DUCKS DON'T TALK ABOUT THE "I" WORD

At University of Oregon Football practice we don’t talk about that… Injuries that is.

(Click link below to see interview)

Or at least Chip Kelly doesn’t talk about that, nor do any of his assistant coaches, players, anyone inside the football program.

If you want to ask about that “I” word.. You might want to have a riot shield ready, for the response coming your way surly could not be published in the daily newspaper.

The Ducks however did come out of the 59-17 victory over Cal last Saturday with a few tough losses.

Avery Paterson, maybe one of the biggest impact players on the Oregon defense, will be out for the remainder of the season with a torn ACL.

Paterson stepped in and played a huge part for this Oregon team when John Boyett went down early in the season. Paterson has done a good time filling those shoes as a leader.

Also beat up was quarterback Marcus Mariota who called his shoulder injury a freak one. It is the same shoulder that he injured the week prior, but says he is full go and has no expectations of it becoming a recurring problem.

Duck fans also saw starting running back Kenjon Barner leave the game for a brief period of time Saturday night with a injury to his hand. But fret not… Barner says he is full go!

“It was just a scare.. It hurt… But exactly what happened to it has happened before.”

Hopefully that is the case for Barner and the rest of this Oregon team, and not just another pre-rehearsed response.

Come Saturday we will find out, as Oregon takes on Stanford in front of a truly national crowd.

ESPN college gameday has chosen Oregon as the game of the week and has started to set up for the nationally broadcasted Saturday morning prediction show.

The last time Stanford traveled up to Eugene, Gameday was here too. In 2010 the Ducks uprooted the Cardinal 52-31.

Saturday will mark senior night for this Oregon team, but just like a lot of things with this Oregon team.. Chip Kelly didn’t want to talk about senior night

“The end for us is hopefully some time in January.. We’re gona be with these guys for hopefully a lot longer… It’s not like we’re saying goodbye to them as a coaching staff.” -Chip Kelly

if all goes as planned for the Ducks, they will be right back at Autzen Stadium for a second straight conference championship game on November 30th

Saturday’s game will be aired at 5PM on ESPN’s ABC affiliate.