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- Thread starter ScriptOhio
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They absolutely are. Fun fact, take away the Chip Kelly years (2007-08, OC/2009-12, HC), the Ducks finished ranked in the final AP Poll just ten times. Historically, it's just not a good program. Bellotti elevated them, but they were still pretty up-and-down in his tenure, and only were in the NC discussion once...the 11-1 2001 season that saw them finish #2 with Joey Harrington.
Chip brought a revolutionary offense to Eugene that set them apart from the pack. Throw in the goofy uniforms the kids love and they were an attractive landing spot for recruits. The rest of CFB is starting to catch up to Kelly's schemes, as a number of programs across the country field offenses that run 75-80 plays a game and rack up 500+ yards and 40+ points almost every week, tOSU among them. Aside from the uniforms and swanky Nike funded facilities (which again, a number of teams have caught up to), not much sets the Ducks apart anymore. They were a pretty revolutionary program the early part of this decade, and might make for an interesting '30 for 30' one day, but they're done as a national power program.
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ExpatAkronite
Cascadia Subduction Zone
Duck fan was certainly more likable as a lovable loser. Reality is going to be a hard slap in the face for them (especially those who don't remember the Toilet Bowl). As an aside--they had four recruits decommit yesterday. Things could get ugly quick.
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No doubt. I remember some of their obnoxious fans coming here in late 2009 during the lead up to the Rose Bowl, insisting that we would not be able to stop them and they were gonna blow our doors off.
They're at best a second-tier program who stumbled upon a coaching revolutionary that influenced their program for about 8 years (2007-14). A little break down of the Chip-era (I'm including 2013-14 in there because his recruits/influences were still a big part of their success in those two seasons), and non-Chip history:
Chip-era (2007-14, 8 Years)
89-18-0 (.832)
AP Top-25: 8
AP Top-10: 6
AP Top-5: 4
Conference Titles: 4
Bowls: 9 (6-3, including NC Game, 2014-15)
Non-Chip (1916-2006, 2015-Present, 94 Years)
481-432-34 (.527)
AP Top-25: 8
AP Top-10: 3
AP Top-5: 1
Conference Titles: 7
Bowls: 20 (7-13)
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ORD_Buckeye
Wrong glass, Sir.
I said it at the time of the NC game that you could literally feel the emotion and fight drain out of the Oregon team as they realized that not only was Ohio State going to run with them step for step and not get tired but they were also going to beat them down physically at the same time. One can almost sense that same realization of futility on a program level in the years since.
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The way things are currently trending for them, they'll be begging for a return of the Mike Belotti era in a few years.
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ExpatAkronite
Cascadia Subduction Zone
That time is now (and really is the best they can hope for). This is a team one year removed from having Brady Hoke as it's DC (that didn't go well).
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Nigel Tufnel
Choking on vomit
Bellotti was pretty good actually. He’s the real guy who turned them around before Chip.
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Rich Brooks did some good things there in the early-mid nineties, including taking them to the Rose Bowl following the '94 season. But Bellotti definitely upgraded their profile. He logged their first four ten-win seasons. But he had several clunker seasons mixed in. Chip was the only coach that gave them any kind of sustained success.
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He had some 10 win seasons but he was really a mixed bag overall. Which would be better than what they are currently in.
6-8 wins per year is likely their ceiling in the current climate. Maybe once every 4 or 5 years they can rip off a 10 win season with a senior heavy roster and some chips falling their way. But I doubt we will ever see Chip Kelly type consistency there again.
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ORD_Buckeye
Wrong glass, Sir.
I kind of see them as Sparty. They might make the CCG and sniff the playoffs if they catch UW and Stanford in down years and have a favorable ooc and cross-divisional schedule once every 5 or 6 years, but their being in the national picture consistently is not going to happen.
The question is whether Phil is willing to tolerate that or do they turn into Tennessee.
The question is whether Phil is willing to tolerate that or do they turn into Tennessee.
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Nigel Tufnel
Choking on vomit
Yeah but wasn’t Oregon basically nothing prior to his arrival?
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Yea. They were a 5/6 win team most of the 80s under Rich Brooks, with a few 8 win seasons sprinkled in and that 94 rose bowl season (9 wins). Belloti definitely took their brand up a notch, but they were still far from a consistent national contender like they were under Kelly.
Problem is though, after Kelly ran off that string of 4 seasons I think? The Oregon fans expect to be national contenders, so it's going to be tough for any coach to go in there and win favor unless he can pull that off. Which is doubtful.
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They went from 1949 to 1993 without being ranked in the Final AP poll before coming in 11th in Rich Brooks' final year. Brooks typically had them at or around .500 with the occasional 8 win season mixed in. Looking back at their history, they never really attained "doormat" status, but were typically just very mediocre. Bellotti definitely elevated them considerably, going 116-55 (.678) over 14 seasons. If they can find a guy to get them those kind of results, they should be very happy. I think it will be pretty much impossible to find somebody to get them back to the level Chip had them.
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