The clock struck zero at University of Phoenix Stadium. The Auburn football team celebrated with its orange- and blue-clad fans, holding up early newspaper front pages exclaiming, “TIGERS WIN.”
I found myself in a shower of confetti.
Not unlike a heavy snowfall, the air suddenly grows thicker around you. Time slows down around people, places and events.
In front of me was Eddie Pleasant, the Oregon rover who failed to bring down Auburn’s Michael Dyer. Pleasant’s head was buried in his hands on the Oregon bench. He would not move, but to stare at the ground. At that moment, he felt lower than he may have ever been. (I felt quite different; I will explain later.)
Kenny Rowe would fight his way through the confetti to approach Pleasant, lift him up, offer a few words of encouragement. Pleasant somberly walked to the locker room.
Chip Kelly waited at the entrance tunnel, seeing his players off the field. He offered a handshake, a quick hug, and words of encouragement. Nothing any of them could do now. Kelly knew best to act on that fact.
The Oregon locker room was a mixed bag. Players were moving in and out, showering, changing, shaking off whatever feelings they could. To lose on a last-second field goal in what so many considered the most important game of their lives was much to bear.
Linebacker Josh Kaddu, who recorded one tackle in the game, held his head in his hands at his locker, barely able to speak above the level of a whisper.
Defensive tackle Zac Clark sat in his corner locker, head also in his hands, eyes burning with the desire to play 15 more minutes, set things right. Asked what words could sum up his emotions, he replied, “Words that you can’t say on film.” (He did not specify.)
“They were a very physical team,” he said. “There were a lot of hands to the face, which you can’t do anything about if they don’t call anything.”
Center Jordan Holmes, a senior like Clark, was saying goodbyes to some of his teammates, congratulating others, making them feel better with the selflessness he has exhibited for four years.
“I’m obviously not too ecstatic,” he said. “We definitely had more than one opportunity to win this game. We didn’t do the best job executing on the offensive side of the ball — hats off to the Auburn defense. I really feel like we could have pulled this one off. And now I’m just reflecting on my career, and saying thank you to everyone …”
Holmes took a moment to compose himself. One of the toughest Ducks was moved near tears.
Tight end David Paulson, one of the quietest players on the team, was moved to words.
“It’s a tough loss. It’s kind of hard to swallow that one, you know, losing on the last play and everything,” he said. “I really felt like we had some momentum with that last drive. I just kind of felt like we ran out of time. (Dyer’s run) was tough. It’s also tough not being able to score on four tries from the one-yard line. Came away with no points, that’s a tough one. A couple of the guys felt like we couldn’t get it going. And when you come up short, you can’t help but think about those plays.
“I felt like I did pretty good. There were always things I could have done better. You always think of things you might have done better that could have been the difference in the game. Overall, I felt like I gave it my all. It’s a tough one to swallow. There’s not really much else I could have done. Of course, I felt like I could have done better on some plays, but effort-wise, I gave it all up.”
Few heads were held high. Understandable. But with time, they should be.
As an Oregon student and reporter, I felt as though I came out on top in the confetti blizzard. I had just seen one of the most exciting finishes in college football history, on one of the biggest stages of sport. That Oregon team — my team, in some ways — competed admirably, even if the execution was not always there.
The temptation will be great for so many to view the events of Monday night as a total loss. Winning matters, and the Ducks did not win. This would be misguided.
There will be other important games. Other important nights. And other important victories.
[email protected]