BCS Championship 2011: The Day Chip Kelly Becomes The Face Of Pac 10 Football

BCS Championship night is here and a mighty wind is blowing.

Oregon vs. Auburn. Tickets are at a premium, viewership will be off the Nielsen charts and Chip Kelly is becoming a household name.

Kelly and his high-flying Ducks will go against the best of the SEC, unbeaten Auburn, and win or lose, Kelly is THE guy in the Pac-10 Conference. Jim Harbaugh's gone to the 49ers, Pete Carroll's still rubbing his eyes in Seattle and Lane Kiffin is just another guy trying to figure out how to not break NCAA regulations.

The buildup has been non-stop. There's offense in the air.

Seems like we've waited two months for this game. Sure, there were other bowl games to watch but how many were very memorable?  Three? Four? Perhaps.

They were all just betting fodder and you can blame that on the lack of a playoff system.

Then there's Oregon-Auburn.

This is Kelly's first appearance in THE championship game and what it does is cement Oregon as the program to beat in the Pac-10. He is the coaching face, his Ducks are the offensive force of the conference.

But don't think Kelly regards this game as carrying a banner for the Pac-10.

"We are not playing for the Pac-10," Kelly said, "They (Auburn) aren't playing for the SEC. It's Auburn vs. Oregon."

But here's what makes Chip Kelly, Chip Kelly. He told this story after his team's final practice:

"After practice I sat there and I said this could be the game of your life and all these things. Then we got a chance to meet four kids from the Make-A-Wish Foundation. Tell your kids you are playing the game of your life and you've got four kids that are battling for their lives and all they want to do is meet your team. I think it puts it into perspective for our players."

If Chip Kelly is the new face of the Pac-10, then win or lose tonight, the Pac-10 is a lot better off with him coaching the Oregon Ducks.