Week 1 opening kickoff is only a day away, are you ready? Not only do you have to ask yourself have I prepared enough for this season but have I prepared enough to face one of the best opponents on my schedule this early?
Chip Kelly has great drive and focus. Signs reading “Win the Day” can be seen everywhere around the athletic facilities in Eugene. “Win the Day” is a perfect motto for the sport of football at any level anywhere in the world. However with the Bowl Championship Series in NCAA Division I football “Win the Day” carries a little more meaning.
Coaching football in high school has taught me to expect the unexpected on the field during week 1 matchups (I am reminded of the Oregon BSU opener two seasons ago). Here in Oregon under the OSAA regulations we only have two weeks of practice before the first Friday night kickoff. Leading up to game, time can be a roller coaster of nerves, excitement, and pure adrenaline. Luckily both Oregon and LSU’s coaching staff have had a little more time on the practice field ramping up for a collision of preseason giants. Hey, we are in this because we love it. You don’t coach to get rich or famous; coaches are passionate about the game, athletes, and peers around them. I have personally spent time with the University of Oregon coaching staff and I can’t say enough about how good these gentlemen are. Listen to anyone of the coaches on staff and you can feel their passion and excitement. Amongst all of the alleged offseason scandal, the core of this organization is in it for the right reasons. The Ducks will end up overcoming the (offseason) negativity and placing a positive successful product to represent Oregon tomorrow evening.
Les Miles chews grass on the sideline. Chip Kelly who doesn’t drink coffee will wake up (if he gets any sleep tonight) and blast music to prepare for Saturday morning. Whatever the habit, ritual, or nervous tick when it comes time to lead your team out of the tunnel in front of the thousands now standing in the stadium, that feeling inside is like no feeling you’ve ever felt. If you could bottle that kind of excitement and energy Starbucks, Red Bull, and Rockstar would all be out of business. I will be watching on TV and I’m starting to get fired up, can you feel it?
Each coach has a job to do Saturday, but more importantly in my opinion, is the job that they did this past week and in fall camp. Scouting, preparation, and game planning will beat LSU. Oregon has tremendously talented athletes and LSU has just as many. Who cares about suspensions, football is the ultimate team game and it takes 11 working as one to be successful. Players unknown to you and I will rise to the challenge when needed.
When you are watching the game tomorrow and the TV camera cuts over to the Oregon sideline or press box (offensive and defensive coaches get a birds eye view of the on field play) notice the demeanor of the coach, imagine what’s going through his head, and ask yourself just how important is this guy right now?
Let’s get to kickoff already! Go Ducks!