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- Feb 9, 2009
- 9,626
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Originally Published: July 9, 2010
[h1]Blue Ribbon Preview: Oregon[/h1]
Blue Ribbon College Football Yearbook
Editor's Note: ESPN Insider has teamed with Blue Ribbon College Football Yearbook to provide a comprehensive look at all 120 FBS teams. To order the complete 2010 edition of Blue Ribbon College Football Yearbook, visit www.blueribbonyearbookonline.com or call 1-877-807-4857 Monday through Friday from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Eastern.
[h3]ABOUT[/h3]
After a tumultuous offseason, Chip Kelly was thrilled to get back on the field for spring football. Who could blame him?It didn't take long for the glow of Oregon's first Rose Bowl game appearance in 15 years to fade.
Several players made headlines for all the wrong reasons, including senior quarterback Jeremiah Masoli and sophomore running back LaMichael James.
Masoli pleaded guilty to second-degree burglary for his role in an Oregon fraternity house theft and was sentenced to 12 months of probation and 140 hours of community service as part of a deal that reduced the charge from a felony to a misdemeanor. Kelly suspended him for the entire 2010 season.
Two months later in June, any chance of Masoli returning in 2011 vanished. He was dismissed from the program for a failure to adhere to obligations previously outlined by Kelly. The final straw involved possession of less than one ounce of marijuana. Masoli has one year of collegiate eligibility remaining.
James pleaded guilty to misdemeanor harassment charges stemming from an altercation with a woman outside his apartment. He received 24 months of probation and has been suspended for the Sept. 4 season opener against New Mexico.
In addition, four players were dismissed from the team. Kelly spent considerable time and energy dealing with the perception that the Oregon football program was out of control.
Kelly, who had never been a head coach at any level before last season, dealt with controversy from the outset of the 2009 campaign. In the season opener at Boise State, running back LeGarrette Blount threw a punch at a Boise player in perhaps the most well documented postgame meltdown in the history of college football. The incident lives on in infamy on YouTube.
Blount, who was coming off a 1,000-yard season, was suspended for the remainder of the year. He was reinstated late in the campaign after meeting behavioral and academic guidelines, and played in the last two games against Oregon State and Ohio State.
Kelly took heat in some circles for amending Blount's initial season-long suspension.
Add the off-season turmoil and the question remains: Do the Ducks head into the 2010 campaign with a black eye?
[h4]2010 Schedule[/h4]
Sept. 4 -- New Mexico
11 -- @Tennessee
18 -- Portland State
25 -- @Arizona State
Oct. 2 -- Stanford
9 -- @Washington St.
21 -- UCLA
30 -- @USC
Nov. 6 -- Washington
13 -- @California
26 -- Arizona
Dec. 4 -- @Oregon State
• 2009 Schedule and Results
• 2009 Statistics
"That's for other people to decide," Kelly said. "We just go to work every day. We don't do things based on what we think the public perception is. A lot of people don't know the inner working of what happened and just kind of hear a snippet of it. I think Lou Holtz once said, '90 percent of the people don't care about your problems and 10 percent are glad you have 'em.' "
Kelly has dealt with each incident on an individual basis and continues to stress that playing football at Oregon "is a privilege."
"With that goes responsibility," Kelly said. "If you can't do things the right way, then there's gonna be punishment. But the punishment will always fit the individual crime. Every scenario is different."
What Kelly has displayed in three years at Oregon -- he was hired by then-coach Mike Bellotti as offensive coordinator in 2007 -- is an up-tempo coaching style that has produced results.
Oregon set school records for points and total offense in 2007-08. In 2007, Dennis Dixon went from an inconsistent quarterback to a Heisman Trophy candidate before a knee injury late in the season dashed his Heisman hopes and Oregon's national championship aspirations.
The Ducks practice like they play: A no-huddle, spread-option offense that operates at warp speed and often leaves defenses gasping for breath.
Kelly won't have the benefit of having Bellotti's office down the hall this season. Bellotti resigned as athletic director in March and is a college football analyst for ESPN.
But one thing Kelly has shown in his brief stint as head coach is an ability to adapt. The program, despite enduring an inordinate amount of off-the-field issues, is hardly reeling.
"We've always been a family here," senior wide receiver Jeff Maehl said. "We stick by each other like brothers. We know that guys make mistakes sometimes and that we've just got to get over it. We're just happy to be out here playing a game that we all love."
