End of the year, State of the Team Adress

I would like to thank everybody for being here today. It is always good to see support and celebration among the fans and alumni, as well as the press. I would like to start by saying that I am very proud of our team this year. A record of 12 wins and 1 loss is nothing to be ashamed of. While we didn't accomplish our goal of winning the Pac 10 title, and competing in the Rose Bowl, I believe that our kids played a great season, and should hold their heads up high when thinking back to it.


I would like to congratulate some of our fine players that were key parts of our team's success this year. Congratulations to Strong Safety Patrick Chung on winning the Thorpe award for the nations best defensive back. He lead the team in tackles with 96 including 2 sacks and 4 INT's.

Tight End Greg Hall also needs to be commended for his award of nations best tight end. His nack for the first down marker and goal line helped us with the ushering in of a new QB.

Hall and Chung are joined on the All American team by CB Jairus Byrd, who lead the team in INT's and was 3rd overall in voting for the Thorpe Award.


We saw two of our most prolific offensive players leave us last year, in Dixon and Stewart, and we knew their shoes would be hard to fill. Despite a small controversy in the first two games of the year, Chad Hodges became this teams QB and leader, and even set a school record for TD passes in one season. The sophomore's transition into the starting role was made easy by the play of outstanding RB, Andrew Barber, and WR's Williams and Jones.


Its an exciting time for Oregon football. Our bowl win over Nebraska in the Holiday Bowl will have us finishing in the top 10, and ready for next year when most of our skill players will return.


Over the summer, the recruiting process will heat up and we have already signed a 4 star recruit to replace the graduating Chung. We have also been pursuing many WR's to supplement our spread offense, defensive line help, and are chasing a QB who ran the 40 in 4.3.

It's been a good year and next year we have not only USC and Oregon St. coming to Eugene, but the upstart Baylor Bears, who finished in the top 25 this year, as a non con game of note.


Thank you for your time. Lets go Ducks!