Freshman quarterback Justin Herbert is the man of the moment in Eugene.
Herbert threw six touchdown passes while rallying the Ducks from behind Friday night at Cal to force overtime.
The Ducks wound up losing their fifth consecutive game this season, 52-49. But amid the ashes of defeat are some fresh signs of hope.
Aaron Fentress of CSNNW.com writes that Herbert's quick development presents a clear case for why UO coach Mark Helfrich should be retained.
Herbert gives Helfrich and the Ducks a centerpiece around which to construct the rebuild. And, as Fentress points out, it destroys the argument that Helfrich's program can't recruit and develop quarterbacks.