Football is a happening in Eugene. The proof is 68 consecutive sellouts at raucous Autzen Stadium. A school-record crowd of 25,211 showed up for the spring game.
"You learn every day," Kelly said. "You've just got to have a plan and stick to your plan. The good you don't get too excited, but when you have the bad, you can't get too low. You've got to be steady and go to work each day. That's how we've been successful."
[h4]Pac-10 Teams
[/h4][h3]THE STAFF[/h3]
Head Coach: Chip Kelly (New Hampshire '90)
Record at school: 10-3 (1 year)
Career record: 10-3 (1 year)
Assistants:
• Steve Greatwood (Oregon '80) Associate Head Coach/Offensive Line
• Don Pellum (Oregon '85) Assistant Head Coach/Inside Linebackers
• Mark Helfrich (Southern Oregon '96) Offensive Coordinator/Quarterbacks
• Nick Aliotti (UC Davis '76) Defensive Coordinator/Outside Linebackers
• Jerry Azzinaro (American International '81) Defensive Line
• Gary Campbell (UCLA '73) Running Backs
• Scott Frost (Nebraska '97) Wide Receivers
• John Neal (BYU '80) Secondary
• Tom Osborne (Washington State '83) Special Teams Coordinator/Tight Ends
[h3]QUARTERBACKS[/h3]
Make no mistake, senior Jeremiah Masoli (5-11, 220) will be missed. He passed for 2,147 yards last season with 15 touchdowns and six interceptions, and rushed for 668 yards (single-season school record for quarterbacks) and 13 scores.
Masoli practiced with the team in the spring and remains on scholarship. He is expected to red-shirt this season and could be back in the equation in 2011.
But Oregon's expectations remain high even with a new signal caller at the helm. Senior Nate Costa (6-1, 219) and sophomore Darron Thomas (6-3, 205) are competing for the starting job.
Costa, who was the projected starter in 2008 before suffering a season-ending knee injury in fall camp, has the inside track because of his experience.
In a backup role last season, Costa started for an injured Masoli in a 24-10 victory at UCLA. For the season, Costa completed 20-of-33 passes (60.6 percent) for 197 yards with a touchdown and interception. With two season-ending knee operations in his college career, durability is an issue. But Costa has a quick release and enough mobility to be effective in the Ducks' offense.
"He's a great leader and has a lot of respect from his teammates because of how he carries himself and what he does," Kelly said. "He's got a real good understanding of what we're trying to do. He's got a good arm and runs better than most people give him credit for."
"I'm preparing like I'm gonna be the starter," Costa said. "If I get the opportunity, I'll be ready."
Thomas, who red-shirted last season, has a strong arm and is a better runner than Costa. As a freshman in 2008, Thomas threw for 210 yards and three touchdowns in the fourth quarter against Boise State and the Ducks nearly overcame a 24-point deficit.
"Darron's very athletic and he's working on throwing the ball better," Kelly said. "He's got a very, very strong arm."Red-shirt freshman Daryle Hawkins (6-4, 196), who is more adept as a runner at this stage, is the third-string quarterback.
[h3]RUNNING BACKS[/h3]
When Blount was suspended after the season opener at Boise State, Oregon's running game appeared to be in trouble. Enter LaMichael James (5-9, 180).
Shifty and fast
[h1]Blue Ribbon Preview: Oregon[/h1]
Blue Ribbon College Football Yearbook
Editor's Note: ESPN Insider has teamed with Blue Ribbon College Football Yearbook to provide a comprehensive look at all 120 FBS teams. To order the complete 2010 edition of Blue Ribbon College Football Yearbook, visit www.blueribbonyearbookonline.com or call 1-877-807-4857 Monday through Friday from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Eastern.
[h3]ABOUT[/h3]
After a tumultuous offseason, Chip Kelly was thrilled to get back on the field for spring football. Who could blame him?It didn't take long for the glow of Oregon's first Rose Bowl game appearance in 15 years to fade.
Several players made headlines for all the wrong reasons, including senior quarterback Jeremiah Masoli and sophomore running back LaMichael James.
Masoli pleaded guilty to second-degree burglary for his role in an Oregon fraternity house theft and was sentenced to 12 months of probation and 140 hours of community service as part of a deal that reduced the charge from a felony to a misdemeanor. Kelly suspended him for the entire 2010 season.
