(Photo from Thomas Boyd/The Oregonian)Aaron Fentress, sports writer for the Oregonian complains about how "closing practices during spring drills is yet another step in the process of creating a barricade between the team and the state."
(more after the jump)
Fentress writes:
It’s another example of controlling the environment while sucking the fun out of even having a great team in the state. Attending practices for fans has always provided a chance for supporters to watch their favorite team up close.
Having practice open for the media, allows us to present the team to our readers, who are fans.
Kelly closing practices sucks the fun out of having a great Ducks football team? What is your definition of fun? Kelly doesn't owe you, me, or anyone else a thing. He is paid by the university to coach, not make sure his players are on display for all to see. Maybe he wants his younger players to focus and not be distracted by fans at this point. Maybe he's cooking up some super secret play to kill USC with (a girl can hope!). Maybe he just hates reporters. Whatever the reason - it doesn't matter, it's his decision, and it's not killing anyone.
Come this fall, will we cheer less because we didn't know which quarterback looked better in March? No! Give us a little more credit, Fentress. There will be plenty to talk about this offseason without hawkeye-ing the drills.
Maybe the real reason Fentress is upset is that Kelly's decision makes his job a little harder. Because when practices are closed, there's really only one thing to do: speculate. The theme I see going around is bringing up the "constant story" of Chip Kelly leaving Oregon for somewhere, some time in the future. Don't get me wrong -- I'm not so ignorant as to think he'll be there forever. He's a competitive guy and will always hunger for more. But again I must insist he owes us nothing. If and when he leaves, I'll be the first person to thank him for what he did for Oregon and wish him good luck wherever he goes. But that doesn't mean we should all start cooing and fawning over Boise State's Chris Peterson. Let's just take it all one step at a time and get excited for when we will be able to see the Ducks in action - the spring game's only one month away!
What do you think? Are you pissed Kelly isn't letting you watch the Ducks in March? Share your thoughts below!
Well written. The best quote goes to this:
ReplyDelete"Maybe the real reason Fentress is upset is that Kelly's decision makes his job a little harder."
Reporters hate to have do some analysis and think of original pieces. Easier just to report who looks strong in practice.
You think Kelly is gone next year?
Thanks for the comment, David!
ReplyDeleteNot entirely sure he'll be gone after this season. When he decided not to leave for Tampa Bay, he mentioned that he had unfinished business to attend to. I say there are three key things we need to watch for:
1. If this "unfinished business" isn't finished but there's still hope of doing it next year, I say he's back.
2. If performance goes south and he doesn't think he can finish that business, I say he's gone.
3. We can't rule out being hit with NCAA's heavy sanction hammer - if we get hit hard, I say he's gone.
The points above are all well and fine, but my biggest criticism of whether he stays or goes is that it really is all speculation. Him leaving is only possible if there is an opening in a place he wants to go, which is highly dependent on how the NFL season goes. All we can do is hope that while he's at Oregon, he leads us to victory.