I actually emailed Chip Kelly after the Boise State game with something along the lines of: What the hell man?
He wrote me back a fairly lengthy email apologizing and was very sincere. I actually then met him some time later at the Eugene Country Club after the spring game and he took some good time to talk to me. He may have been a bit rude to the media, but in person he was a really nice guy. I mentioned the email I sent and he said he was responding to everyone that emailed he. Had to give the guy some serious props for that. Most people would have called the IT guy and told him to shutoff the email account!
How do you think Mike Riley feels? Corvallis boy. Left his home town team, not once, but twice, in what is a monumental display of disloyalty. Failed every time he left. Do you think maybe he wishes he had not been so arrogant?
Mike Riley left before he was pushed out the door. He refused to replace his assistants that could not longer change with the game. I and others celebrated when Nebraska came calling. We were paid by Nebraska to get him out of his contract. It reminded me of when New Mexico State came and paid us to get rid of Ritchie McKay. Nebraska finally forced him to let go of his tribe of coaches but by then it was too late. Great coach and will ever be grateful to him but it was time for him to leave. Then of course the AD hired the Great Pretender and we were worse off for a while. Everything works out for the best though as now we have Number 5 back leading us properly. When he fired the DC last year in the middle of the season it proved he was not fine with adequate like Riley.
Phil and Nike are much more responsible for the Ducks success over the past 30 years than any coach or AD. Big national programs like Alabama and Ohio State are very well funded by tens or hundreds of well-heeled boosters. Money buys lots of perks for the athletes, as well as post college careers. U of O only needs one booster and that is Phil Knight. Unfortunately for OSU, there is no one comparable in their alumni. A few millionaires, but no billionaires. It is nice when one booster can write a check for a new training facility or a team plane or design great uniforms and sponsor sports stars like Michael Jordan that get the attention of all top athletes. Give Phil all the credit. He deserves it
Your article convinces me, Chip doesn't see this game the way we Duck fans do. I pray Dan Lanning sees it like Chip , otherwise, Ive got to go with Chip
Chip, in spite of himself, is indeed one heckuva college football coach with an uncanny ability to evaluate talent. Watching the Huskies at Autzen was at it’s toughest when he was at the helm. Time for that third mark in the visiting coach’s loss column - BEAT L.A.
Another outstanding article, John. I truly hated to see Chip go because his coaching style fit so perfectly with Oregon at the time. Heck, even some of the improvements made to the coaching facility seemed home away from home custom made for Kelly, who spent more time at Autzen than he did at his home before he left. Lanning is young, smart, and has different skills than Kelly, but his coaching style also fits Oregon really well. It’s going to be a great game on Saturday.
Like I've said before about Autzen Stadium, Len built it. Rich caught peoples attention. Mike filled it, expanded and filled it again. Chip entertained the filled seats.
Never before this week have EVER heard Autzen referred to as the house Chip built. Now it's twice this week!! Lots of credit the Chipster is getting.
Really, Chip built tbe HD football complex....without him that thing never happens. I loved BB Chip! He was the best coach but i hope the Ducks send him home a loser! Love the articles JC!
Chip may have been a bit salty with the media when he was at Oregon but the guy had a big heart for those in the community that were disadvantaged, had health issues etc. He sent my wife’s mother an autographed photo with a personal note when she was dealing with cancer. Never forget that. That photo is still a treasured possession in our family.
All three of our kids went to Oregon, as did our grandson and now granddaughter in law. Then his sister went to Oregon State and married a Beaver she met there (a terrific individual by the way.) So we are always a house divided When the Ducks and Beavers meet.
Damned if I don't have that same conflicted feeling about THIS game!
Nice Piece. Too Often Coaches that leave get blasted for the wrong reason. I love to beat Chip because he was good for Oregon and set a standard without leaving the cupboard bare. His Goal and chasing the NFL Dream should have never been considered "personal" like a couple departures since he left. Go Ducks!
Nice piece on Chip, glad you have the freedom/space to flesh out the stories. Much better than the usual we seem to be getting from other sources . . . I keep wanting to write a certain daily and say, "Length is not depth" but there's an old saw about deaf ears . . .
"Former head coach Rich Brooks lit the match. His replacement, Mike Bellotti, blew on the kindling and got the smoke and fire going. Then, Kelly showed up with a can of gasoline and turned the scene into a raging inferno."
Yep.
Now Go Dan Lanning's Ducks! Whip his Bruin's butts!
I believe Mike Bellotti's 2001 team finished No. 2 in the country. I wonder if Chip Kelly's flashy winning percentage would have held up had he coached at Oregon as long as Bellotti did.
I wrote him a letter before the announcement he was leaving. I gave him my best reasons for not leaving. He left.
Dan Lanning is our coach now; he is not Chip Kelly, but we are still the Ducks.
I actually emailed Chip Kelly after the Boise State game with something along the lines of: What the hell man?
He wrote me back a fairly lengthy email apologizing and was very sincere. I actually then met him some time later at the Eugene Country Club after the spring game and he took some good time to talk to me. He may have been a bit rude to the media, but in person he was a really nice guy. I mentioned the email I sent and he said he was responding to everyone that emailed he. Had to give the guy some serious props for that. Most people would have called the IT guy and told him to shutoff the email account!