Two months later in June, any chance of Masoli returning in 2011 vanished. He was dismissed from the program for a failure to adhere to obligations previously outlined by Kelly. The final straw involved possession of less than one ounce of marijuana. Masoli has one year of collegiate eligibility remaining.
James pleaded guilty to misdemeanor harassment charges stemming from an altercation with a woman outside his apartment. He received 24 months of probation and has been suspended for the Sept. 4 season opener against New Mexico.
In addition, four players were dismissed from the team. Kelly spent considerable time and energy dealing with the perception that the Oregon football program was out of control.
Kelly, who had never been a head coach at any level before last season, dealt with controversy from the outset of the 2009 campaign. In the season opener at Boise State, running back LeGarrette Blount threw a punch at a Boise player in perhaps the most well documented postgame meltdown in the history of college football. The incident lives on in infamy on YouTube.
Blount, who was coming off a 1,000-yard season, was suspended for the remainder of the year. He was reinstated late in the campaign after meeting behavioral and academic guidelines, and played in the last two games against Oregon State and Ohio State.
Kelly took heat in some circles for amending Blount's initial season-long suspension.
Add the off-season turmoil and the question remains: Do the Ducks head into the 2010 campaign with a black eye?
[h4]2010 Schedule[/h4]
Sept. 4 -- New Mexico
11 -- @Tennessee
18 -- Portland State
25 -- @Arizona State
Oct. 2 -- Stanford
9 -- @Washington St.
21 -- UCLA
30 -- @USC
Nov. 6 -- Washington
13 -- @California
26 -- Arizona
Dec. 4 -- @Oregon State
• 2009 Schedule and Results
• 2009 Statistics
"That's for other people to decide," Kelly said. "We just go to work every day. We don't do things based on what we think the public perception is. A lot of people don't know the inner working of what happened and just kind of hear a snippet of it. I think Lou Holtz once said, '90 percent of the people don't care about your problems and 10 percent are glad you have 'em.' "
Kelly has dealt with each incident on an individual basis and continues to stress that playing football at Oregon "is a privilege."
"With that goes responsibility," Kelly said. "If you can't do things the right way, then there's gonna be punishment. But the punishment will always fit the individual crime. Every scenario is different."
What Kelly has displayed in three years at Oregon -- he was hired by then-coach Mike Bellotti as offensive coordinator in 2007 -- is an up-tempo coaching style that has produced results.
Oregon set school records for points and total offense in 2007-08. In 2007, Dennis Dixon went from an inconsistent quarterback to a Heisman Trophy candidate before a knee injury late in the season dashed his Heisman hopes and Oregon's national championship aspirations.
The Ducks practice like they play: A no-huddle, spread-option offense that operates at warp speed and often leaves defenses gasping for breath.
Kelly won't have the benefit of having Bellotti's office down the hall this season. Bellotti resigned as athletic director in March and is a college football analyst for ESPN.
But one thing Kelly has shown in his brief stint as head coach is an ability to adapt. The program, despite enduring an inordinate amount of off-the-field issues, is hardly reeling.
"We've always been a family here," senior wide receiver Jeff Maehl said. "We stick by each other like brothers. We know that guys make mistakes sometimes and that we've just got to get over it. We're just happy to be out here playing a game that we all love."
Football is a happening in Eugene. The proof is 68 consecutive sellouts at raucous Autzen Stadium. A school-record crowd of 25,211 showed up for the spring game.
"You learn every day," Kelly said. "You've just got to have a plan and stick to your plan. The good you don't get too excited, but when you have the bad, you can't get too low. You've got to be steady and go to work each day. That's how we've been successful."
[h4]Pac-10 Teams
Head Coach: Chip Kelly (New Hampshire '90)
Record at school: 10-3 (1 year)
Career record: 10-3 (1 year)
Assistants:
• Steve Greatwood (Oregon '80) Associate Head Coach/Offensive Line
• Don Pellum (Oregon '85) Assistant Head Coach/Inside Linebackers
• Mark Helfrich (Southern Oregon '96) Offensive Coordinator/Quarterbacks
• Nick Aliotti (UC Davis '76) Defensive Coordinator/Outside Linebackers
• Jerry Azzinaro (American International '81) Defensive Line
• Gary Campbell (UCLA '73) Running Backs
• Scott Frost (Nebraska '97) Wide Receivers
• John Neal (BYU '80) Secondary
• Tom Osborne (Washington State '83) Special Teams Coordinator/Tight Ends
[h3]QUARTERBACKS[/h3]
Make no mistake, senior Jeremiah Masoli (5-11, 220) will be missed. He passed for 2,147 yards last season with 15 touchdowns and six interceptions, and rushed for 668 yards (single-season school record for quarterbacks) and 13 scores.
