It's a relatively slow news day by mid-season standards, but here's what I found:
- I'm sure by now you've heard the story of the upset Duck fan who invoiced Oregon head coach Chip Kelly for a refund—and got a personal check from Kelly in response—after the Boise State debacle, but George Schroeder delves into it a bit more. Kelly still refuses to comment, but the writing is on the wall. Assuming it's true, let's make it official: Kelly is the coolest head coach in college football.
- From Rob Moseley's Tuesday practice report: LeGarrette Blount was back participating in drills after his recent absences due to the birth of his son, LeGarrette Jr.
- The R-G's Bob Clark compares the Pac-10's non-conference showing to the rest of the major conferences. Although the Pac-10 has fared well outside the conference, the SEC still tops the list. But an Arizona State win "Between the Hedges" this weekend would help close that gap.
- Make sure you tune in to ESPNU tomorrow at 5:00 p.m. Sheldon High School star and Oregon recruit Curtis White, who's been recovering from a dislocated shoulder, has been cleared to play in the nationally televised game against Southridge.
- If you have time, check out these sound-bites from Kelly and Cal head coach Jeff Tedford about the upcoming Pac-10 showdown in Eugene.
- Could our offensive woes, particularly in the passing game, have anything to do with new offensive coordinator Mark Helfrich? ATQ reader Cpassmore asked that question earlier this week, and Bleacher Report scribe Fletcher Johnson takes a stab at answering it in his weekly Oregon Strategy Session.
As always, leave any relevant links or comments below.
GO DUCKS!