Oregon Football Is Flying High, But How Did The Ducks Get Here?
After a bye week, Oregon found themselves in a position that the program has never been in before, No. 1. Over the past couple of years, coach Chip Kelly has elevated this program to new levels but the Oregon's rise started before Kelly was hired.
With still half a season remaining, Oregon still has a long way to go but lets take a look back at the recent history of Oregon football and what has led to this No. 1 ranking.
The Hiring of Mike Bellotti
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In 1989, Oregon head coach Rich Brooks hired Mike Bellotti to be the new offensive coordinator at Oregon. After five seasons, the Oregon football program turned the page and hired Mike Bellotti as its new head coach.
Over his career at Oregon, Bellotti went 116-55, won a Fiesta Bowl, Pac-10 Championship, and two Holiday Bowls. Bellotti retired as the winningest coach in Oregon history and played a huge role in bringing Oregon up the Pac-10 and National ranks.
Joey Heisman
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In 2001, the Ducks made a huge splash by plastering Joey Harrington on a monstrous billboard in downtown New York City. The billboard was in hopes of improving Harrington's Heisman campaign and the ad dubbed him Joey Heisman.
Regardless of the campaign, Harrington was on of the most successful quarterbacks at Oregon and led them the schools only BCS victory, by winning the Fiesta Bowl.
The Onside Kick That Was or Was Not
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In 2006, the Oregon Ducks met up with the Oklahoma Sooners in a huge out of conference game. As the game wore on, the officiating got progressively worse and calls were being missed left and right.
Oregon was trailing by 13 late in the game but a Dennis Dixon touchdown run, drew them to within 6 with 1:12 remaining. Naturally, the Ducks lined up for an onside kick and then it happened. The ball went up, players collided, a pile formed, refs pointed Oregon ball, Oklahoma players left the pile with the ball and chaos broke out.
The referees went to review, which many believed showed Oregon touching the ball before ten yards let alone not possessing the ball. Regardless, the game continued as Oregon scored seconds later to take a 34-33 lead. While Oklahoma did manage to get a field goal attempt off, it was blocked, and the Ducks left with a victory that kept them in the national storylines for weeks.
.jpg?w=256 "Ohio State Team Doctor")
Oregon Hires a Coach From New Hampshire
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With the 2006 season behind them, the Ducks looked to regroup and take aim at a successful 2007 season. Needing an offensive coordinator, Mike Bellotti looked to the east coast and selected the offensive coordinator from New Hampshire.
With Coach Kelly at the helm of the offense, Oregon's offense exploded in 2007 and since his arrival, Oregon has been among the nations elite in terms of offense.
In 2009, Mike Bellotti stepped aside as Oregon head coach and handed the keys to the kingdom to Kelly who is continuing to write his chapter in Oregon football history.
Dennis Dixon Enters the Big House
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Coming into the 2007 season, the Ducks were under the radar and were suppose to be the victims when they went on the road to Michigan. Michigan was coming off one of the biggest upsets in sports history by losing to Appalachian State, and were out to redeem themselves.
After Michigan scored the first touchdown of the game, they would never score again. Oregon would end up winning 39-7 and Dennis Dixon was front and center in this victory. Dixon would go on to have an amazing season but had it cut short due to a knee injury suffered late in the year.
Injuries Open Up a Door
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Going into the 2008 season, the Ducks had lost Dennis Dixon to graduation and were confident in Nate Costa and his abilities to take over at quarterback. As the season was one week away, Nate Costa blew out his knee and the Ducks were left scrambling.
With Costa out, the Ducks turned to Justin Roper but before the season was two games old, Roper went out with a knee injury and the reigns were turned over to Jeremiah Masoil. While Masoli, was knocked out of the next game with a concussion, he would take over as Ducks starter and take the offense to a new level.
The Punch
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After a successful late season run by Oregon in 2008, the entered the 2009 season with high hopes and looking for revenge in the season opener against Boise State.
The game went awful for the Ducks as they failed to pick up a first down until the third quarter and lost 19-8. Will the game itself was embarrassing for Oregon, things got worse after the game was over.
As both teams exited the field, Boise State defensive player, Byron Hout, taunted Oregon running back, LaGarrette Blount. In retaliation, Blount delivered a right cross seen around the nation.
While some see this as a black eye for Oregon, this would end up being a positive turning point for Coach Kelly and his team.
Halloween Night 2009
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After an opening game loss to Boise State, Oregon navigated there way through the rest of their schedule leading up to a Halloween night matchup with USC. USC came into this game having won seven straight Pac-10 championships and were the kings of the conference.
After the two teams played back in forth in the first half, Oregon blew it open in the second and gave Pete Carroll his worst loss to that point. Once the dust had settled, the Ducks walked off the field with a 47-20 win and were on their way to unseating USC as Pac-10 champs.
The Begining of the Darron Thomas Era
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After a Rose Bowl loss to Ohio State, Oregon entered the 2010 offseason with high hopes for next fall. Many viewed the Ducks as a possible top five team.
After a few weeks passed, Oregon quarterback, Jeremiah Masoli, was involved in a theft that eventually led to him being suspended. Eventually Masoli would be kicked off the team and the choice between senior Nate Costa and sophomore Darron Thomas would have to be mad.
After a 6-0 start, Coach Kelly's choice has been validated and Duck fans have a lot to look forward too as this era of Ducks football continues.
.jpg?w=480 "Ohio State Team Doctor")
