With LaMichael James, Ducks Fly but Needs To Win Big One

When LaMichael James was putting on weight in the offseason — as much as 20 pounds — he listened to heavy talk from detractors that he seemed significantly slower and sluggish. The best running back arguably in the nation famously elevated his stardom, but even more so, he became stronger and mightier, built with physique and stamina – not to mention his quickness.

Suddenly, he is the emblem of the university. So were the electrified fans at thrillingly a rambunctious stadium in a culture of a preoccupied sports fest town, where football has mounted on the pedestal. If we can insert clarity, judging his eye-catching, career-building, money-making audition in the inaugural Pac 12 championship game, he’d be regarded as the top running back in April’s draft.

He also now qualifies as the most incredibly electric and dynamic athlete in college football, an all-purpose tailback accessible of transforming a hapless team’s culture that has been deterred by inadequacies. The fireworks were fired, following the first ever championship game that brightened the sky in Eugene, Oregon.

By the end of the night, there were roses and more roses, dozens upon dozens of them to kick off a celebration. The championship game trophy was awarded to the University of Oregon, with a victory that validated the Ducks season. All along, the Ducks secured a place in the Rose Bowl. Not that such a bid would be disregarded in a sense, realizing that Oregon is the far more dominant powerhouses of the Pac 12, easily one of the deepest conferences in the nation. In what might have very well been his last time playing at Autzen Stadium, the fourth-year junior who is set to graduate this school year rhinoed his way past the defenders.

It was a night, not long after James became the program’s all-time leader in rushing yards, rushing touchdowns and scoring, that he carried 25 times for 219 yards and three touchdowns in an awesome performance. It was primal screams, heard loudly and decibels in a stadium that pushed a raucous environment with life and excitement.

This one was all about James, a Heisman hopeful after being a runner-up last season who continues to be a star running back within an elite conference. He rolled all over UCLA, he sprinted his way to the end zone several times and legitimized that he’s a football star, ready to translate his abilities on the pro level – now destined to be selected in the first round of the 2012 NFL Draft if he declares.

The unique quickness, explosiveness and vision are what separates James from the rest of the Pac 12 running backs, as the fastest if not the most dangerous rusher in the country. This is why the Ducks punched their ticket to their third straight BCS game, decisively defeating the Bruins 49-31 at home in front of a sellout crowd that went nuts. The folks of football realized it, probably because they witnessed James run past the Bruins defense in his neon-green uniform, looking stylish in those ridiculous uniforms that Nike unveils every so often.


Every time he trotted to the sideline, following one of his dazzling touchdown runs, the fans sitting near by screamed feverishly, rooting him on in his flawless rush attack on the night the game had many implications. It always has been, and it always will be fun to watch James, a well-rounded athlete who is irresistible and too fast to slow down. Understand this, though: You can’t stop him – you can only contain a specimen, a beast quicker than the average star running back in the nation.

He is, and until he decides to leave behind his collegiate career for his eventual employment days in the NFL – which he probably will – he’ll be the best player in the nation at his position. That said, if he does leave for the NFL at the end of this season, he’ll enter the draft among one of the well-respected prospects. But for now, he can potentially lead his team to win the biggest game, in hopes of capturing the honorable prize at the Granddaddy of them all. The proudest man on this night was head coach Chip Kelly, who is 0-2 in January, devoid of a BCS title in two tries.

“We’re just so excited to represent this university in the Rose Bowl,” said head coach Chip Kelly proudly. “Now we’re going to drink some Dr. Pepper and mail our Christmas presents with UPS.”

Drink all the Dr. Pepper you guys want. It is well-deserving. Mail all the Christmas presents you guys want. It is worth sending gifts to those in support.

Nothing would be worth a debate if James, a star in the eighth-ranked Oregon’s explosive spread, joining this year’s all-conference football team, is top-ranked in nearly every category. He is, after all, the national leader in rushing average and dictated the game’s complexion Friday night. He is, by all accounts, the focal point of not only Oregon but college football and, quite understandably, James is mentally and fundamentally ready to convert into the pros. That is because he’s agile and fearless, with a rational sense of the game.

