This Saturday the Oregon Ducks are going to need a little extra motivation. So in this week’s edition of my weekly locker room speech I’m going to dig deep to really get the team to focus and pull out a must win game.
“We find ourselves facing a daunting task. Today is going to be about resilience and poise.
This is our first shot at a road win, lets prove that we can play anywhere in the country every damn day if we have to.
The entire contry feels sorry for you and it would be easy for us to do the same, but I dont feel sorry for myself and not a single person in this room should either. I will not accept defeat. It will not be forgiven!
UCLA thinks that they have the advantage because injuries have us vulnerable, but they are wrong. They don’t understand what it means to have our depth. They think that their first string is better than our second string, but they are wrong again.
From first string to practice squad we are the best team in the conference. I have all the confidence in world today.
I watched you practice. I watched you study. I watched your efforts and I know that today is the day it all will pay off.
Here’s what we have to do:
We are going to play mistake free football. We are going to line up in the right spot every time. We are going to own our assignments and not over commit.
We are going to get off the ball fast. We are going to live in their back field on defense and move the line of scrimmage forward on offense.
Ball carriers; drive your legs. Every time they hit you, you drag them for the extra yard. Drive the pile, drive the pile and drive the pile but protect the ball at all times.
Tackling; the play stops when you hit ‘em. Drive ‘em back. Make the officials mark forward progress on every play. No one tackles alone. You see a hit; you get there and make sure it’s a tackle.
D-Line, 3rd and long, pin your ears back. Hit Prince hard and often. I want the walls closing in on him. We will get an early lead so they will have to throw.
O-line, you are facing a group that the entire defense was built around. UCLA’s Head Coach, used to be a D-line coach. We can run on them, but it’s up to you. The better you guys do, the more we will run. When we throw, protect Costa with everything you got. Pretend it’s your grandma back there and someone is trying to get into her purse and steal that hard candy you big boys loved so much growing up!
For most of you this is a chance to play in front of family and friends for the only time this year. Show off today. Let them know you left LA for greener pastures and a shot at greatness.
Costa; today is the day you have waited for since you signed you letter of intent. Today is the reason you pushed yourself so hard through rehab, not once but twice. Today is the reason you were recruited in the first place. Show the world why we believe in you. Show UCLA and everyone watching that we will not miss a single heartbeat with you under center.
Be Proud!
Be Great!
Be Ducks!"
- Kurt Valentine
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