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Saturday’s top-3 showdown between No. 3 Oregon and No. 2 Ohio State will also include Chip Kelly’s return to Autzen Stadium.
The Ducks‘ former coach is in his first season as offensive coordinator for the Buckeyes.
Kelly spent six years in Eugene, first as the offensive coordinator under coach Mike Bellotti in 2007 and 2008 and then as head coach from 2009-2012 when he led Oregon to a 46-7 record and appearances in the 2010 national championship, two Rose Bowls and a Fiesta Bowl. He left to coach the NFL’s Philadelphia Eagles in 2013.
Now 60, Kelly will be back as an opposing coach for the fourth time since his return to the college ranks in 2018 for what was a six-year run leading UCLA.
Tuesday he met with the media in Columbus to discuss Saturday’s 4:30 p.m. game against the Ducks and his return to Eugene.
Chip Kelly raves about game-day environment at Autzen Stadium
Kelly has had experience coaching from both sidelines at Autzen Stadium. He returned three times with UCLA, including in 2020 during the COVID-19 pandemic when the stands were kept empty and crowd noise was piped in through the speakers.
“It’s a special place and I think it’s great for our players and a chance for them to play in one of the special places in college football,” said Kelly, who will be in the coaches box above the field on Saturday. “… Autzen Stadium at that time of day is truly special. Our guys are excited and they’re a really good team and that’ll get your attention right away when you look at the film.”
Kelly said he didn’t have any special intel or advice for the Ohio State players on what to expect on Saturday, noting it isn’t the biggest stadium they’ll play in the season.
“It’s really not about the crowd, it’s about what do we do and how do we prepare,” Kelly said. “I think everywhere we go in this league it’s gonna be loud. That’s just the nature of it. The stadiums in the Midwest are gigantic, you know. This group has had a lot of experience playing in big stadiums, so I think no matter where we are going, whether it’s to Autzen or the Big House (Michigan) or up to Camp Randall (Wisconsin) or any place like that in between, you don’t really concentrate on the stadium, you’re concentrating on the opponent.”
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Chip Kelly has high praise for Oregon’s defense
Kelly has been prepping the Ohio State offense to play a defense that ranks 10th nationally in total defense and No. 2 nationally in both passes defended (35) and passes broken up (31).
He’s been impressed with what he’s seen.
“I think they’re really gelling together as a group,” Kelly said. “They’re going to present a lot of different looks so we’ve got to be ready for everything they’re going to throw at you and they’re going to throw a lot of things at you. That’s the challenge when you’re going to play a team like this, so you get excited about it.”
Jordan Burch, the Ducks’ 6-foot-6, 295-pound defensive end who is tied for the Big Ten lead and ranked No. 8 nationally with five sacks, has also stood out to Kelly.
“Most guys that big are interior defensive linemen,” Kelly said. “… You have to know where he is on every play. He’s one of those guys who can disrupt a football game.”
Chip Kelly didn’t want to compare his stops at Oregon and Ohio State
Why?
“Comparison is the thief of joy,” said Kelly, a quote attributed to Theodore Roosevelt.
“I don’t compare my experience at one school to my experience at another school because, No. 1, I don’t have time to do that, and No. 2, maybe when I retire, I can sit back and kind of think about it, but this game has given me so much and it’s been so special,” Kelly said. “I got a chance to coach at Oregon? I never would’ve dreamed of that as a little kid. I get a chance to coach at The Ohio State? Wow, that’s pretty special. I think both of them are different … but both places are really special to me.”
But for sure, Kelly said, he’s excited to return to Eugene, if only for a quick trip.
“I loved my time there, and I met so many great people besides the players and the coaches,” Kelly said. ” … So many people there care so deeply about that university.”
Chris Hansen covers University of Oregon football, men’s basketball, track and field, cross country and softball for The Register-Guard. You can reach him on X @chansen_RG or by email at chansen@registerguard.com.
This article originally appeared on Register-Guard: Chip Kelly on Ohio State vs. Oregon football, Autzen Stadium