How Many Times Does He Have to Tell You, or Did You Not Understand the Stare?

Chip Kelly doesn't care about statements, style points or stats. That was obvious long ago, and becomes more obvious every time he sits down behind a microphone.

But the inevitable questions keep getting asked. Because they have to ask him something. And fans naturally wonder about certain things.

How long will the starters play? How many carries will LaMichael James get? Will Kelly and Helfrich feature James in the playcalling, get him enough carries to stay in the running for the Heisman trophy? At what point might Nate Costa enter the game? Are there plans to get Kenjon Barner more involved in the offense? What about Cliff Harris' role on the defensive depth chart? Is Ricky Heimuli slated to get more playing time? Is it a goal or a hope to get the entire travel squad into the game? If the Ducks jump out to a big early lead, will you put the brakes on the offense to show respect for a league opponent?

Inquiring minds want to know. Inquiring mouths are about to get the death laser stare penetrating to the base of their spine.

On paper Oregon enjoys some huge advantages over Washington State. The Cougars gave up 437 yards rushing to UCLA last week, and the Bruins don't throw the ball very well. In all they gave 565 yards, 42 points, and 27 first downs, to an offense that is nowhere near the scoring machine the Ducks have been. For the season the Cougs rank 109th in rushing, 92nd in points scored, and 118th in points allowed among FBS schools. The Ducks rank 2nd, 1st, and 15th in those same categories. On defense Washington State allows 255 yards rushing per game, 117th out of 120 schools in the old Division I. The Ducks offense rushes for 331 yards a game. It's the irrestible force against the movable object. Name a number. The Ducks could seemingly reach it. Oregon is a 34.5 point favorite, but that number seems miserably low.

Here's a list of the ten biggest upsets in college football history. They all had one thing in common. No one thought they would happen, except the team that pulled them off. No, two things in common. The loser made a lax effort, and assumed they couldn't be beaten by such a lowly opponent.

Washington State has a passer's chance against the Ducks. Jeff Tuel can sling it, and he has three capable receivers on the outside. Tuel's thrown for over 1200 yards. His leading receiver, true freshman Marquess Wilson, #86, has caught 25 balls this season for 458 yards, an 18.3-yard average. Wilson is a 6-3, 173 burner who has gone over 100 yards receiving three times in the first five games of his college career. He's already caught five balls for gains of 40 yards or more. From Tulare, California, Wilson is a tremendous athlete, MVP of his high school league in basketball, league champion in the high jump, triple jump and long jump, all-league as a receiver and all-state as a defensive back. Think he's liking his chances against Talmadge Jackson in film study?

Second target Jared Karstetter is a sure-handed junior with 23 catches for 255 yards and four tds. He's 6-4, 208, and caught 38 balls last year, six for touchdowns, including a 64-yard score versus Arizona. The Cougars run three and four wide sets much of the time, and the third receiver is senior Jeffrey Solomon with 14 catches for 201 yards. Solomon, 6-0, 200, is thicker and usually lines up in the slot. He had a 57-yard catch against Southern Methodist earlier this season, and a nine yard touchdown against UCLA.

Together these three beat the Bruin secondary for 16 catches for 283 yards. Tuel can get the ball downfield. Karstetter caught a 37-yard bomb, and Wilson had a 50-yard catch-and-run.

Anytime an opponent has a downfield passing attack, a visiting team has to come in with more on its mind than when to rest the starters and how many yards their star tailback should get. First, they have to get pressure on the sophomore quarterback and not allow him to get in rhythm. Second, they have to win the game.

It's homecoming weekend for the Cougar fans. They'll be rowdy and hopeful. The Ducks have to quiet them down and make the seemingly inevitable a reality instead of a statistical house of cards. They can't give Tuel a passer's chance.