Look for more coverage in the Oregon Daily Emerald tomorrow.

The Stanford press box is the nicest one any of us have been in, without much debate. We are sitting in our Stanford-emblazoned ergonomic office chairs, working on granite (!) countertops, presiding over the beautiful Stanford Stadium and surrounding countryside. We just had lunch (an incredible sandwich spread, thanks to Stanford Catering) and are soaking up the sunny weather — it’s expected to be around 70 degrees by kickoff.

Fans are just beginning to trickle into the stadium, and Duck fans in the stadium currently outnumber Stanford fans 25 to 1. This may not be that surprising — Oregon fans represented very well in the tailgating areas around the stadium. One endzone is serving as the location for an impromptu student section. Ben estimated that the final fan ratio could be half and half — I see no reason not to believe him.

A couple of quick player updates: Stanford MLB Clinton Snyder (leg) is out for the season, and starting FB Owen Marecic will go two ways, usurping Snyder’s starting spot. For Oregon, RB LeGarrette Blount did not make the Ducks’ travel roster, so his “comeback” will wait yet another week.

Check out our live blog at dailyemerald.com/sports for more information, and enjoy the game.

Some of the questions are pretty good, especially when Yahoo! asks him whether or not he saw himself here after just three years.

Pretty interesting.

http://ca.sports.yahoo.com/ncaaf/news?slug=rivals329769&prov=rivals&type=lgns

On the kick off to open the game, Walter Thurmond III was rocked, but he actually got up on his own power and limped off. I think he’ll be back sooner than a knee injury usually entails.

Mike Bellotti is a good color guy. He’s very insightful. He knows a lot about the game (obviously) but he conveys that knowledge in a way that anyone can understand it.

Before the Ducks got the fourth and four early in the first they were 0-4

Masoli was so sharp on his throws against Cal. They were crisp. Two of his completions were on the second drive, so he was even more stellar as the game went along.

Bellotti pointed it out, and I noticed it as well, the Ducks were playing a lot faster than the last three weeks. A lot of times they were set up before the ref was even ready.

In the first quarter Masoli gained his confidence by completing some short passes to Maehl and Dickson. He said as the game went on he gained his confidence. We saw that on the very first play of the second when he took a shot down field.

SECOND QUARTER

First play Ed Dickson gets his first TD and UO gets its first passing TD. Oregon scored twice on screen play fakes.

Me and Lucas Clark watched practice on Wednesday and they worked on the two point conversion play for 15 minutes. I thought it was brilliant

It was good to see Remene Alston get a few carries in the game. He’s a feel good story, especially after being ineligible. Everyone was so happy for him, especially Masoli. He sprinted towards Alston who was on the ground and pulled him up and was patting him on the helmet.

Bellotti about has a cardiac arrest when Barner catches a fair catch punt with 5:43 left in the first half over his shoulder like Willie Mays. “Oh my heart,” he says.  Funny stuff.

The Ducks were smart on offense. Instead of letting themselves get pushed out of bounds when they went to the sideline, they cut back inside and tried for one or two more yards.

Man. Just watched Jackson Rice’s 5 yard punt. Ouch. He just shanked it off the right side of his foot.

Kevin Riley looked very off against Oregon. He continually threw balls high and long and everywhere but to his receivers.

D’Amato for Cal shanked his 5 yards too. Both were horrible. Bellotti said that on the short drop from the hands to the foot on a windy day the wind can sometimes push the ball and rotate it.

Bellotti pointed out something interesting. He says that Oregon changed up how they handed the ball off to throw off Cal’s reads on defense. I watched and a lot of times Masoli will lean the opposite way of the way the play is going to go or just move his arms while remaining facing forward so they don’t know where its going to go until after the running back has taken a few steps.

THIRD QUARTER

First play of the second half for Cal and they go fifty yards. But then the Ducks force them to go three and out after that. Every time it looked like Cal was going to break something, UO was there to reel them back in.

In the second half Masoli was sharp. He was running to his left, and fired back to his right a bit.

I didn’t think I would ever see someone hit Ed Dickson hard enough to flip him, but Cal’s db sure did. His feet flipped above him! That’s 250 pounds of pure muscle!

Ed’s second touchdown was on a check down from Masoli. Perfectly executed. Maehl wasn’t open up the middle, and he looked right, where Dickson was just floating three with no one on him.

Watching Oregon’s epic 96 yard drive in in the third quarter now. They just punched at Cal for the entire drive and converted a few third downs.

