The Oregon Ducks saw its most successful head coach take his talents to the next level while the team promoted someone that 95% of the nation has never heard: Mark Helfrich.
Helfrich has been the Ducks’ offensive coordinator since Chip Kelly became head coach in 2009. Previously, he coached for Boise State, Arizona State and University of Colorado. While the rest of Ducks nation is in full panic mode, fearing that losing Chip Kelly marks the end of their reign, it’s time to reflect back to 2008 and jog some memories.
After the 2008 season, then head coach Mike Bellotti was promoted to Athletic Director and a no-name offensive coordinator was promoted to head coach; fans of the Ducks had the same fears that are being expressed today. Fast-forward to 2012 and that no-name offensive coordinator became Oregon’s greatest head coach ever, Chip Kelly.
Kelly came into the job with zero head coaching experience, just like Mark Helfrich, and swept the nation with his new, fast-paced offense. Now don’t go thinking Helfrich won’t create his own offense, but he studied under Coach Kelly for the past four seasons and understands what it takes to keep the program at its elite level.
Helfrich is the first Oregon native to be head coach of the Ducks and takes over a team that has been to BCS Bowl games every year for the past four seasons. The pressure could not be higher, something that Kelly didn’t have when he first became head coach, but the pieces are all in place for Helfrich to have a successful season.
The Ducks’ schedule favors them this season, with their toughest non-conference game is a trip to play the University of Virginia, and their toughest conference game is Nov. 7 on Stanford turf.
If Chip Kelly remained coach, his estimated record would be 10-2 with losses to both Virginia and Stanford.
Mark Helfrich’s projected record as head coach is 12-0, with a potential shot to play in the Pac-12 title game and go to the National Championship.
Now this may be a stretch for a coach that’s in his first season as head coach, but did anyone think that Chip Kelly would have been able to take the Ducks to the National Championship in only his second season?
I have always thought Helfrich is going to be the coach that the Ducks need to get over the hump; i.e. there shouldn’t be fluke games where an underdog comes into Autzen Stadium and upsets the Ducks in front of 65,000 screaming fans.
The team that Helfrich has inherited is much better than the one that Kelly was handed; therefore, don’t fret Duck fans- it’s going to be another exciting and action-packed season for the green and yellow.
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