“All-in-all, I think it’s been a strong season,” Scott said before the game. “The Pac-12 and the SEC are the only conferences to have three teams in the top 10. The conference is clearly establishing itself as a perennial, elite football conference.”

From the start, the Ducks were a bit careless, lacking a sense of urgency, having trouble with ball security and seemed uninspired but they turned it around with James’ surging speed. On the field, he didn’t quit. The Ducks didn’t quit. This was all some crazy night for UCLA, and increasingly to extend the horror, the Bruins turned it over four times. As the game ended, this is where Rick Neuheisel, fired last Monday by UCLA, pumped his fist and gazed at the ground, shouting in solidarity after Nelson Rosario made a one-handed touchdown catch in the final two minutes.

The ultimate confidence, aside from the classy ending for Neuheisel, came from James’ brilliance and he couldn’t be denied. Only now, the stakes become higher than before, and expectedly, he can lead the Ducks to victory in what would be one of the nicest, heartfelt wins. They’ll face Wisconsin or Michigan State, two well-balanced Big Ten teams, but surely enough – the Ducks will be favorites to win it all in Pasadena 30 days from now, giving each team more than enough time to improve and prepare for a big game. This time, of course, it’s now or never. The biggest game of James’ collegiate career awaits him Jan. 1st, 2012. It’s the highest ramifications, the highest stakes on the brightest stage, a national audience to watch a traditional bowl game on New Years Day. Thirty days from now, as he can rest and work in preparations, he’ll be in shape and durable for the challenge. This is no longer about individual achievements or the fastest runner in the country. This is about delivering and prevailing on the national stage.

“They just kept their eye on the prize and nothing will knock them down, said Kelly after Oregon trounced UCLA. “That’s something to be proud of… It’s about living in the moment and being a part of this group, and I’m really, really proud about what this group accomplished.”

Before the game, however, the Bruins never counted themselves out although they were the underdog in postseason history, but failed stopping an early fourth-and-1 that would have shifted momentum. The Bruins had no answer for Kelly’s offense on fourth down for much of the game.

“Those are huge plays because they’re giant momentum changers,” Neuheisel said.”Oregon is a very talented team.”

Yes sir. Oregon is very talented. Don’t forget that James is very talented.

If the Ducks can maintain momentum a month away from the game, then it is fair to assume that Oregon will win the Rose Bowl. If this team could bounce back from a heartbreaker after USC defeated the Ducks in their first ever home loss under Kelly, then they can win any team, despite the sloppy and poor start in the championship game. Everyone knows James is, once again, poised and a skilled running back and has put in the effort to become the first player in conference history to have three 1,500-plus yard rushing seasons. And then came this, the title game where he surpassed Marcus Allen on the career rushing list and moved into second place on the Pac 12 rushing touchdowns list.

If anything had it not been for him, the Bruins may have pulled off the upset. The Ducks, though their offense was too much for the Bruins too handle, were inconsistent on both sides of the ball and gave up 31 points to UCLA on sloppy mistakes – a weakness that could have doomed them. You don’t even have to argue that James was the best player on the field. It was his versatility and durability that slaughtered the Bruins.


Mostly, this was the superstar carrying the Ducks in critical moments, rising to the occasion as quarterback Darron Thomas became the school’s career leader in touchdown passes (63) and had a career-long run of 39 yards. He certainly wasn’t aiming to be the hero, nor was he the hero but he threw three touchdown passes on 20 of 36 passing for 219 yards. If nothing else was imposing, he had a touchdown run that came on an option play well-designed by Kelly and his high-powered offense.

The bad thing is, the Ducks are 0-15 against top 15 out-of-conference teams under Kelly. They’ve been here before. Kelly has been here before. LaMichael has been here before. It’s now time to win it all, when it matters the most.

