BCS National Championship: A Bold Suggestion for Oregon's Crafty Chip Kelly

It's not like Oregon coach Chip Kelly needs any help from me.

I would not presume to infringe on the collective brain power of a staff who has cleverly guided its team to the pinnacle of college sports.

But even in an age of laptops and lasers, helpful information sometimes slips through the cracks.

In this case, Yours Truly was there waiting with a net.

Let me explain, and then offer a proposal —with a catch.

Kelly has wisely used the first-hand experiences of motivational speakers and piped-in music to inspire his players before key games. This strategy has worked in perfect unison with his mantra of "Win the Day", a philosophy of setting achievable day-to-day —even moment-to-moment —goals in sports as well as in everyday life.

The result of this philosophy can be seen in the carriage and attitude of his players. In spite of their tremendous accomplishments to date, they keep a firm rein on emotion and ego, making the next practice session —not necessarily the next game —a focal point.

However, with the championship game over a month away, it could become a real challenge maintaining that focus and discipline.

Just last month, General Harold Moore was honored at the 45th anniversary of the epic battle of the Ia Drang Valley in Vietnam. Moore's character was played by Mel Gibson in the 2002 film, "We Were Soldiers Once...and Young".

Here's my proposal —

Request a speaking engagement from Mr. Moore to address the Duck football team. Then play the accompanying soundtrack/video in Moshofsky.

Moore's life certainly holds enough lessons to hearken the deepest instincts of survival and victory.

The historic battle of the Ia Drang itself holds enough symbolic elements of the game of football, that Kelly and Co. could mine an endless vein of opportunity.

For example:

Moore's highly outnumbered 1st Battalion of the 7th Cavalry was the same unit commanded by one George Custer at the massacre of Little Big Horn... 

The helicopter insertion at LZ X-ray was one of the first tests of an air-mobile unit working in tandem with ground forces...

Though there were terrible losses, survival was only made possible by teamwork, courage and mutual trust...

Counting the cost...believing in the mission...winning the day...The parallels go on and on.

Here's the catch—

It may take all the cunning Kelly can muster to pull it off.

The kind of cunning it takes to risk an out-of-the-blue onside kick.

Or the cunning to execute a fake punt, deep in his own territory, to a linebacker, no less.

Because, you see, General Hal Moore, Vietnam hero, just happens to hang his hat in a small town in eastern Alabama called Auburn.

But it's just the kind of ironic shrewdness Kelly is becoming known for.

also published at Fencepost Filosopher