Media at Monday’s weekly press conference with Oregon head coach Chip Kelly were in for a surprise when the first 10 minutes were spent on a teleconference with USC Trojans head coach Pete Carroll.
The ninth-year coach of No. 4 USC was nothing short of gushing about No. 10 Oregon’s “cool offense” and said that his team is excited to play in such a big game.
 
“We’re really going to have to be on our game,” Carroll said. “And when you add in Halloween and the crowd it’s going to be a heckuva night and we’re really going to have to play great to get a chance to win.”
 
Carroll spent most of his time commenting on Oregon’s success so far this year and said one key his team will face is how well it adapts to Oregon’s fast-tempo offense. But he also touched on how the Ducks’ defense has changed since the beginning of the year.
 
“It’s been interesting to watch how they have adapted and made adjustments,” Carroll said. “It’s been very effective. … It’s been very impressive and they haven’t slowed down.”
 
After Carroll’s short time on the conference call, Kelly was open for questions and the theme quickly turned to the atmosphere this weekend is going to bring to Eugene. With ESPN College GameDay setting up shop in Eugene for the game, Kelly said that it was a great thing for the University.
 
“I think it’s awesome,” Kelly said. “This is a special place and the more notoriety it can get is great for the University. … I’ve always said that the University of Oregon is a special, special place and the fact that College GameDay will come here is well deserved.”
 
Kelly said that he thinks the Pacific-10 Conference is the best conference in the country and he’s glad that GameDay is highlighting a big-time game that has conference title implications. However, he also said that his team isn’t distracted by it — the hype is all for the fans.
 
“I told them today congratulations for being No. 10 in the BCS and not one kid clapped,” Kelly said with a slight grin. “I can’t get them any more. It doesn’t bother them. It doesn’t mean anything to them any more…they just want to play the next game and the next game just so happens to be a huge test in USC.”
 
The other big news of the day came on the injury front. Kelly confirmed in the 25-minute press conference that Duck linebacker Josh Kaddu will be on the sidelines for at least one month with a injury in his right foot. The Vacaville, Calif., sophomore sustained the injury in the third quarter of the Washington game after having three tackles, including a sack.
 
To date the backup linebacker has posted 21 tackles and forced one fumble in seven games of play.
 
Kaddu’s injury is just another in a string that has affected Oregon’s defense, but Kelly said the great thing about this team is that no matter what happens, they stick together and continue to play hard.
 
“It’s just a great bunch of guys to be around,” Kelly said. “Our staff and players are close. Our players buy into everything that we teach them…everybody is on the same page and that’s the unique and special thing about this team.”
 
And while the team lost Kaddu, it welcomed back senior defensive back T.J. Ward to the lineup. Ward said after Saturday’s game that it was nice to get back out and hit some people and Kelly is also happy to have a senior leader in the secondary.
 
“He’s one of the hardest hitters in college football,” Kelly said. “And being the only senior back there right now is key for us.”
 
As for USC’s defense, Kelly said that just the number of blue-chip recruits the team has makes them a dangerous team. He says the telltale sign of a Pete Carroll defense is having big safeties and linebackers and a very strong pass rush.
 
“They’re really good, that’s the hallmark,” Kelly said. “(Carroll) has been really consistent and very good for as long as he’s been there.”
 
In the end, the hype of this weekend is building and it’s only Tuesday. Kelly said the team is trying to ignore the hype, but he’s also glad the game is at home because of the atmosphere Oregon fans bring.
 
“We feel we have a distinct home-field advantage,” he said. “It’s the best crowd in college football. Our players get excited to play at home. During the four game stretch at home, our guys just ate it up. It is a unique thing.”


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