The Pac 12 heavyweights are the Ducks, but they still need lots of work.

Oregon Ducks Fly To National Triumph

If you haven't discovered the brilliancy and dominance the Oregon Ducks have rendered all season, then you clearly must realize that this team is legit, described as the best program in the nation after it pummeled nearly every opponent in the second-half of each contest.

It apparently cajoles people to believe that the Ducks merits a national title bid, worthy of being honored with a prestigious BCS bowl game, and now, dictated by an undermined system, the University of Nike is fortunate to have the last word for their tenacious performance in a prevalent season. It's understandable to think that the Ducks likely secured a spot in the BCS title game, with a 37-20 win over inter-state rivals Oregon State in the annual Civil War battle on a late Saturday afternoon in Corvallis.

For most of this season, the optimism was eternally felt and has been rationalized in the final contest of the 12-game regular-season with the Ducks sending a statement, only to vindicate a sense of believability for rights to play for a gleaming crystal ball. As recently as a few seasons ago, Oregon was second-class in the Pac-10, always forgotten by USC's sheer dominance each season.

Mostly, as we accept this national perception that the Ducks exemplifies greatness and masters the fundamentals with a workable nucleus on all levels of the game, Oregon consists of a duel-threat in quarterback Darron Thomas and Heisman hopeful LaMichael James, a primary justification of why the Ducks are ideal to contend in the national landscape. All of this makes it seem transparent that the Ducks are inherently vigorous on the strength of a speedy, overmatched offense.


As of now, without much debate, the unbeaten Ducks are relevant of respectively boarding a plane and booking hotel reservations for a shot at the national title in Glendale, Arizona. If Oregon had lost to any team on its fair schedule, with the unique dilemma of the voting scenario, they wouldn't had survived this late in the season, let alone given a potential opportunity to represent its university in the title game as a championship-caliber team.

Judging from the Ducks' grueling tactics and relentless capacity to manhandle their opponent by bustling pass a baffled or an exhausted core of defenders in regards of the blistering ground attack, no team is remotely close to matching the assertiveness or agility of the Ducks. For the first time in a while, Oregon is a program vastly better than everybody in college football and they've treated each week as a national title game, aiming to rank as the top-notch program in the nation.

And for once, the stakes were immense in the Duck-Beaver rivalry event and finally the Civil War was distinguished as a purposeful clash and probably decided a national title berth. The Ducks, seemingly, couldn't afford a loss and prevailed in crucial moments by playing as if this was the final game of their lifetimes. This year, of course, there is no uncertainty that Oregon is well-deserving of rising into a premier program, finishing the season likely atop the rankings at 12-0, finally putting a cease to the disrespect and understatements that overshadowed the nation's most talented program as the Ducks were disapproved for being in an underestimated conference.

As for Chip Kelly, the man who resurrected a berated team which almost fell victim of mortality at one point, was given a $600,000 raise earlier this season. It wasn't what anyone had in mind, when he forged his signature to a six-year contract extension that will increase and pay him $20.5 million by the conclusion of his deal. And it now turns out he's guaranteed bonuses for wins in the season and a bowl game appearance, after the top-ranked Ducks punched their ticket to the BCS title game on January 10th.

"We're not going to play a national championship right now, we're going to prepare for one," said Oregon head coach Kelly. "And we'll play the game on the 10th (of January). But we got to this point we're at now by our preparation and we know we're going to have to go to work for the next month to show up on the 10th. And that's what these are all about, they understand the task at hand and they accept it heartily."

It was, to put it mildly, a magical scene for a team that finished an epic chapter unbeaten, now in pursuit of winning on the brightest stage in college football. The crowd erupted in roars, as majority of the sellout crowd came to support the Ducks, filled with seas of green and yellow at Reser Stadium. The heavy talk for the Ducks is squarely unique led by Kelly, who prepares for massive moments and relies on adjustments.