Dickson’s third td was on a fake WR screen to the right. Ed stepped up over the middle and caught a little six yard pass or so from Masoli turned into 36 yards.

FOURTH QUARTER

Just had a thought: Where would Oregon be if they hadn’t lost to Boise State? With all of these upsets, No. 4? No. 5? Woulda, coulda, shoulda I guess.

Ok. I  almost made it. But Nate Costa is in, it’s 1:53 a.m. and I’m tired. To sum up why I watched the game again, I was impressed with Oregon’s ability to make plays when they needed to on defense. Every time Best had the ball there were eight guys coming to hit him.

But now the Ducks have to keep the ball rolling. Instead of a let down, the Ducks need another statement game going into the middle of October.

Good night!

Anthony Seminary of Portland, a graduate of the class of 1996, returned the original check to Kelly but kept copies of the check for personal use. Sports information director Dave Williford was unavailable for comment.

The full story can be found here: http://www.everydayshouldbesaturday.com/2009/09/21/chip-kelly-is-a-man-of-his-word-seriously/

Here’s the general release from the NCAA:

“NCAA President Myles Brand passed away today after a nearly year-long battle with pancreatic cancer. Brand had served as NCAA president since January 2003 and had led the Association through key initiatives including academic reform, increased emphasis on presidential leadership and broad discussions on fiscal issues in college athletics. He was 67.”

At Oregon, where he was the president from 1989 to 1994, Brand worked in some of the worst financial times of the university. He was able to initiate some reforms that led to greater emphasis in undergraduate education, international curriculum and more support for graduate students. But perhaps his greatest legacy at the UO is that he started the “Oregon Campaign,” a private fundraising campaign that became the most successful in university history with it gaining $255.3 million in donations for the school.

Ok folks. Thats it. Heading to the sideline. More after the game! Thanks!

OREGON FIFTH POSSESSION. 9:24. 31-30 Oregon.

2&16, PU 18. Masoli gets pushed out for a four yard loss. But Barner on third and hella long scores from 21 yards out. 38-30 Oregon.

Ducks moving the ball. James gets 16 yards in two plays, then Masoli connects with Maehl for 17 yards to PU 12.

PURDUE FIFTH POSSESSION. 10:56. 31-30 Oregon

Bolden runs for three yards to PU 26, then Elliot throws incomplete. 3&7…and the Ducks stop them. Incomplete pass. Bad punt. 19 yards. Ducks take over.

Ducks don’t stop Elliot to Adams on first down. 11 yards.

Boilermakers will start from their own 12 yard line.

OREGON FOURTH POSSESSION. 13:46.31-30

Instead he’s sacked for 11 yard loss. UO punt.

Masoli connects with Maehl for 14 yards, Ducks go into PU territory. Big third down here for the Ducks. They need a first down…

Masoli to Holland for 8, then Crenshaw runs for 10. Holland then drops a wide open ball. That was a TD.

UO to start from the their own 21 yard line.

PURDUE FOURTH POSSESSION CONTINUED. 15:00. 31-24 Oregon

2&5 from UO 22…Bolden catches a pass from Elliot for a 22 yard touchdown. Well that didn’t take long. 31-30. Ducks block the PAT. No tie this time. Zach Clark on the block for UO.

3&7 from UO 44 coming up. Big play for the Ducks on defense but Bolden breaks it for 17 yards. Quick for Bolden, 116 yards for Bolden right now.

End of the quarter, third and 7 from the UO 44 coming up.

Bolden catches a little flip pass from Elliot for 24 yards to the UO 47. First and 10.

OREGON THIRD POSSESSION. 3:39. 24-24

The Oregon gets on a roll. James gets a 27 yards to the PU 15, then Masoli runs it in from 15 for the TD. AND IT STARTS TO POUR CATS AND DOGS.

First play from UO 28.  3 yards to Mahel. Then James gets 9 for the first

PURDUE THIRD POSSESSION. 5:06. 24-24.

Michael Clay breaks up Elliots pass. The defense finally has the crowd into it.2&10 from own 26. The Ducks hold Purdue. Turnover on the punt.

PURDUE SECOND POSSESSION. 6:12. 24-17 Purdue

On 3&3. Javes Lewis picks up Bolden fumble and rumbles 28 yards for the TD. Tied game once again at 24. I couldn’t see who forced it, but it passed through two other Ducks before Lewis was able to pick it up. Good play.