Masoli practiced with the team in the spring and remains on scholarship. He is expected to red-shirt this season and could be back in the equation in 2011.
But Oregon's expectations remain high even with a new signal caller at the helm. Senior Nate Costa (6-1, 219) and sophomore Darron Thomas (6-3, 205) are competing for the starting job.
Costa, who was the projected starter in 2008 before suffering a season-ending knee injury in fall camp, has the inside track because of his experience.
In a backup role last season, Costa started for an injured Masoli in a 24-10 victory at UCLA. For the season, Costa completed 20-of-33 passes (60.6 percent) for 197 yards with a touchdown and interception. With two season-ending knee operations in his college career, durability is an issue. But Costa has a quick release and enough mobility to be effective in the Ducks' offense.
"He's a great leader and has a lot of respect from his teammates because of how he carries himself and what he does," Kelly said. "He's got a real good understanding of what we're trying to do. He's got a good arm and runs better than most people give him credit for."
"I'm preparing like I'm gonna be the starter," Costa said. "If I get the opportunity, I'll be ready."
Thomas, who red-shirted last season, has a strong arm and is a better runner than Costa. As a freshman in 2008, Thomas threw for 210 yards and three touchdowns in the fourth quarter against Boise State and the Ducks nearly overcame a 24-point deficit.
"Darron's very athletic and he's working on throwing the ball better," Kelly said. "He's got a very, very strong arm."Red-shirt freshman Daryle Hawkins (6-4, 196), who is more adept as a runner at this stage, is the third-string quarterback.
[h3]RUNNING BACKS[/h3]
When Blount was suspended after the season opener at Boise State, Oregon's running game appeared to be in trouble. Enter LaMichael James (5-9, 180).
Shifty and fast
- Feb 9, 2009
- 9,626
- 787
Originally Published: July 9, 2010
[h1]Blue Ribbon Preview: Oregon[/h1]
Blue Ribbon College Football Yearbook
Editor's Note: ESPN Insider has teamed with Blue Ribbon College Football Yearbook to provide a comprehensive look at all 120 FBS teams. To order the complete 2010 edition of Blue Ribbon College Football Yearbook, visit www.blueribbonyearbookonline.com or call 1-877-807-4857 Monday through Friday from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Eastern.
[h3]ABOUT[/h3]
After a tumultuous offseason, Chip Kelly was thrilled to get back on the field for spring football. Who could blame him?It didn't take long for the glow of Oregon's first Rose Bowl game appearance in 15 years to fade.
Several players made headlines for all the wrong reasons, including senior quarterback Jeremiah Masoli and sophomore running back LaMichael James.
Masoli pleaded guilty to second-degree burglary for his role in an Oregon fraternity house theft and was sentenced to 12 months of probation and 140 hours of community service as part of a deal that reduced the charge from a felony to a misdemeanor. Kelly suspended him for the entire 2010 season.
Two months later in June, any chance of Masoli returning in 2011 vanished. He was dismissed from the program for a failure to adhere to obligations previously outlined by Kelly. The final straw involved possession of less than one ounce of marijuana. Masoli has one year of collegiate eligibility remaining.
James pleaded guilty to misdemeanor harassment charges stemming from an altercation with a woman outside his apartment. He received 24 months of probation and has been suspended for the Sept. 4 season opener against New Mexico.
In addition, four players were dismissed from the team. Kelly spent considerable time and energy dealing with the perception that the Oregon football program was out of control.
Kelly, who had never been a head coach at any level before last season, dealt with controversy from the outset of the 2009 campaign. In the season opener at Boise State, running back LeGarrette Blount threw a punch at a Boise player in perhaps the most well documented postgame meltdown in the history of college football. The incident lives on in infamy on YouTube.
Blount, who was coming off a 1,000-yard season, was suspended for the remainder of the year. He was reinstated late in the campaign after meeting behavioral and academic guidelines, and played in the last two games against Oregon State and Ohio State.