He brings a workable mentality to his players and has cultivated his players with his practical preparations and, as a result, he is 22-3 at Oregon with a 17-1 record in the Pac-10 Conference and has become the only coach in history to win the conference title as a first-year head coach. All of this has led to perfection in which the Ducks capped a miraculous season, and has finally become worthy of subtlety. At game's end, the players were speechless and celebrated in bliss, following a remarkable season and earned their school's first BCS National Championship Game berth.

"It's a big deal that we got to play in the national championship," said Thomas, "but we got to the Rose Bowl last year and we didn't finish it. It's important to finish."

In all likelihood, it's possible.

Thirty-seven days from now the Ducks will take the field again, to encounter a rigid challenge against Auburn University, after the team prevailed in the SEC title game and coasted to a 56-17 win over South Carolina to clinch a berth to play the Ducks in the championship. At this time, Oregon is imposing, fierce and untouchable, while Cam Newton conducts Auburn and its explosive offense in their improbable year.


On the way to the biggest night in school history next month, the Ducks are shrewd and have been considered the deepest threat in the nation, surrounded by tremendous talent. Logic is, the Ducks refuse to quit, groomed and well-coached. That could be why they are so resilient and trailed 7-6 against Oregon State at the end of the first quarter, the fifth consecutive game that Oregon was defeated in the opening quarter.

It wasn't long, as the Ducks continued to fight and remain composed, before they destroyed the Beavers. This is historical, particularly when the program won only one Pac-10 championship during the second-half of the 20th century, nationally recognized for outlandish uniforms and powerful offenses. James, the explosive tailback, shared carries with Kenjon Barner, and still rushed 28 times for 134 yards, while Barner had 15 carries for 133 yards to frustrate and override the 5-6 Beavers. Together, they combined for 169 yards in the first half.

"When we have to grind it out, we grind it out," said Oregon receiver Jeff Maehl. "We showed it against Cal and we showed it again today."

Certainly, they showed it.

At the beginning of the second-half, Kelly decided to call for the trickery and faked the punt. That forced a third-and-six, leading to Thomas' 19-yard touchdown pass to expand the lead to 23-7 with 8:39 remaining in the third. As the Ducks chase a national title, we'll now generate talk whether the Ducks merits the spotlight and whether Oregon will manhandle Auburn. Only time will tell.

Think of it as an everlasting debate. But in the meantime, the Quack Attack is untouchable and dynamic.

Let's just say 12 down, one to go.

Oregon Ducks Will Swim to National Title

This was real.

It’s highly impossible to beat the Oregon Ducks, a college football program comprising of a high-powered offense, called the Quack Attack. The Ducks dominated Stanford in every facet of the biggest showdown in college football this weekend. The most elite program in all likelihood is the well-anticipated Ducks, arguably favored in the Pac-10 conference.

By the end of the night, the scoreboard read 52-31. Thrilled Oregon fans were giving their appreciation and wearing green and yellow attire, all while generating a crazed frenzy. By the end of the night, fans swarmed around the heroes of an outweighing annihilation.


Darron Thomas and LaMichael James were transcendent. James, an explosive and agile tailback, rushed for a career-high 257 yards on 31 carries. From the moment of an early blowout, Oregon hadn’t surrendered and answered with a decisive touchdown in a high-scoring contest among a pair of powerhouses within a disparaged conference.

“You just can’t worry about the score,” said James. “You’ve just got to play your game. This team right here is really buying into this system. We’re down, but we know eventually something is going to break because of our tempo and our endurance.”

Never mind Jeremiah Masoli, the quarterback who led the Ducks on a sensational turnaround and drove the program to the Rose Bowl, but was dismissed for his off-the-field troubles. The best team in the Pac-10, if not in the nation, is destined to clinch a berth for the national title game led by the rising star Thomas, who prevailed on the ravishing stage in his career and considerably magnified the Ducks national title hopes.

