UCLA Football: Will Chip Kelly’s return to Eugene be a trick or treat?

UCLA Football head coach Chip Kelly returns to Auzten Stadium this weekend, a place he has not been to since 2012 when he left the Oregon Ducks in search of an NFL coaching career.

The last time UCLA football head man Chip Kelly coached a game in Autzen Stadium, he led his #1 Oregon Ducks into battle against #14 Stanford. Despite averaging 48.5 points per game that season, Oregon was held to only 14 against the mighty Cardinal defense.

Stanford had forced overtime with the Ducks and nailed a field goal in overtime to win the game and eventually the Pac-12 North Division, sending the Cardinal to the Pac-12 Championship Game against UCLA in Jim Mora’s first season with the Bruins.

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Oregon’s undefeated season was over. With this one loss, Oregon’s hopes of another conference title and a shot at the national championship had ended. Kelly and his Ducks would go on to beat Oregon State, 48-24, in the Civil War the week after the Stanford loss and then on to beat Kansas State 35-17 in the Fiesta Bowl. That would be the last time Kelly would wear green.

When Kelly enters Autzen Stadium this Saturday, the first time since that Stanford loss, he will be on the opposite sideline wearing blue and gold.

In his first season as a college football coach since 2012, Kelly has not exactly had the success he manufactured in Oregon. So far in his first season at UCLA, Kelly is 2-6. In his first season as head coach with Oregon back in 2009, he finished with a 10-3 record and a trip to the Rose Bowl. With four games left this season, it will be a miracle if UCLA wins out to become bowl eligible, but who knows what will happen in this ghastly year in the Pac-12.

Let us put aside the fact that UCLA has struggled in their last two games, prior to that they have shown marked improvement. The Bruins beat Cal 37-7 a few weeks ago and this past Saturday, the Golden Bears did the unthinkable as they beat North Division favorite Washington, 12-10.

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After that win over Cal, UCLA came home and took down Arizona, a team that belittled Oregon in their next game, 44-15. It has been a crazy season in the Pac-12, so why would one not expect UCLA and Kelly to be competitive against Oregon this coming Saturday?

Before the season started, many projected this game to be an easy win for the Ducks. Oregon head coach Mario Cristobal looked to have his team rolling with Justin Herbert under center, but that has not been the case. Currently, Oregon is 5-3, 2-3 and in 4th place in the North Division. The defense has not lived up to their potential, the defense is having problems, and that has been compounded by injuries on both sides of the ball. The most significant has come in the form of Herbert undergoing concussion protocol this week. If he cannot play against UCLA this weekend, that opens things up for Kelly and the Bruins.

adding in the schizophrenic disposition of the conference this year, it is possible that UCLA can get the win in such a tough environment, especially since the Bruins have done a decent job on the road this year.

It does not matter if the Bruins have struggled in the last few games, if Herbert (and the four other offensive starters) are out, this could be a huge advantage for UCLA.

This was going to be a difficult game for Kelly no matter what. Returning to the place that made him famous was going to be memorable and not for the right reasons. Oregon fans, as passionate as they are, will let Kelly know just what they think of him and his departure to the NFL and the words will not be kind.

I am not saying all Oregon fans are horrible, but there are a few, as in every fan base, that will take it a step too far. Back in September, a few of the Oregon fans showed a lack of class when they were filmed throwing bottles at Stanford players after the Cardinal’s 38-31 win. I am not saying the same thing will happen, but emotions will be high heading into this game.

But that is something that Kelly tunes out. The rabid nature of the opposing Oregon fans will be expected. A potential upset over the Ducks will not be.

But can Kelly and his new squad pull out the win? The way the Bruins have been playing it seems like a tough task, but Oregon has taken several hits, just as the Bruins have. Both teams are already bloodied and bruised and still have a third of the season left. And then adding in the schizophrenic disposition of the conference this year, it is possible that UCLA can get the win in such a tough environment, especially since the Bruins have done a decent job on the road this year. Not great, but they have shown some fight, fight, fight.

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So who knows what will happen in this game to end Halloween week. UCLA could be tricked or the could come aware with a treat. Who knows with Kelly, but it should be entertaining considering everything surrounding this game.