Kelly took heat in some circles for amending Blount's initial season-long suspension.
Add the off-season turmoil and the question remains: Do the Ducks head into the 2010 campaign with a black eye?
[h4]2010 Schedule[/h4]
Sept. 4 -- New Mexico
11 -- @Tennessee
18 -- Portland State
25 -- @Arizona State
Oct. 2 -- Stanford
9 -- @Washington St.
21 -- UCLA
30 -- @USC
Nov. 6 -- Washington
13 -- @California
26 -- Arizona
Dec. 4 -- @Oregon State
• 2009 Schedule and Results
• 2009 Statistics
"That's for other people to decide," Kelly said. "We just go to work every day. We don't do things based on what we think the public perception is. A lot of people don't know the inner working of what happened and just kind of hear a snippet of it. I think Lou Holtz once said, '90 percent of the people don't care about your problems and 10 percent are glad you have 'em.' "
Kelly has dealt with each incident on an individual basis and continues to stress that playing football at Oregon "is a privilege."
"With that goes responsibility," Kelly said. "If you can't do things the right way, then there's gonna be punishment. But the punishment will always fit the individual crime. Every scenario is different."
What Kelly has displayed in three years at Oregon -- he was hired by then-coach Mike Bellotti as offensive coordinator in 2007 -- is an up-tempo coaching style that has produced results.
Oregon set school records for points and total offense in 2007-08. In 2007, Dennis Dixon went from an inconsistent quarterback to a Heisman Trophy candidate before a knee injury late in the season dashed his Heisman hopes and Oregon's national championship aspirations.
The Ducks practice like they play: A no-huddle, spread-option offense that operates at warp speed and often leaves defenses gasping for breath.
Kelly won't have the benefit of having Bellotti's office down the hall this season. Bellotti resigned as athletic director in March and is a college football analyst for ESPN.
But one thing Kelly has shown in his brief stint as head coach is an ability to adapt. The program, despite enduring an inordinate amount of off-the-field issues, is hardly reeling.
"We've always been a family here," senior wide receiver Jeff Maehl said. "We stick by each other like brothers. We know that guys make mistakes sometimes and that we've just got to get over it. We're just happy to be out here playing a game that we all love."
Football is a happening in Eugene. The proof is 68 consecutive sellouts at raucous Autzen Stadium. A school-record crowd of 25,211 showed up for the spring game.
"You learn every day," Kelly said. "You've just got to have a plan and stick to your plan. The good you don't get too excited, but when you have the bad, you can't get too low. You've got to be steady and go to work each day. That's how we've been successful."
[h4]Pac-10 Teams
[/h4][h3]THE STAFF[/h3]
Head Coach: Chip Kelly (New Hampshire '90)
Record at school: 10-3 (1 year)
Career record: 10-3 (1 year)
Assistants:
• Steve Greatwood (Oregon '80) Associate Head Coach/Offensive Line
• Don Pellum (Oregon '85) Assistant Head Coach/Inside Linebackers
• Mark Helfrich (Southern Oregon '96) Offensive Coordinator/Quarterbacks
• Nick Aliotti (UC Davis '76) Defensive Coordinator/Outside Linebackers
• Jerry Azzinaro (American International '81) Defensive Line
• Gary Campbell (UCLA '73) Running Backs
• Scott Frost (Nebraska '97) Wide Receivers
• John Neal (BYU '80) Secondary
• Tom Osborne (Washington State '83) Special Teams Coordinator/Tight Ends
[h3]QUARTERBACKS[/h3]
Make no mistake, senior Jeremiah Masoli (5-11, 220) will be missed. He passed for 2,147 yards last season with 15 touchdowns and six interceptions, and rushed for 668 yards (single-season school record for quarterbacks) and 13 scores.
Masoli practiced with the team in the spring and remains on scholarship. He is expected to red-shirt this season and could be back in the equation in 2011.
But Oregon's expectations remain high even with a new signal caller at the helm. Senior Nate Costa (6-1, 219) and sophomore Darron Thomas (6-3, 205) are competing for the starting job.
Costa, who was the projected starter in 2008 before suffering a season-ending knee injury in fall camp, has the inside track because of his experience.