Epic. Love this comment.
How do you think Mike Riley feels? Corvallis boy. Left his home town team, not once, but twice, in what is a monumental display of disloyalty. Failed every time he left. Do you think maybe he wishes he had not been so arrogant?
Mike Riley left before he was pushed out the door. He refused to replace his assistants that could not longer change with the game. I and others celebrated when Nebraska came calling. We were paid by Nebraska to get him out of his contract. It reminded me of when New Mexico State came and paid us to get rid of Ritchie McKay. Nebraska finally forced him to let go of his tribe of coaches but by then it was too late. Great coach and will ever be grateful to him but it was time for him to leave. Then of course the AD hired the Great Pretender and we were worse off for a while. Everything works out for the best though as now we have Number 5 back leading us properly. When he fired the DC last year in the middle of the season it proved he was not fine with adequate like Riley.
The house that Phil built proceeded Chip & made a huge contribution to UO's success.
Phil and Nike are much more responsible for the Ducks success over the past 30 years than any coach or AD. Big national programs like Alabama and Ohio State are very well funded by tens or hundreds of well-heeled boosters. Money buys lots of perks for the athletes, as well as post college careers. U of O only needs one booster and that is Phil Knight. Unfortunately for OSU, there is no one comparable in their alumni. A few millionaires, but no billionaires. It is nice when one booster can write a check for a new training facility or a team plane or design great uniforms and sponsor sports stars like Michael Jordan that get the attention of all top athletes. Give Phil all the credit. He deserves it
Phil was NIL when NIL wasn't cool.
Your article convinces me, Chip doesn't see this game the way we Duck fans do. I pray Dan Lanning sees it like Chip , otherwise, Ive got to go with Chip
I Enjoyed the article! But no mention of CAL beating Chip/Oregon at Autzen when Game Day visited in 2007?
Chip was not the head coach at the time... but I remember that game well.
That touchback.....smh
As do I. The excitement was very similar. Made the loss sting.
Chip, in spite of himself, is indeed one heckuva college football coach with an uncanny ability to evaluate talent. Watching the Huskies at Autzen was at it’s toughest when he was at the helm. Time for that third mark in the visiting coach’s loss column - BEAT L.A.
By the way, I prefer riding against traffic
GO DAWGS
Classic. I like to see the cars.
Nice👍
Love your writings and happily a subscriber. Hope you are enjoying it and it is working for you !!!
Thanks Jeff. I'm having a blast. Blown away by the readership. More people reading me than ever. Humbled.
Another outstanding article, John. I truly hated to see Chip go because his coaching style fit so perfectly with Oregon at the time. Heck, even some of the improvements made to the coaching facility seemed home away from home custom made for Kelly, who spent more time at Autzen than he did at his home before he left. Lanning is young, smart, and has different skills than Kelly, but his coaching style also fits Oregon really well. It’s going to be a great game on Saturday.
Like I've said before about Autzen Stadium, Len built it. Rich caught peoples attention. Mike filled it, expanded and filled it again. Chip entertained the filled seats.
Never before this week have EVER heard Autzen referred to as the house Chip built. Now it's twice this week!! Lots of credit the Chipster is getting.
Really, Chip built tbe HD football complex....without him that thing never happens. I loved BB Chip! He was the best coach but i hope the Ducks send him home a loser! Love the articles JC!
I suppose. I would contend that Uncle Phil would have built it anyway. Too bad Chip cheated and ran to the NFL before it could open.
Chip may have been a bit salty with the media when he was at Oregon but the guy had a big heart for those in the community that were disadvantaged, had health issues etc. He sent my wife’s mother an autographed photo with a personal note when she was dealing with cancer. Never forget that. That photo is still a treasured possession in our family.
All three of our kids went to Oregon, as did our grandson and now granddaughter in law. Then his sister went to Oregon State and married a Beaver she met there (a terrific individual by the way.) So we are always a house divided When the Ducks and Beavers meet.
Damned if I don't have that same conflicted feeling about THIS game!
Nice Piece. Too Often Coaches that leave get blasted for the wrong reason. I love to beat Chip because he was good for Oregon and set a standard without leaving the cupboard bare. His Goal and chasing the NFL Dream should have never been considered "personal" like a couple departures since he left. Go Ducks!
Nice piece on Chip, glad you have the freedom/space to flesh out the stories. Much better than the usual we seem to be getting from other sources . . . I keep wanting to write a certain daily and say, "Length is not depth" but there's an old saw about deaf ears . . .
"Former head coach Rich Brooks lit the match. His replacement, Mike Bellotti, blew on the kindling and got the smoke and fire going. Then, Kelly showed up with a can of gasoline and turned the scene into a raging inferno."
Yep.
Now Go Dan Lanning's Ducks! Whip his Bruin's butts!
I have often wondered about the what if……had Chip stayed.
I believe Mike Bellotti's 2001 team finished No. 2 in the country. I wonder if Chip Kelly's flashy winning percentage would have held up had he coached at Oregon as long as Bellotti did.