Yesterday on “Talkin Ducks” Aaron Fentress said it would be a “choke” if the Ducks didn’t win the national title this year.
His reasoning was that the Ducks are dominating and winning every game, and they will be favored by three touchdowns in their games for the rest of the year.
The video appears in the story below this one. In his column on Sunday he said, “Simply put, the Ducks have no excuses not to go undefeated and win the Pac-12. Oregon should not face one close contest until the national championship and depending on the opponent, that game might not be so close. Don’t worry about there being more than two undefeated teams at the end of the season. A 13-0 Oregon team will be assured of a spot in the BCS title game. This is the most exciting program in the nation and they will be assured box office against anyone.”
Fentress exaggerated a little, probably for effect. The Ducks won’t be favored by three touchdowns against UCLA and Stanford, and shouldn’t be against the Beavers because it’s a rivalry game and therefore dangerous even when the Ducks are a decidedly better team. The prospect of having to beat UCLA twice in the probable PAC-12 Championship Game is daunting also. That doesn’t mean the Ducks can’t do it, but it’s brash to label it a certainty after six games.
“Choke” is a loaded word, and shouldn’t be used as often as it is in the sports vernacular. Joey Harrington countered that if they fall short, it won’t be a choke, it will be college football. In this, Harrington is right. Perfection is hard. That’s why it rarely happens, and there are poignant agonizing stories of athletes who fall in the last quarter mile or slip on the ice. The Ducks of 2007 were a beautiful team to watch, but it all crumpled to the turf with Dennis Dixon in the Arizona desert. Harrington’s own 2001 team got jobbed by the BCS selection committee. They also blew a 14-point lead in the fourth quarter against Stanford (that team again) in Autzen Stadium in October, a game that cost them their national championship shot. Which perhaps explains why Oregon’s first Heisman Trophy finalist at quarterback is so sensitive about the choke label. He was 22-41 passing on that day, with three touchdowns and two interceptions.
Oregon lost two national championship bids in the last two seasons by a couple of field goals, but it isn’t fair to label either one of them a “choke.” They played an inspired opponent and made some errors. They lost one football game in a year of excellence.
The Ducks will be favored in all their remaining games, and even money or better against anyone in Pasadena should they get there. But winning all of them takes an exceptional effort and a little bit of luck. It’s an elephant that has to be consumed one bite at a time.
They have the talent to do it and the opportunity. Today a panel at sportsillustrated.com forecast the national title race, and all seven of them picked Alabama and Oregon as the likely combatants. Four of the seven picked Oregon to win.
Winning seven more games without a stumble, a devastating injury or a terrible, no good, very bad day is a mathematically difficult thing to do. It’s remarkable that Oregon is in a position to do so. For long-time fans who remember the days of 1-10 and Toilet Bowls and Mike Jorgensen throwing interceptions instead of describing them, it’s absolutely incredible.
Winning a PAC-12 Championship and going to the Rose Bowl remain very good goals in any season. They should never be looked on as failure or a disappointment.
You’d have to be the grump of all grumps not to love or believe in this team. They have all the weapons. A dynamic quarterback. A hard-hitting and aggressive defense. Talented receivers. A veteran offensive line agile enough to get out in front of plays. A reliable running back who moves the chains. Great coaching and tremendous internal leadership. Heart. Attitude. Courage. A wondrous talent in De’Anthony Thomas, who’ll return soon and make his mark on the history of the game. Young players that bring new passion and promise to what is already a remarkable team and a remarkable story.
The 2013 Ducks are the most special group in a fairy tale run of great teams at Oregon. College football can break your heart in a thousand ways, but this group will never lack effort, focus or purpose. They may lose in the hard road to greatness, but they will never choke.
Anyone who applies that label is a sophist or a buffoon.
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