Oregon Unconventionally Impressive In BCS National Championship Loss

Perhaps the most exciting component of watching a highly anticipated game, particularly the BCS National Championship game, is the element of surprise. 

After spending nearly one month listening to pundits analyze coaching and player matchups, two teams take the field entirely uncertain of the eventual outcome. 

Together, these elite teams produce an outcome which often deviates remarkably from popular expectations.

Before the 2010 BCS National Championship game, pundits nearly unanimously dubbed the battle between Texas quarterback Colt McCoy and Alabama’s vaunted defense as the matchup that would ultimately determine the game’s outcome. 

This prediction became moot once McCoy injured his arm early in the first quarter and was sidelined for the remainder of the game.  Little-known Garrett Gilbert was suddenly forced into action.  

Despite only having previously attempted 26 passes in his college career, Garrett kept things interesting by tossing two long touchdowns against Alabama’s seemingly invincible defense.

This year, we figured that with the Auburn and Oregon offenses each averaging over 40 points per game, we would be in for a shootout. 

We figured Heisman Trophy winner Cam Newton would eventually lead Auburn to a glorious victory. 

We thought that Heisman candidate LaMichael James was the only one fast enough to possibly outrun Newton.

We were wrong.

The combined score of 41 amounted to fewer than the average points per game scored by both Oregon and Auburn. 

Freshman running back Michael Dyer, not Newton, led Auburn down the field on their final drive. 

LaMichael James was held to only 49 rushing yards, while quarterback Darron Thomas fell two yards short of breaking Matt Leinart’s record for most passing yards in a BCS National Championship game.

However, this game is not a classic since the outcome differed from our expectation, but because the unusual circumstances forced a surprisingly outmatched Oregon coaching staff onto the cutting-edge of offensive strategy. 

Perhaps building on the precedent established by 2007 Fiesta Bowl champions Boise State, Oregon deftly compensated for their physical deficiencies through an impressive use of deception.

Unable to punch the ball into the end zone from inside the red zone early in the second quarter, Oregon decided to run a clever play where quarterback Darron Thomas rolled right, drawing the Auburn defense with him before turning and lobbing a screen pass across the field to James, who then walked in for the score. 

Realizing that seven points might not be enough, Oregon coach Chip Kelly called an option from his field goal formation.  Holder Jackson Rice’s perfect pitch to kicker Rob Beard certainly impressed the likes of Steve Spurrier, Les Miles and Chris Petersen.

Trailing 19-11 midway through the third quarter, Kelly once again called on his holder/punter to compensate for his offense’s ineffectiveness. 

Lining up in punt formation, Rice received the snap and moved forward a couple of steps waiting for the perfect moment to pitch to gunner Marvin Johnson.

Rice released the pass as an Auburn defender unloaded on him, but Johnson caught the short pass and ran for a first down.

Still trailing 19-11 with less than three minutes remaining in the fourth quarter and only a single timeout remaining, Oregon looked like they would again be stopped short in the red zone. 

However, Thomas caught the snap and again took off to his right, drawing the Auburn defense with him.  In a move reminiscent of Tim Tebow, Thomas pitched a quick shovel pass to James, who sneaked through the hole vacated by Auburn’s aggressive line.

Now trailing 19-17, Oregon needed a successful two-point conversion to tie up the score. 

For the third time, Thomas drew the Auburn defense with him as he rolled right.  In another rendition of the Ducks’ throwback play, he threw a strike across his body to receiver Jeff Maehl.  Sure-handed as usual, Maehl held onto the pass, tying the score at 19.

Had Oregon continued by holding Auburn scoreless on their final possession and then won either at the end of regulation or in overtime, we would have heralded the Ducks with completing one of the most remarkable finishes in college football history. 

Kelly would have been dubbed an offensive genius, and the sports media would repeatedly discuss how Oregon’s resilience helped salvage victory from the jaws of certain defeat.

However, all hope of preserving a tie or winning in regulation vanished once a seemingly downed Michael Dyer rose to his feet and sprinted from the Auburn 45-yard line to the Oregon 23-yard line against a surprised Oregon defense. 

Well within kicker Wes Byrum’s range, Auburn finally crushed Oregon’s resolve, and Dyer charged all the way to the 1-yard line.

History is written by the victors, so the 2010 Oregon Ducks will be portrayed as the final obstacle between Gene Chizik, Cam Newton and a remarkable 2010 Auburn team. 

As we congratulate War Eagle on a memorable season, let’s not forget to recognize the deceptive brilliance of the Oregon’s quack attack.