
LOL
I think we can agree this is Chip's best UCLA team - and as others have said, they don't have a 'signature' win yet (UW and UTAH at home are nice but tell only so much). Oregon doesn't have have a signature win either. Somebody gonna get one on Saturday. Go Ducks.
This game fascinates me
Both QBs have a history of looking fantastic ... but then occasionally really falling flat.
We've seen it many times from DTR, and there's a reason people down South would say "will we get good Bo or bad Bo today?"
If both play as well as they've been playing of late, this should be a phenomenal game, right down deep into the 4th quarter.
Something I'm keeping an eye on: any hint of penalty resurgence from Oregon, particularly in a big home spot like this where the players are likely to be amped. They've been cruising against lesser teams of late ... different cut of steak on Saturday
Great story! Kelly brought the most exciting times of Oregon Ducks football.
I really hope this game isn't ruined by the P12 refs
They are far too involved in most every P12 game I watch
Too ticky-tack, overly verbose, too soft on judgment calls, too long on replays
I just want to see, think about and hear from the referees a lot less than we always do in the P12
I think that this game is going to be too much for UCLA...
On the Road, Game Day, Autzen Craziness and the Rain forecast.
45-17 Ducks
This seems a tad biased. But just a smidge.
I think the ducks win, but if they hold UCLA to 17, Tosh is getting a new job soon.
I couldn't agree with you more, John. This meeting of these teams and these coaches in this stadium with the same College Gameday that Chip lured to Eugene so many times in his tenure. I will always love the guy and be eternally grateful for being fortunate enough to be a Ducks fan while he changed the landscape of football in so many ways.
Now, Go Ducks. I would love nothing more than to see Dan Lanning and company beat his considerable brains out while the Autzen faithful roar in deafening approval and SHOUT rings in his ears from a different time.
Great take Jon, thank you.
BTW: Kelly, while at Manchester, NH high school was a member of the highest scoring hockey line ln the school's history.
Of course -- he would be!
Where do you think he started dreaming up the blurr offense?
Win the day. Go, Ducks!
I don't know if he came up with that, but Chip gave that to the Ducks. #WTD
Dip Chip! Go Ducks.
I began hating Willie the day he dropped that team slogan instead of embracing it as part of the culture of Oregon. I was never so happy to see a one season coach as with that guy.
Something tells me Willie T. has plenty of regrets. That one probably not making the list.
Indeed, he did. It is still valid today.
Fun to read the comments. Thank you John for having this format for us fans. As I don’t care what team wins I will just sit back and watch the zebra team and replay booth at command center work their magic. I hope it infuriates both sides.
I loved the job Chip Kelly did when he coached Oregon football. It was a perfect storm, Kelly was in the right place at the right time, and his innovations changed the game. Kelly has UCLA clicking on all cylinders, but I think Oregon’s team is more talented over all and has yet to play their best game. Lanning has coached his team to improvement every game this season, and I appreciate how he and his staff have made Oregon football fun again. I also think the rainy weather, the Autzen crowd, and shaky Pac 12 officiating will effect the outcome of the game. I think Oregon is going to find a way to win this game.