Byline: Adam Jude The Register-Guard
For the first time in the 115-year history of the program, Oregon rocketed to the top of the college football polls Sunday, and veteran defensive coordinator Nick Aliotti conceded that, sure, he sensed at least a touch of excitement during the Ducks' morning practice.
"Everybody's buzzing and it's cool, I'm not going to lie to you," Aliotti said. "But as far as the meaning to me, it's really nothing. ... Everybody I'm sure is happy. But it means absolutely nothing to me until sometime in December."
Like Aliotti, the rest of the Ducks seemed to offer a collective shoulder shrug after learning that they were ranked No. 1 in The Associated Press and USA Today/coaches polls.
Oregon's rise to the top spot was destined after Ohio State, ranked No. 1 last week, lost at Wisconsin on Saturday night. The polls were then released Sunday morning while the Ducks were practicing inside the Moshofsky Center.
UO coach Chip Kelly hadn't yet heard the poll results as he prepared for his post-practice interview.
"You got any information for me?" he asked a group of reporters.
He was told his team was now No. 1.
"Awesome. I'm fired up," he said with a straight face.
"What I'm really fired up about, to be honest with you, is 49 days from today, because that's the only time it counts," he added. "On Dec. 5th, if you're one or two, then it's really relevant. Today, obviously it's an honor for these guys. But 49 days from today, we'll be jumping up and down, jumping around, doing all the stuff.
"But right now, it doesn't affect anything. If you watched the last two No. 1s, they lost a week ago (Alabama) and lost again yesterday (Ohio State)."
In the Harris Interactive Poll released in the afternoon, the Ducks were also ranked No. 1.
That's significant because the Harris and the coaches poll make up two-thirds of the Bowl Championship Series standings - the average of six computer rankings makes up the final third of the formula - that will ultimately determine which two teams will play in the national championship game.
Then the BCS standings were released Sunday evening, with the Ducks matching their highest ranking ever at No. 2. While not the sparkling No. 1 ranking bestowed on them earlier in the day, a No. 2 starting point in the BCS certainly puts the 6-0 Ducks in prime position to be invited to the national title game, if they're able to win their final six games of the regular season.
With a BCS average of .8921, Oregon is behind top-ranked Oklahoma (.9215) and narrowly ahead of Boise State (.8898).
The final BCS standings will be released on Dec. 5, as Kelly correctly noted.
If the past couple weeks have been any indication, there will no doubt be plenty of movement in the top 25 before then.
"The reality is, there have been a lot of teams ranked No. 1 and they're already lost that No. 1," Aliotti said.
Only once in the 12-year history of the BCS have the two teams that started out ranked No. 1 and No. 2 remained there at the end of the season (USC and Texas in 2005).
"The fact that Oklahoma is ahead of (Oregon) right now is no reason to panic," said Jerry Palm, a BCS expert who runs the website collegebcs.com. "Where they are in the BCS is meaningless at this time. They're a solid No. 1 in the polls right now ... and that's what Oregon fans should be celebrating."
For the fans, yes, it's an achievement to embrace. For the Ducks themselves, well, shoulder shrugs.
Senior center Jordan Holmes said his main concern is Oregon's Thursday night game against UCLA (3-3) at Autzen Stadium (6 p.m., ESPN). The Ducks are a 21 1/2-point favorite.
"It's something cool that you can tell your kids and your grandkids and stuff," Holmes said about being No. 1, "but our job is to focus on the task at hand, and that's UCLA. ... If you get caught up in the hype, you end up losing and then it's more disappointing."
Kelly hasn't broached the rankings with his team, and doesn't plan to.
"But they understand," he said. "They're smart kids. They can read the Internet. ... But today, it isn't really relevant. On Dec. 5th, it's extremely relevant."
Kelly doesn't buy into the notion that being No. 1 puts a bigger "target" on the Ducks this week.
"I don't think UCLA is now going to practice harder because, 'Oh, now they're 1," he said. "We were Pac-10 champs last year and everybody we played we got their best game.
"The tough thing to do no matter who you are is to go out and consistently compete every week because it's a difficult league and it's a difficult college football landscape," Kelly added. "It's hard to win every single week."
To stay No. 1, that's exactly what the Ducks will have to do.
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