While I’m eager to see how the Chip Kelly era goes, I would be shocked if coach Bellotti decides to step away this season. Here’s why:

He has stated repeatedly, he wants to bring a national championship to Oregon. We can all agree that is an enormous long-shot this coming year, like it is every year, unless you’re USC, Ohio State, Florida, LSU or Oklahoma. For the following reasons, however, I think the long-shot might be a little shorter in 2009:

• Jeremiah Masoli’s grasp and execution of the spread offense late in the 2008 season – leading the Ducks to an average of 43 points per over the last six games. If Bellotti has faith that new personnel is ready to emerge – and why wouldn’t he given years of continued success – he likely is expecting at least that level of offensive output in 2009. And that kind of scoring offense can put you in the running for conference and NCAA titles.

• Oregon’s schedule is set up perfectly for a title run. Boise State, Purdue and Utah are good to great non-conference competition. Two of those three come to Eugene. The teams most likely to win a Pac-10 championship – USC, Cal and Oregon State – all come to Eugene. Yes, all three have proven that Autzen isn’t an impossible place win at over the past few years, but if you’re going to make a run, you’d prefer to have these games at home. If – and let’s be serious, that “if” is the size of the sun – Oregon goes 12-0 against that schedule, it’s unlikely the Ducks would get screwed out of the BCS championship game even if there are other undefeated major conference teams.

• The Ducks recruited heavily for instant impact on defense. That to me is an indication that the coaching staff believes the iron is hot – now is the time to strike. Several JC transfers will have an opportunity to start within Oregon’s interior defense. Clearly the intent is to be immediately better on defense than the squad was in 2008. If Oregon can combine even modestly better defense with a full year of Chip Kelly’s offense running at full throttle, then yes, a championship run isn’t out of the question.

If you’re Mike Bellotti, and your primary goal as a coach is to win a title, I just don’t think you walk away in 2009.

Im sure many of you Bedgers have heard of Nathan Vredevelt, the 16 year old boy that was seperated from his family and hit crossing I-5 after a blazer game. Ted Miller leads us to a new part of the story. Dennis Dixon is a better person than spread QB.