OREGON SECOND POSSESSION. 8:24. 24-17 Purdue

Masoli to Holland for eight yards, then on third down, Masoli busts a 23 yard run. But then the offense stalls and the Ducks are forced to kick a 46 yard field goal, which is put wide left by Morgan Flint. Still 24-17

Ducks to take over at their own 39 yard line as it starts to sprinkle here at Autzen Stadium. Bizarre.

PURDUE FIRST POSSESSION. 14:00. 17-17

Bolden scores from 1 yard out. 24-17 Purdue

Taylor for a yard. 2&7. Then on an option to the left, Elliot reverses field and gets tackled on the RIGHT sideline. No gain. Huge goal line stand from the UO 7. Third down They stop Lindsay just short of the goal line at the 1. Purdue to go for it.

Another big third down play from the UO 19. And Bolden gets tripped up after 11 yards. First and goal Purdue from the UO 8.

Bolden then tackled for six yard loss, but Elliot connects with Keith Smith for 19 yards. Dude is a horse. He carried three Ducks six yards.

First play, Bolden for two yards. Then 7 yards from Elliot to Adams. Bolden for 1 on third down .First down.

OREGON FIRST POSSESSION. 15:00. 17-17

Ducks start on their own 47 yard line. Holding after six yard gain puts the Ducks to the UO 43. Then a fumble on the snap, Purdue recovers the fumble.

Purdue audibles, then does a swing pass to Jeff Lindsay. Stuffed for two yard loss. 4&6. Purdue to attempt a 22 yard field goal…and it’s good. Tie game at the half.

Big third down play here, 3&4 from UO 4…

And Elliot completes an 11 yard pass to Valentin. First and goal from the UO 5. Ducks then stuff a run by Bolden. 2&4 from the UO 4.

Elliot connects with Valentin for 15 yards, then Jared Crank scampers for 14 yards to push the ball to the UO 19. After a three yard run by Taylor, Elliot finally misses on a pass to the end zone. Third down upcoming…

Elliot to Adams on second and five for seven yards. Then another 11 yards to the UO 48

Boilermakers start at their own 26 after the Pick 6…

PURDUE NINTH POSSESSION. 4:10. 14-10 Purdue.

First play, Elliot throws to his right and Walter Thurmond picks it off and scampers 10 yards into the endzone for a touchdown. Tie ball game.

OREGON EIGHTH POSSESSION. 5:59. 14-10 Purdue

But then the Ducks go 3and out. Punt by Rice down within the 10 yardline.

Masoli busts a 33 yard run up the middle to the UO 46. Great speed.

Oregon starts from their own 18 after a decent punt from the Boilermakers. Then they have a false start penalty to start. The Ducks continue to draw flags. There’s more yellow on the field then in the stands…1&10 from the UO 13.

PURDUE EIGHTH POSSESSION. 7:01. 14-10 Purdue

Purdue gets seven yards on first down on a pass from Elliot to Cortez Smith. On third down, Elliot gets his bell rung on third down by Bryson Littlejohn. Fourth down. Another punt for Purdue.

OREGON SEVENTH POSSESSION. 8:11. 14-10 Purdue

Ducks start on own six after another penalty on the punt. They get two yards on first down from Crenshaw, then 0 on second, and an incomplete pass to the stands on third. Punting again

PURDUE SEVENTH POSSESSION. 10:41. 17-10 Purdue.

Purdue starts on own 27. They get 9 yards on third down after a nice screen play to Valentin, however, they elect to punt on fourth down.

OREGON SIXTH POSSESSION. 11:35. 14-10 Purdue.

Oregon gets 32 yards on a pass to Dickson, but then LaMichael James fumbles on the hand off from the Purdue 25 yard line. Jason Werner recovers the fumble for Purdue. Turnover.

PURDUE SIXTH POSSESSION. 12:33. 17-10 Purdue.

three and out for Boilermakers. Two incomplete passes from Elliot.

OREGON FIFTH POSSESSION. 14:24. 14-10 Purdue.

Take over at UO 29. Masoli pass to Holland for 15 yards take them to own 47, but then they stall. Punt. Rice with a 15 yard punt. Terrible, terrible.

PURDUE FIFTH POSSESSION CONTINUED. 15:00. 10-7 Oregon.

Purdue starts the second quarter from Oregon’s 33 yard line. They pick up where they left off, with Elliot connecting with Carlos for a 14 yard touchdown, then Keith Bolden scores from 14 yards out. 14-10 PURDUE.