ARLINGTON, Texas – The mood in the Oregon locker room following its 42-20 loss to Ohio State in the inaugural College Football Playoff title game was understandable. Hugs were given, tears were shed, final words were exchanged as the team struggled to fully acknowledge what had just transpired at AT&T Stadium.
For the second time in four years, the Ducks fell short to a better, more prepared team, ending what was a memorable run, which included winning the Pac-12 Championship and 101st Rose Bowl.
“It’s definitely shocking, but I feel like we just didn’t prepare as well…there was just nothing else we could do,” Torrodney Prevot said.
If you were wondering, it wasn’t a fluke.
Sure, there were plays to made early in the game – look no further than Dwayne Stanford’s critical drop in the second drive of the game – but there was also credit to be given. Urban Meyer, who joined Nick Saban as the only other coach in the history of college football to win titles at two different schools, simply had his team prepared for the biggest stage and it resulted in a dominating performance in front of a crowd of 85,689.
Ezekiel Elliott’s 246 yards and four touchdowns set a new Buckeyes rushing record in a bowl game. Cardale Jones’ 242 passing yards on 16 of 23 passing and two touchdowns dissolved any doubt that a third string quarterback can accomplish the feat of winning a title.
Again, the Ducks had their fair share of opportunities early on to rewrite the script, but it’s never that simple. When the clock drained down and Jerry’s World echoed with Buckeyes cheers, it was for the better team on Monday night.
What could have been
Before the confetti was blown, before Lady Antebellum sang the National Anthem, before the Buckeyes were forever enshrined as the first-ever College Football playoff champions, there was a scene filled with proud Oregon alumni from all walks of life.
Rich Brooks, Ahmad Rashad, Joey Harrington, I mean you name it, were all there. They were all here in hopes of witnessing Oregon win its first-ever championship. They however, all left disappointed.
“Wouldn’t it be ironic that the first Playoff in football, the Ducks could win it?” Rich Brooks posed before the game in reference to their basketball team defeating the Buckeyes in the first-ever men’s basketball championship game.
Leading up to the game, I spoke with Brooks and former Oregon/Ohio State Athletic Director Rick bay, who both had a firm grip on what a national title would have meant for Oregon as a program. Neither of them believed the Ducks were in need of validation, but they also didn’t deny the importance of winning when you can.
I’m sure they would have loved to see the Ducks stand on that podium tonight more than any other spectator.
Bay still remembers when he took over as Oregon’s Athletic Director in 1981 when the entire budget was less than $7 million. He remembers when what was then the Pac-10, wanting to kick Oregon out for underperforming, prompting them to explore other conferences like the Big Sky. He also remembers the hard times that he and Brooks had to go through en route to building what the program is today.
“As I’ve said, 35 years ago, there was talk of Oregon being kicked out of the Pac-10,” Bay said. “So for them to be playing in the national championship in football, I couldn’t have imagined that at that point.”
But Bay and Brooks held their own and eventually established the basis for people like Mike Belotti, Chip Kelly and now Mark Helfrich to build a national brand on.
Simply put, it’s the figures like Brooks and Bay that provide perspective on how far Oregon has come, not only as an academic institution, but also a football powerhouse. Regardless of the loss, Oregon has come a long way.
“What I inherited in 1977 – you can see what it is now – it’s like getting an old Model T and having it into a Rolls Royce,” Brooks said. “The transition of the facilities, support and everything that’s come along in the last 15, 20 years, it’s just remarkable.”
The disappointment seen on the Oregon players following their most crushing loss wasn’t because they had failed to make history or that they had embarrassed themselves. It was that they missed the opportunity to bring the perks and pride that winning a national championship surely brings.
“Winning a national championship would really take them to a different level, I believe. They had a chance in 2010 against Auburn, came up just a little bit short, they played them very well. The Ducks are back in the drivers seat right now and they have a chance to become one of the only few teams on the west coast that can claim National Championships and certainly under the new criteria with the Playoff, they can break the hold of the SEC…this would be a significant thing for Oregon to win the inaugural Playoff National Championship.”
Unfortunately for the father figures of Oregon football, they’re going to have to wait a little longer.
“I hope the night after the game in Dallas is one of those opportunities (to celebrate),” Brooks said. “Would certainly love to enjoy it with my former coaches that are still there: Pellum and Greatwood, Campbell, Jimmy Radcliffe and also Rob Mullens who is a friend of mine from Kentucky. It would be wonderful to celebrate it with all of those people.”
Follow Hayden Kim on Twitter @HayDayKim
Oregon misses its shot at College Football Playoff title trophy
Hayden Kim
January 11, 2015
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