There's a reason why they call him "big balls Chip Kelly."
In the months leading up to his decision on who the starting quarterback for the Oregon Ducks will be, I had people asking me how could Kelly name a red-shirt freshman the starting quarterback over a red-shirt sophomore with actual experience?
It's simple. Chip Kelly does what Chip Kelly wants. He follows his own intuition. He doesn't listen or care what the media thinks, or what people on message boards say.
"Marcus earned and won the starting job," Kelly told The Oregonian's Adam Jude.
With that, a new king was crowned in Eugene, one that could very well lead Oregon to even greater heights.
Once he was announced the starter, the compliments began to file in, including those from former players such as LaMichael James.
Mariota has been referred to as "a more polished Dennis Dixon," and we all remember how well this Oregon offense was under him, before he got hurt in '07.
ESPN's Kirk Herbstreit listed him as the single "most ahead of the curve" player in the nation in this column.
If it seems like a lot of pressure to put on the young man's shoulders, he's already showing the leadership ability to be able to handle it:
"It's a blessing and it's an honor...but I'm going to take this in stride," Mariota said.
So for the second time in three seasons, Chip Kelly went with his own intuition, and picked the quarterback least expected by the media and fans to win the starting job (the other being Darron Thomas over Nate Costa).
Mariota has four years to be a star in this Oregon offense, and for the Oregon program, the future looks brighter than those shiny helmets they wore on New Years Day last year!
Somethin new I'm doin here. Whenever my mailbox is full with questions from the readers, I'll answer them here.
Lets get it started!
Scott from Sacremento asks: with SC picking up Redd from Penn State, do you see Oregon going after any of their players?
Chris Rands: I can't think of one player they have on offense that Oregon would want, with the only exception being a lineman. There might be a few on defense, but offensively Oregon is set.
Jeff from Portland asks: I loved those chrome helmets in the rose bowl, do you think Oregon comes out with a new helmet this year?
Chris Rands: I don't know, haven't heard, but how can you top those? Those were the best ever. That's how you design a helmet (hear that Maryland?)
Bryson from Turner asks: Who's do you think is gonna be our quarterback this year?
Chris Rands: I honestly can't say because I'm hearing both are really good, but if you want an answer I'd say Bennett just because he has some game experience from last year. From what I'm hearing though, Mariota sounds like a better quarterback and fit for this offense. You can read more about the qb position battle here:
http://www.oregonlive.com/ducks/index.ssf/2012/07/oregon_ducks_preview_bryan_ben.html
Jason from Salem asks: I really like your pictures you make, always so fresh. Where can I see more?
Chris Rands: Thanks man! Just check my facebook page, and while you're there, "like it!"
Got into a conversation the other day with a coug fan about who has the worst fans in the Pac 12. His answer? Oregon. And the beaver fan butting in on our conversation naturally said the same thing.
And they're not alone in this. Many of the other fans from the conferences 11 other teams say the same thing.
To be fair, even I can admit Oregon fans can be a little overzealous at times. What can I say? We're proud of our teams' recent success. The seed that was planted 18 years ago when Kenny Wheaton went the other way against Washington, is now a full grown Douglas Fir tree.
Oregon fans love to point out that their fir is more beautiful than yours! So if you're getting tired of it and want them to go away, it aint happin'.
Oregon has a track record that goes back to "the pick" in 1994, and has been building since. Joey Harrington took the program to the next level in 2000 and 2001. In both years - 2001 especially when they were snubbed out of the NC - Oregon was in contention for a national championship appearance.
Since Chip Kelly has been here (first as an OC in '07) Oregon has climbed to even greater heights. National champion contenders in '07, '09, played for it in '10, and again a contender last year.
Oregon is the only team currently in the country to have played in three straight bcs bowl games.
And fans that used to say, "Kelly has yet to win a bcs game," can no longer play that card after Oregon's win over Wisconsin in the Rose Bowl.
Sure Oregon lost an experienced starter at QB in Darron Thomas, who went 23-3, but the Ducks have depth all around, including at QB.
Both Brian Bennett and Marcus Mariota have tremendous potential.
Combine that with many key players returning, some people project Oregon will be BETTER in 2012, and they're set up nicely beyond 2012 as well.
Of course there are the sanctions yet to be handed down, and that's the only hope fans from the 11 other teams have. However, from what I've read so far, I see no reason to think it will be anything more than a slap on the wrist.
And Chip may leave for the NFL as he almost did earlier this year.
The point is this: the program that turned the corner in '94, will keep movin' along.
The Ducks aren't going away.
