One more time, little Duckies, one more time!

One day left. In just about a day and a quarter, Oregon will be taking the field for the most important game of their lives. To say I'm anxiety-ridden, impatient, distracted, excited, borderline-hyperventilating and about to panic would be an understatement. Nick Allioti uttered the words in the story title as he was dragged out of a press conference, kicking, screaming, laughing, giggling.  It was a perfect moment, just like the perfect season Oregon has had so far.

So some stuff that I want to say before everybody goes out for the game.

* To Chip Kelly --  thank you, THANK YOU!

* To DT -- just be yourself. It's your time, your team, your game, your moment. Go out there and be a quarterback!

* To the OLine -- it's all up to you guys. You're the key to the game. Protect DT! Create those gaps! Give it your all! It's in your hands...

* To LMJ -- fire up those burners, LMJ, it's time to show the country PAC 10 SPEED!

* To Jeff Maehl -- we're relying on you to deliver one last time, Jeff.  You have never let us down...

* To Rob Beard -- you are the absolute best kicker on this planet. You have laser-like accuracy, god-like strength.  You will NOT FAIL US. Be fearless!

* To Jackson Rice -- we love you, but I hope we don't see you. If we do, be yourself. Be your brilliant self.

* To the Defense -- tackle, tackle, tackle, tackle, tackle! That's all there is to it. Tackle well, and we win.

* To Cliff Harris -- time to lock it down, Cliffy, time to lock it down! But for the love of God, no fumbles!

* To Duck fans at the game --- be loud, be LOUD, BE LOUD, BE LOOOOUUUUDDD!!!!

* To Duck fans everywhere -- stay classy, people, regardless of what happens, stay classy!

There are days that this makes no sense at all to me. Oregon is 12-0. Undefeated. I normally use that term in different contexts -- peewee ball, the boggle christmas bowl played at my house. Undefeated. I roll it around on my tongue and stretch it out (try it): un-deeeeefeeee-tedddddddd!!  It feels surprisingly good.

I have never had the pleasure of saying that and have it apply to my Ducks team at the end of the regular season. Thus, a new era begins, where our imaginations have been reset, a new frame of reference established. Undefeated will forever be the yardstick against which all future Oregon Duck teams will be measured. "That first undefeated team of 2010 which played in the MNC..." will likely be the sentence our kids and grandkids hear most often growing up.

Regardless of what happens tommorow, Oregon will be sailing on a new uncharted sea, in a grand new boat. Strong, purposeful and proven. Regardless of what happens tommorow, I will love this team forever. They have represented Oregon well, and I'm proud of how they've gone about the year, the regular season and the Championship game. I will remember this team forever, for their outstanding personalities, their character and the happiness they have brought me. A special season, indeed. It will be icing on the cake if they win just more, these little duckies...

WIN THE DAY, GO DUCKS!!