When LaMichael James broke away for an electrifying 72-yard touchdown run last Saturday, I couldn’t help but realize that the play served as a perfect metaphor for the last six months of Oregon football.
At the play’s onset, James headed right and immediately saw trouble as Tennessee sniffed him out.
You’ll remember, of course, that the Oregon football program looked to be headed down a similar path of turmoil last spring, as Jeremiah Masoli plead guilty to theft and James himself was involved in a domestic dispute.
As the legal issues continued to pile up, many questioned whether the program had lost control.
Back to Knoxville.
Suddenly, James stops on his toes, shakes off a tackle, and takes off in the opposite direction.
In June 2010, Masoli was booted from the team after another run-in with the law.
James and kicker Rob Beard were suspended for one game each, while others were also punished for their misdeeds.
At long last, Chip Kelly and the Ducks can begin the process of rebuilding Oregon’s image.
Turning a corner, James suddenly saw nothing but green turf in front of him.
The Tennessee defenders desperately attempted to catch up, but to no avail.
On Sept. 4, the Ducks turned a corner of their own, demolishing New Mexico 72-0.
Clearly the favorite in the Pac-10 Conference this year, Oregon, like James, looks to greener pastures ahead.
OK, so the metaphor isn’t entirely complete.
We haven’t gotten to James scoring the touchdown yet, but how can we, just two games into the season?
Point being, this program appears to have righted the ship after a damaging rough patch, and it has been a joy to watch.
Particularly poignant is the fact that it was James who galloped to the end zone on that play against Tennessee.
No one will ever know the full story behind what happened during James’ offseason troubles, but he served his time on the sidelines and it was nice to see him so quickly return to form.
Quite frankly, this year’s team may be even more fun to watch than last year’s edition.
Though two games is admittedly a very small sample, and the true tests are yet to come, there seems to be a certain edginess to this team, a desire to silence the critics that dogged it last year (myself included).
There are few things I enjoy watching more than a team playing with pure, unbridled spite.
The defense, save for a brief Tauren Poole explosion last week, has been all over the place, and allowed just 13 points.
Kenjon Barner scored five touchdowns in a single half against New Mexico.
Cliff Harris, a cornerback who doesn’t even start, already has three touchdowns for the year.
These aren’t just your average statistics. These are statement numbers, and I love to see the Ducks pouring them on so furiously to start the season.
To be sure, it will take awhile for the memories of the offseason to fade.
The name “Jeremiah Masoli,” once associated with greatness in Eugene, will forever evoke thoughts of the quarterback’s burglary.
Upon mention of Oregon, many casual fans still look back to the punch LeGarrette Blount threw against a Boise State player to start last year’s season.
Perhaps those images will never fully disappear.
But what we have seen through two games is a Duck team turning corners, both literally and figuratively.
As for the rest of the season? Who knows?
Perhaps Oregon will complete the James metaphor and take an undefeated record all the way to the National Championship Game.
James certainly knew how to finish the play in Knoxville, scampering all the way for the go-ahead touchdown.
A National Championship certainly sounds a bit far-fetched, particularly considering the Rose Bowl result last season.
Yet, as anyone who watched the James run can attest, just about anything is possible with this team.
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