C'mon Football Team

David R.

February 25, 2010 - 4:29 PM

Even though the Ducks football team wasn't able to leave Pasadena with a Rose Bowl victory, the season was still viewed as a success considering that we were able to knock off the highly esteemed USC Trojans and win the Pacific 10 Conference. Shortly thereafter, our coaching staff was able to bring in what ESPN considered to be the 13th best recruiting class in the nation, including Lache Seastrunk, arguably the best high school running back in the country.

Unfortunately, recent events involving football players in Eugene has shed a negative light on the program's recent successes.

Since the end of the season, multiple players have been tied to various crimes around campus, and some of these players have been arrested and kicked off of the football team all together. Head Coach Chip Kelly recently had a segment on ESPN in which he was asked about the off-field dilemmas and how it has effected the football team as a whole. He said that he can't be around the team all the time and it is embarrassing for the program and for the University of Oregon all together. Some have begun to compare this Oregon team to the University of Miami teams of the 80s and 90s, whose actions prompted the school to be appropriately nicknamed "Thug U."

Regardless of what has occurred I feel that we still have depth in enough positions to put a successful team on the field. Whether LaMichael James is ever allowed to play again or not, the signing of Seastrunk has provided our team with another stellar running back who should have no problem making an impact early in his college career. Despite the allegations against Jeremiah Masoli involving a fraternity break in, there has been nothing to suggest that he will be kept off of the field next season.

After the bowl games were over Sports Illustrated ranked the Ducks at number six for the post season rankings. The publication's reason for doing so was the fact that we will be returning so many offensive starters from this last year's team. As a senior, this next season is Masoli's last chance to make a name for himself in college football. He has had two years to become acquainted with Oregon's tricky offense and he put up impressive numbers this last season. He has all of the tools to lead the Ducks to another Pac 10 championship and beyond. With Pete Carroll's recent departure from USC, it could be time for a changing of the guard in the Pac 10.

Every so often my fraternity holds an event called a brotherhood. With everyone as busy as we are during the school year it is nice to get everyone together for a little fun. Tonight we are getting everyone together for some bowling. I am not the best bowler in the world but I can usually throw it straight enough to knock a couple of pins down. What is bowling without a cold beer? I turned 21 last Tuesday, and let me tell you, being of age feels phenomenal.