In a backup role last season, Costa started for an injured Masoli in a 24-10 victory at UCLA. For the season, Costa completed 20-of-33 passes (60.6 percent) for 197 yards with a touchdown and interception. With two season-ending knee operations in his college career, durability is an issue. But Costa has a quick release and enough mobility to be effective in the Ducks' offense.
"He's a great leader and has a lot of respect from his teammates because of how he carries himself and what he does," Kelly said. "He's got a real good understanding of what we're trying to do. He's got a good arm and runs better than most people give him credit for."
"I'm preparing like I'm gonna be the starter," Costa said. "If I get the opportunity, I'll be ready."
Thomas, who red-shirted last season, has a strong arm and is a better runner than Costa. As a freshman in 2008, Thomas threw for 210 yards and three touchdowns in the fourth quarter against Boise State and the Ducks nearly overcame a 24-point deficit.
"Darron's very athletic and he's working on throwing the ball better," Kelly said. "He's got a very, very strong arm."Red-shirt freshman Daryle Hawkins (6-4, 196), who is more adept as a runner at this stage, is the third-string quarterback.
[h3]RUNNING BACKS[/h3]
When Blount was suspended after the season opener at Boise State, Oregon's running game appeared to be in trouble. Enter LaMichael James (5-9, 180).
Shifty and fast
[h1]Blue Ribbon Preview: Oregon[/h1]
Blue Ribbon College Football Yearbook
Editor's Note: ESPN Insider has teamed with Blue Ribbon College Football Yearbook to provide a comprehensive look at all 120 FBS teams. To order the complete 2010 edition of Blue Ribbon College Football Yearbook, visit www.blueribbonyearbookonline.com or call 1-877-807-4857 Monday through Friday from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Eastern.
[h3]ABOUT[/h3]
After a tumultuous offseason, Chip Kelly was thrilled to get back on the field for spring football. Who could blame him?It didn't take long for the glow of Oregon's first Rose Bowl game appearance in 15 years to fade.
Several players made headlines for all the wrong reasons, including senior quarterback Jeremiah Masoli and sophomore running back LaMichael James.
Masoli pleaded guilty to second-degree burglary for his role in an Oregon fraternity house theft and was sentenced to 12 months of probation and 140 hours of community service as part of a deal that reduced the charge from a felony to a misdemeanor. Kelly suspended him for the entire 2010 season.
Two months later in June, any chance of Masoli returning in 2011 vanished. He was dismissed from the program for a failure to adhere to obligations previously outlined by Kelly. The final straw involved possession of less than one ounce of marijuana. Masoli has one year of collegiate eligibility remaining.
James pleaded guilty to misdemeanor harassment charges stemming from an altercation with a woman outside his apartment. He received 24 months of probation and has been suspended for the Sept. 4 season opener against New Mexico.
In addition, four players were dismissed from the team. Kelly spent considerable time and energy dealing with the perception that the Oregon football program was out of control.
Kelly, who had never been a head coach at any level before last season, dealt with controversy from the outset of the 2009 campaign. In the season opener at Boise State, running back LeGarrette Blount threw a punch at a Boise player in perhaps the most well documented postgame meltdown in the history of college football. The incident lives on in infamy on YouTube.
Blount, who was coming off a 1,000-yard season, was suspended for the remainder of the year. He was reinstated late in the campaign after meeting behavioral and academic guidelines, and played in the last two games against Oregon State and Ohio State.
Kelly took heat in some circles for amending Blount's initial season-long suspension.
Add the off-season turmoil and the question remains: Do the Ducks head into the 2010 campaign with a black eye?
[h4]2010 Schedule[/h4]
Sept. 4 -- New Mexico
11 -- @Tennessee
18 -- Portland State
25 -- @Arizona State
Oct. 2 -- Stanford
9 -- @Washington St.
21 -- UCLA
30 -- @USC
Nov. 6 -- Washington
13 -- @California
26 -- Arizona
Dec. 4 -- @Oregon State
• 2009 Schedule and Results
• 2009 Statistics
"That's for other people to decide," Kelly said. "We just go to work every day. We don't do things based on what we think the public perception is. A lot of people don't know the inner working of what happened and just kind of hear a snippet of it. I think Lou Holtz once said, '90 percent of the people don't care about your problems and 10 percent are glad you have 'em.' "
Kelly has dealt with each incident on an individual basis and continues to stress that playing football at Oregon "is a privilege."
