Funny how this has turned into a "Duck Hate" thread.
I guess I can understand the vitriol directed at the Ducks and the "evil empire" of Phil Knight and Nike, considering they just stole the centerpiece of your squad. I get that (for EWU fans) it adds to the already media-hyped narrative that Oregon is an un-ethical program that relies on cheating and back room political interactions to maintain success on a national level. I mean, how else would an historically irrelevant football program rise from the dirt and suddenly become a juggernaut, am I right?
I understand that there are a lot of reasons to hate on the Ducks: the uniforms, the "gimmicky" offense, the bandwagon fans, the over-the-top facilities, the Phil Knight/Nike factor, etc. In a lot of ways the Duck football program is perceived as the equivalent of those guys in high school who we all knew and loathed -- you know, the meat-head types that drove around cars that their daddy's bought for them, flexing their muscles whilst effortlessly attracting all of the pretty girls; eschewing any form of humility or good nature and generally acting like alpha-assholes.
For you EWU fans it feels like Phil Knight and the Ducks just rolled up to your girlfriend's house on prom night in a brand new Mercedes-Benz and decided it's their turn to have your gal, and there's nothing you can do about it. "See you at the dance!" Knight shouts back to you as the Ducks peel down the street with what is yours.
Now that I have acknowledged the heartbreak that this has caused you, I must say that some of you are flat out ignorant to several facets of the Oregon program...
Did you know that this "new coaching staff" that some of you keep referencing is -- in fact -- not new? Yep, you read that correctly. Mark Helfrich (the Duck's head coach) was the offensive coordinator and quarterbacks coach during the entirety of the Chip Kelly era. He started back in the Spring of 2009, and along side Chip Kelly, the two of them installed and executed the tweaks to the now infamous Oregon spread-option attack. I won't forget to mention as well that Helfrich was the main recruiter for much of the talent the Ducks brought in during that era. Helfrich is credited for discovering Marcus Mariota and his unique talents while on a recruiting visit to Hawai'i circa 2010. I'll add as well that 4 of the Duck's current assistant coaches have been coaching at Oregon for over 20 years a piece (Campbell, Pellum, Greatwood, and Radcliffe). If anything, the Oregon program has a rich tradition of coaching continuity and stability, one of the pillars of the Duck's continued success. Our current offensive coordinator and QB coach Scott Frost has been at Oregon for 5 years now, so he too was a disciple of Chip Kelly. Frost was also the starting QB that led the '97 Nebraska Cornhuskers to a National Championship win over Peyton Manning's Tennessee squad.
So for those arguing that VA is stepping into a program that is "dying," or merely a shell of the Chip Kelly era, I am here to tell you that you are wrong. Helfrich and Frost are just as responsible (if not more so) for the offensive design and recruitment of quality skill players as Kelly is/was.
The Ducks offered Vernon Adam's because Vernon is a stud football player, regardless of his FCS classification. Oregon is returning what is likely to be its most skilled and potent set of offensive playmakers in Duck history this coming fall. It's an embarrassment of riches, to be honest with you. The coaching staff obviously recognized that, and made a move to maximize their abilities by bringing in VA.
Oregon has two 4-star quarterbacks that will be competing with last year's back up (Jeff Lockie) this coming spring. One of those 4-stars is an incoming true-freshman who was one of the top rated dual-threat QB's in the nation this last fall. The other is coming off of his redshirt-freshman year, but has zero game experience. The Ducks already have another highly-touted 4-star QB incoming for the 2016 class, and another QB out of Hawai'i in the 2017 class who will most likely end up a 5-star guy. (Feel free to check these facts http://oregon.247sports.com/Season/2015-Football/Commits" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false
The Ducks are actually recruiting at a higher level now than they were when Chip Kelly was at the helm.
Bringing in VA was a smart move for the program while some of the youth develops, and that is all there is to it. You all can sit around and pretend that the Ducks can't recruit or develop QB talent all that you'd like. I'm just here to tell you that those theories are contrary to fact.
As for recent achievements, you guys feel free to knock on the Duck's success to your heart's content. A Heisman trophy, PAC-12 Title, Rose Bowl Win, and National Title Game appearance this past season feels pretty damn satisfying to this Duck fan.
Lastly, those points made about Ohio State and the "blueprint for beating the Ducks" is pretty sharp. The Ducks are going to need all the help they can get trying to figure out how to take down the Big-Sky champion Eastern Washington Eagles.
I'm sure Helfrich and company have already been in contact with Illinois State and Northern Arizona. They both seem to have the blueprint to stopping the mighty EWU attack.
*Gobbles up his bread pieces, waddles off stage*
