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The State of the O: Heart & Heartbreak

December 12th, 2007

By Ryan Monett
Special To Duck Sports News

It’s hard to describe, in a way that only Duck fans can know, the tremendous ups and downs, emotional roller coaster if you will, of this season.

Oregon was poised and in-control of their destiny, at No. 2 in the BCS (see National Championship), the Heisman front-runner at the helm, and with media converge unprecedented in the history of Oregon Football. ESPN GameDay visits Eugene, twice in one season. We finally were able to be Oregon Football again.

Then, stunned disbelief. . .

“Dixon Down”

Throw out the above description of Oregon; it’s almost a foreign, fairy-tale at this juncture.  Fast forward to now. Oregon wasn’t able to even score at UCLA. Lost to the pleasure of cocky, wanna-be-the-bad-boy Mike Stoops - a stab for sure to Oregon after his bro’s Oklahoma team was unable to win last season. Then a glimmer of hope on the first day of December.  So close to ending with a somewhat positive, respectable 9-3.

When Dixon went down, this team lost so much more than a great QB and leader.

Expired were confidence, belief, and faith.

Faith in themselves.  Belief in each other.  And confidence in both.

Those core elements of faith, belief and confidence, are the core that translates a team from pretty good, to a National Championship Title team.  And until Oregon finds a way to fix this, their worst enemy is themselves, and the medium between greatness and pretty good will linger.

Oregon can restore the glory and passion.  Find a way.  No excuses. Image is nothing without the action of doing.

Oregon, you just show ‘em.

Before the Sun sets on December 31st. Let twilight be glimmering with more than a win on that final day of the year.

Let it radiate with a silent statement to ourselves and all of college football.

We’re the Ducks.

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THE CONVERSATION

  1. sj Says:

    December 13th, 2007 at 1:15 am

    I liked your commentary (even though it got a little melodramatic near the end.) I think it did accurately express the drama and misfortune that this year held for Oregon football and the fans. I think this bowl game, and the coming off-season, present a huge challenge for the coaching staff. We’ve got the talent on the field…..

  2. Bud Says:

    December 13th, 2007 at 9:08 am

    We have so much talent & heart on this team. The Ducks are going to win this bowl game!! Let’s get past that we lost Dennis because it completely distracts the team from what they need to do. Only concentrate on that to which you have control. There’s absolutely nothing that anybody can do about it, so I’m sure the team has moved on and so does everybody else. Stop telling the team they’re nothing without Dennis. The truth is actually the opposite - the team MADE Dennis what he is. Without them (and he will say so himself), he wouldn’t have been as successful as he was. That’s the true meaning of TEAM!!!

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