Countdown to kickoff: 101 things I love about the Oregon Ducks

On September 3, the Oregon Ducks will begin their 2011 football season. To get through the dog days of summer, I’m listing 101 cool, random things I love about the Ducks, one per day until kickoff in Dallas. In no particular order.

#15: The Fresno fake.

On the road, tie game, less than five minutes to play. Yep, that’s the perfect time to run a fake field goal where one of the players involved didn’t know it was coming until after the ball was snapped.

Said kicker Paul Martinez, “I started going at the ball to kick it. Once I saw him [Brady Leaf] stand up and pick up the ball, that’s when I took off and ran behind him.”

This play happened in 2006, so no, Chip Kelly was not involved. That we know of.

Countdown to kickoff: 101 things I love about the Oregon Ducks

On September 3, the Oregon Ducks will begin their 2011 football season. To get through the dog days of summer, I’m listing 101 cool, random things I love about the Ducks, one per day until kickoff in Dallas. In no particular order.

#44: The greatest onside kick ever.

This one was executed brilliantly.

Mike Bellotti: doesn’t care if UCLA takes him off their Christmas card list.

Jordan Kent: fast.

Countdown to kickoff: 101 things I love about the Oregon Ducks

On September 3, the Oregon Ducks will begin their 2011 football season. To get through the next 3+ months, I’m listing 101 cool, random things I love about the Ducks, one per day until kickoff in Dallas. In no particular order.

#81: The fake “Statue of Liberty” against Michigan at the Big House.

I had two thoughts when I first saw this play four years ago: “Dang, Dennis Dixon might be good” and “I think I’m going to like Chip Kelly.”