First Year of Football: 1876 All-Time Record: 558-464-46 All-Time Pac-10 Record: 255-301-20 All-Time Bowl Record/Appearances: 9-13 Last Bowl Appearance: 2008 (def. Oklahoma State in Holiday Bowl)
HEAD COACH CHIP KELLY (New Hampshire 1990) First Year at Oregon
Record at Oregon: First season Overall Career Record: Same
Coaching Experience Elevated to head coach, succeeding Mike Belotti ... served as the Offensive Coordinator for the Ducks for two season ... spent 12 years at his alma mater, New Hampshire, as the Running Backs coach, Offensive Line coach and Offensive Coordinator.
A QUICK LOOK AT THE DUCKS OFFENSE: Oregon has a new head coach and the fewest number of starters returning in the league, but the Ducks don't figure to slow down much, if at all. The Oregon offense put up some scary-good numbers last year under offensive coordinator Chip Kelly, now the first-year head coach of the Ducks. Oregon led the Pac-10 in scoring offense (41.9 points per game with three games over 60) and total offense (484.8 yards per game). The Ducks also led the Pac-10 and ranked second in the nation in rushing offense at 280 yards per game as running backs Jeremiah Johnson (1,201) and LeGarrette Blount (1,002) each topped the 1,000-yard rushing mark. QB Jeremiah Masoli pitched in with 718 yards rushing to make the Ducks more than formidable running the ball. Johnson is gone, as are three starters on the offensive line, but Oregon still figures to be able to move the ball on the ground. Blount is back and he averaged 7.3 yards per carry and rushed for a school-record 17 TDs. Masoli had a breakout year as he rushed for 718 yards and 10 TDs while finishing third in the league in pass efficiency and throwing 13 TD passes. Also back is second-team All-Pac-10 TE Ed Dickson.
DEFENSE: Oregon returns five starters on defense and has to replace some high-quality defensive stars. A particular concern is the defensive line where only DE Will Tukuafu returns for starting duty. And despite losing standouts Jairus Byrd and Patrick Chung in the secondary, that unit should be a strength with FS T.J. Ward and CB Walter Thurmond III leading the way.
THE SCHEDULE: New head coach Chip Kelly has a tough opener with a road game at Boise State, but after that the Ducks play four in a row at raucous Autzen Stadium. California, USC and Oregon State all make the trip to Eugene.
