Oregon Coach Chip Kelly Hopes Rose Bowl Experience Proves Beneficial

SCOTTSDALE, Ariz. – When Oregon coach Chip Kelly was asked to make an opening statement at Sunday's press conference, not surprisingly Kelly was succinct and to the point.

"From me?" Kelly said. "Wow, haven't heard enough? Game is tomorrow night. Let's go play."

Monday night, the No. 2 ranked Ducks (12-0) and No. 1 ranked Auburn (13-0) will play for the BCS national championship at University of Phoenix Stadium.

In the final meeting with the media, Kelly talked as fast as his team plays offense -- full tilt.

A common theme all week has been "how will the defenses slow down both offenses?" Oregon leads the nation, averaging 537 yards per game, while Auburn is seventh (497 yards). Oregon is first in scoring (49.3 points) and Auburn fourth (42.7).

Kelly said he's not concerned with Auburn trying to slow down the game, because the rules only require the offense to wait on the defense if the offense subs a player.

"When we want to play fast, we know the rules," Kelly said. "If we are trying to play at a fast tempo, we are not trying to sub in those situations. We understand the rules. And I'm sure the officials do, too."

Last year, the Ducks lost to Ohio State in the Rose Bowl. Kelly believes the experience of playing in a BCS bowl game will benefit his team this season.

"We're a year older," Kelly said. "We had, I think, 18 starters back from last year's team. So everybody -- not only as a team, but in life you are a by-product of your experiences.

"The fact we have played in a game of that stature like the Rose Bowl, hopefully we can learn from that -- the good and the bad. I think our kids (are) a little bit more mature. I watched them (as) the season went along. There wasn't a huge celebration at the end of it. It was still about we have another game to play. I think maybe we were happy to get there this year. Now we have to see if we can do the next step and actually win the game."

To win, Kelly said there are a lot of things the Ducks must do.

"Defensively, obviously, it is run to the ball and tackle," Kelly said. "It is going to come to a game of fundamentals.

"Offensively, we have to be able to control their front four. And obviously the turnover game is going to be huge. Whoever wins that turnover battle is probably going to win the game."

An Oregon victory would give the Pac-10 its first BCS national champion since USC routed Oklahoma 55-19 in the 2005 Orange Bowl. Kelly, though, said the Ducks are playing more for themselves than for the conference.

"We never get caught up in that, we are not playing for the Pac-10," Kelly said. "They are not -- in my opinion-- they are not playing for the SEC. It is Auburn versus Oregon.

"We never let outside influences -- I will never stand up in front of my team and say, 'We are carrying the flag for nine other teams' or whatever. We are worried about just our team and our preparation."

On Friday, FanHouse reported that Oregon's and Auburn's players would actually prefer a playoff. Kelly was asked since the Ducks reached the BCS title game if that meant the BCS works.

"I got no idea, seriously," Kelly said. "I don't worry about things I have no control over. We're playing against Cam Newton and I'm worried about trying to tackle him (rather) than straighten out what seems that people consider right, not right. I don't know. Just tell me what the rules of the game are and I will play by it.

"Let me put it this way: I don't agree with the speed limit, but I've got to follow it."

Brett McMurphy is a national college football writer for FanHouse. Contact him at brettmcmurphy@gmail.com and please follow at Twitter.com/BrettmcmurphY