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Those that fail to learn from history are doomed to repeat it, Sir Winston Churchill once said.
LSU coach Les Miles probably doesn’t care that he finds himself in a repeat of 2007, right down to the baffling clock mismanagement and uncanny ability to win in spite of it.
Oregon too finds itself harkening back to that improbable season when the Tigers won the BCS in spite of two losses with a mind-blowing offense, hoping only to avoid the catastrophic injuries that kept the Ducks from ending the SEC’s run of titles before it ever got started.
Darron Thomas does one heck of a Dennis Dixon, long and lanky with the perfect skill set to direct Chip Kelly’s up-tempo spread and shred. LaMichael James leads the nation in rushing and would have already shattered the 1,000-yard barrier if not for the suspension that kept him from running for 250 yards against Portland State.
But most impressive has been Oregon’s second-half domination, unseen in the Pac-10 since the height of Pete Carroll’s Trojan dynasty.
The Ducks haven’t allowed a point in the fourth quarter. That’s crazy. Not even one token busted play against a third stringer. Not one fumble to set up a cheapie field goal.
They wear you down.
Correction: they run you to death, then Oregon’s opportunistic defense picks at the bones.
If a run to the championship game is coming, that’s how they will get there.
In honor of the Ducks’ perfect imitation, here are the Pac-10 awards at the halfway point.
Class of 2004 Quarterback Club Award goes to… Robert Woods of USC, Keenan Allen of Cal, Marquess Wilson of Washington State, et al.
In 2004, the crop of veteran signal-callers on the West Coast included Aaron Rodgers, Matt Leinart, Derek Anderson and Trent Edwards among others, shredding defenses across the conference.
The same sort of shock and awe lies ahead for the defensive backs of what will be the Pac-12.
This group of first-year receivers has exploded on the scene, with the No. 1, 4 and 12 yardage totals in the conference. Factor in guys who aren’t playing – Kyle Prater of the Trojans – or playing out of position – UCLA F-back Anthony Barr – and it will be bombs away for years to come.
Dennis Green “They Are Who We Thought They Were” Award goes to… UCLA.
The Bruins had me fooled for a minute when they demolished top 25 teams Houston and Texas in back-to-back weeks, but they returned to form nicely when they face-planted at Cal, who could also qualify for this honor.
For all the hype – largely self-generated, mind you, on the basis of a couple strong recruiting classes – regarding Rick Neuheisel’s team entering this season, UCLA still is largely the same team it was when he took over three years ago.
They don’t have a reliable quarterback, don’t have enough quality options on the offense and defensive lines, receivers drop too many passes and so on.
Say it with me now. They are who we thought they were.
‘Friday Night Lights’ Award goes
to…
Washington.
If you tried to script the Huskies season thus far,
Hollywood would have laughed at you.
A bad loss to BYU knocking the star quarterback out of the Heisman Trophy race, a worse loss to Nebraska followed by wins on the last play of the game at USC and against Oregon State.
No studio executive would buy it.
Oregon State “Second Half Rally” Award goes
to… Oregon State.
Watch out. Here they come.
Even without the dynamic James Rodgers, new quarterback Ryan Katz is getting his feel under him and the schedule is pretty favorable.
