How to Lose a Football Game

That truly would have been a miracle comeback.

After lollygagging around for most of the game and getting their butts kicked, the Ducks caught fire behind a couple of dumb USC miscues and nearly tied the game as the clock ran out last night in Eugene.

Oregon's mind wasn't on this game until it was too late.

When is a 37-yard field-goal not routine? When a possible National Championship is on the line, apparently.

This game had all the earmarks of a brewing disaster earlier in the week, when the media started yapping about Oregon's NCG chances.

The big win over Stanford the week before lingered too long and became a distraction for the Ducks.

Players heard how great they are and lost focus.

Phil Knight invited a crowd of idle, bored NBA players to stand along the sidelines and they became a sideshow that diminished the intensity Oregon needed to compete with a highly skilled opponent.

Oregon wasn't ready. Maybe they learned something about handling the spotlight, maybe not.

Oregon State's chances in the Civil War just up-ticked.

Will LeBron and Dwayne be there for the Ducks on Saturday? Of course not. Last night's game was about Nike marketing, Phil Knight, and the star power of USC.

Chip Kelly should have told Phil no when the NBA circus landed. But then he would have likely been fired for insubordination.


TS