The repetition of onslaughts began by the second half, and fans screamed in the stands energized for witnessing the Ducks execute unstoppable running plays. Throughout much of a hellacious, high-scoring night, Oregon wore down the Cardinal and eventually their opponents became baffled and fatigued with the routine sprints to the line of scrimmage and relentless rush attacks to counterbalance a hard-driven defense, emphasized heavily by Stanford’s coach Jim Harbaugh.

“I’m proud of my guys, very proud of them, and we’ll keep our heads up, and we’ll come back next week,” said Harbaugh. “Wasn’t our day today.”

Five games into the season, and Oregon is unbeaten in reality. It all happened overwhelmingly on a night the Ducks trailed 21-3 in the first-half, but slowly strategized a blueprint and rode a gigantic comeback by pounding the Cardinal and dissolving national title hopes, and maybe even a conference title. It was simply dynamic on a specific play that shifted the momentum, a drive embodied in the beginning of a conceivable comeback for the Ducks.


All cred that the Ducks are the finest program in the nation for its athleticism, high-powered offense and posture, is fittingly worth acknowledging at a point when Oregon is unbeaten and compelling, belittling and trouncing opponents with a violent rush attack and the growth of Thomas. The Ducks, as we refer to as the powerhouse of the Pac-10, already comprises of a championship-caliber offense, but the demise of its defense will dictate whether Oregon contends for a national title. If you weren’t around to witness a dazzling game, the Ducks rallied back from a large deficit by holding Stanford scoreless in the second-half.

“We knew we weren’t going to blow them out.” Oregon coach Chip Kelly told reporters. “It’s going to be a battle every week in our league.”

And though the Ducks have enough offensive weapons to win possibly every battle and finish the season undefeated, the University of Nike and Donald Duck are vulnerable faltering in the national title game with the lack of defense. No reason to worry too much. By realizing that Kelly is supreme at motivating his players and grooming a core of star athletes, he’ll make adjustments in time to introduce a well-balanced team. It’s a program of assaulters that were dismissed in some ways, but has the ingredients to be regarded as conference winners.

As he waited for this moment, Thomas out-shined a former high school rival Andrew Luck in a peerless showdown. Alongside his counterpart, James, he maneuvered an equated offense on a game-changing play and connected with Jeff Maehl for a 29-yard touchdown across the middle in a route Stanford’s defenders allowed the speedy receiver to sprint down the middle uncovered.


As much as we adore the Ducks, the sophomore running back James is a legitimate Heisman candidate and has redeemed his image after serving a suspension in the season-opener. Of course, if there was any redemption, it was his blistering quickness. So far, he has rushed for 712 yards and seven touchdowns in his first four games. But on this particular night, Thomas made a strong case and threw for 238 yards, ran for 117 yards and accounted for four touchdowns Saturday.

The ultimate irony is that the Ducks are running a high-powered offense with a double-threat. Already, this season alone, the Ducks scored at least 42 points in each of their first five games. Still, it would be beneficial for defensive coordinator Nick Allotti to channel and inspire mental toughness on defense.

It appears he can manufacture methodical adjustments, but in the second half the Ducks held the Cardinal to 66 yards after allowing 111 in the first. The Ducks applied the pressure in the second half and began harassing Luck and forced the projected top quarterback in next year’s NFL draft into two interceptions.

After all, as the intensity became a factor, Oregon safety Javes Lewis hit receiver Chris Owusu, who fumbled and that allowed Ducks linebacker Eddie Pleasant to retrieve the ball and return it 51 yards to the Stanford 3. When the defense delivered on a huge stop, Oregon had already tied it 31 all. But the next play following the fumble, of course, James ran it into the end zone for the second of three touchdowns.

“I give a lot of credit to our defensive coaches,” Kelly told reporters. “They made great adjustments at halftime, and our players came out and played hard.”

The Ducks certainly believed.

“Every team is going to have adversity,” James said. “I think what matters is how you overcome adversity.”

Exactly.

The Ducks may have plenty worth celebrating. They may hoist the crystal ball. It makes absolute sense.