Jan. 3, 2013; Glendale, AZ, USA: Oregon Ducks head coach Chip Kelly against the Kansas State Wildcats during the 2013 Fiesta Bowl at University of Phoenix Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Mark J. Rebilas-USA TODAY Sports

According to Thayer Evans, Senior Writer at Sports Illustrated,

Oregon appeared last Friday in Dallas before the NCAA’s infractions committee regarding Will Lyles per a source. Former Ducks coach Chip Kelly attended hearing & maintained Lyles’ scouting service was used “the same way other schools do” per the source. The infractions committee is expected to issue its decision on sanctions in the next 60 to 90 days.

The above statement was taken from Evans Twitter account

Last week there was a 515 page document released from the University of Oregon regarding steps from last October that were taken in the case. The school and NCAA worked out a plea deal with the summary disposition process, but the process didn’t work out for the Ducks, according to a report from Yahoo Sports in December.

That led to the meeting last week and now Oregon waits for a decision on potential sanctions of its football program.

For the Ducks I think this would be a sigh of relief to know that the ‘hearing’ process is complete, but now the waiting to see if there will be sanctions, as a part of the process, is normal, but we do know anything that does come down from the NCAA will likely effect the upcoming season starting in August.

According to ESPN, Oregon’s athletic department released a statement after the SI report.

“Regardless of when or where the hearing occurs, review is ongoing until the NCAA Committee in Infractions issues its final report,” it said. “The integrity of the process and our continued full cooperation with the NCAA prohibits us from publicly discussing the specifics of this matter.”

Stay tuned.

Oregon Ducks This Week:

Jan 2, 2012; Pasadena, CA, USA; Oregon Ducks running back Kenjon Barner (24) carries the ball in the 2012 Rose Bowl game against the Wisconsin Badgers at the Rose Bowl. Oregon defeated Wisconsin 45-38. Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee-Image of Sport-USA TODAY Sports

Former Oregon Running Back Kenjon Barner took some time to chat with Stephen A Smith and Skip Bayless this morning on ESPN’s First Take on ESPN2. Whenever you deal with Stephen A, he makes you think. One of the first questions was about why he’s not being named much this week as we head toward the NFL Draft on Thursday night.

Barner has worked hard to get where he is and is poised to enter the NFL before the weekend is out.

“It’s not about where you start, it’s where you finish.”

Kenjon Barner

The First Take crew talked about the Oregon season and the Stanford loss, as well as asked Barner about being the starter after following in the footsteps of LaMichael James. Talk then continued to the NFL Draft and his size:

 ”It’s not the size of the dog in the fight, but the fight in him.”

He was asked who was faster him, or current Oregon player De’Anthony Thomas.

“He’s a different breed”

Barner was asked about his  former coach Chip Kelly making the jump to the NFL and Barner wasn’t shy in saying ‘Kelly was a genius’ when it came to football.

Finally, Barner was asked about his Southern California, Riverside hometown and why he left and went to Oregon for football. He said he needed to get away and start fresh, get away from the same old same old, that if he stayed ‘home’ that’s exactly where he would be every weekend.

Its about me going somewhere where I could become a man.

The full interview with Barner on ESPN First Take has yet to be posted.

Oregon Ducks This Week:

March 14, 2013; Eugene, OR, USA; Oregon Ducks head coach Mark Helfrich attended Oregon pro day at Moshofsky Center. Mandatory Credit: Jaime Valdez-USA TODAY Sports

It’s never too early to look at what the prognosticators are thinking when it comes to the upcoming football season and one, Phil Steele, has released his Preseason Top 25.

Ohio State is no surprise at #1, Followed by Alabama at #2, The Ducks are at #3 and Pac 12 foe Stanford is at #4.

“The Ducks would have probably been a slam dunk for the No. 2 spot” if Chip Kelly had remained in Eugene” – Phil Steele on the Preseason Top 25

The Buckeyes come loaded with talent heading into 2013 and Steele had the following to say about the Buckeyes:

First, they welcome back quarterback Braxton Miller who figures to be one of the Heisman favorites after a season in which he had 3,310 yards of total offense and will look to be improved in the passing game. He will have plenty of talent surrounding him as No. 2 rusher Carlos Hyde and their top two receivers Corey Brown and Devin Smith all return along with key offensive lineman Andrew Norwell and Jack Mewhort. The Buckeyes do have to replace their entire starting defensive line, but Meyer has done a great job of recruiting at that position in his short tenure while the D’s other stars in linebacker Ryan Shazierand cornerback Bradley Roby should help fill the void as the young lineman mature.

Other Pac 12 Teams in his ‘Prediction’ include Oregon State(#21), UCLA(#23) and a teenie tiny bit of respect is left for USC(#25), I personally am not sure why.

A Look at the Preseason Top 25 by Phil Steele