"With that goes responsibility," Kelly said. "If you can't do things the right way, then there's gonna be punishment. But the punishment will always fit the individual crime. Every scenario is different."
What Kelly has displayed in three years at Oregon -- he was hired by then-coach Mike Bellotti as offensive coordinator in 2007 -- is an up-tempo coaching style that has produced results.
Oregon set school records for points and total offense in 2007-08. In 2007, Dennis Dixon went from an inconsistent quarterback to a Heisman Trophy candidate before a knee injury late in the season dashed his Heisman hopes and Oregon's national championship aspirations.
The Ducks practice like they play: A no-huddle, spread-option offense that operates at warp speed and often leaves defenses gasping for breath.
Kelly won't have the benefit of having Bellotti's office down the hall this season. Bellotti resigned as athletic director in March and is a college football analyst for ESPN.
But one thing Kelly has shown in his brief stint as head coach is an ability to adapt. The program, despite enduring an inordinate amount of off-the-field issues, is hardly reeling.
"We've always been a family here," senior wide receiver Jeff Maehl said. "We stick by each other like brothers. We know that guys make mistakes sometimes and that we've just got to get over it. We're just happy to be out here playing a game that we all love."
Football is a happening in Eugene. The proof is 68 consecutive sellouts at raucous Autzen Stadium. A school-record crowd of 25,211 showed up for the spring game.
"You learn every day," Kelly said. "You've just got to have a plan and stick to your plan. The good you don't get too excited, but when you have the bad, you can't get too low. You've got to be steady and go to work each day. That's how we've been successful."
[h4]Pac-10 Teams
Head Coach: Chip Kelly (New Hampshire '90)
Record at school: 10-3 (1 year)
Career record: 10-3 (1 year)
Assistants:
• Steve Greatwood (Oregon '80) Associate Head Coach/Offensive Line
• Don Pellum (Oregon '85) Assistant Head Coach/Inside Linebackers
• Mark Helfrich (Southern Oregon '96) Offensive Coordinator/Quarterbacks
• Nick Aliotti (UC Davis '76) Defensive Coordinator/Outside Linebackers
• Jerry Azzinaro (American International '81) Defensive Line
• Gary Campbell (UCLA '73) Running Backs
• Scott Frost (Nebraska '97) Wide Receivers
• John Neal (BYU '80) Secondary
• Tom Osborne (Washington State '83) Special Teams Coordinator/Tight Ends
[h3]QUARTERBACKS[/h3]
Make no mistake, senior Jeremiah Masoli (5-11, 220) will be missed. He passed for 2,147 yards last season with 15 touchdowns and six interceptions, and rushed for 668 yards (single-season school record for quarterbacks) and 13 scores.
Masoli practiced with the team in the spring and remains on scholarship. He is expected to red-shirt this season and could be back in the equation in 2011.
But Oregon's expectations remain high even with a new signal caller at the helm. Senior Nate Costa (6-1, 219) and sophomore Darron Thomas (6-3, 205) are competing for the starting job.
Costa, who was the projected starter in 2008 before suffering a season-ending knee injury in fall camp, has the inside track because of his experience.
In a backup role last season, Costa started for an injured Masoli in a 24-10 victory at UCLA. For the season, Costa completed 20-of-33 passes (60.6 percent) for 197 yards with a touchdown and interception. With two season-ending knee operations in his college career, durability is an issue. But Costa has a quick release and enough mobility to be effective in the Ducks' offense.
"He's a great leader and has a lot of respect from his teammates because of how he carries himself and what he does," Kelly said. "He's got a real good understanding of what we're trying to do. He's got a good arm and runs better than most people give him credit for."
"I'm preparing like I'm gonna be the starter," Costa said. "If I get the opportunity, I'll be ready."
Thomas, who red-shirted last season, has a strong arm and is a better runner than Costa. As a freshman in 2008, Thomas threw for 210 yards and three touchdowns in the fourth quarter against Boise State and the Ducks nearly overcame a 24-point deficit.
"Darron's very athletic and he's working on throwing the ball better," Kelly said. "He's got a very, very strong arm."Red-shirt freshman Daryle Hawkins (6-4, 196), who is more adept as a runner at this stage, is the third-string quarterback.
[h3]RUNNING BACKS[/h3]
When Blount was suspended after the season opener at Boise State, Oregon's running game appeared to be in trouble. Enter LaMichael James (5-9, 180).
Shifty and fast
