« on: December 08, 2010, 10:10:31 AM »
http://www.portlandtribune.com/sports/story.php?story_id=129161197061141800EUGENE – Oregon Ducks coach Chip Kelly has been heralded as a genius for his high-powered offense and undeniable success since taking over the team last season.
Auburn coach Gene Chizik may not be as high profile as Kelly. Like Kelly, though, Chizik has had almost unprecedented success in leading his team to the BCS national championship game in only his second year at the Tigers’ helm.
“Whether you’re in your second year or your 20th year, it’s an extremely difficult game to get to,†Chizik said Sunday night, after the Jan. 10 Oregon-Auburn game in Glendale, Ariz., became official. “You can coach your whole life and never be involved in one of these. I just feel lucky.
"In the same sense, I feel very proud of our team that we were able to fight through a lot of things and get to this game and get an opportunity to play in it. I do know how tough it is to get here. So all things being told, I’m just very happy and very humbled to be here.â€
Chizik came to Auburn with an impressive coaching pedigree. He was the Tigers' defensive coordinator from 2002-04. In 2004, he helped the Tigers to a 13-0 season and received the Frank Broyles Award as the nation’s top assistant coach.
Between 2005-06, Chizik was the assistant head coach and co-defensive coordinator at Texas. With Chizik, the Longhorns had a perfect 2005 season and won the national championship.
Unlike Kelly, Chizik had head coaching experience before he took over Auburn. He coached Iowa State for two seasons before he was named the Tigers' coach in December 2008.
From his time at Auburn, Chizik has a sense of what making the national championship game means to the team and the community.
“This is just an exciting time for the Auburn family, for our coaches and players, for our fan base who’s waited so long for this opportunity," he said. "We just feel very blessed to be involved in this game and have a chance to accomplish the goals we set forth a long time ago. We’re proud for our players, for our coaches and for our fan base.â€
Chizik and Kelly have another similarity besides being young head coaches playing for a national title: both have had to deal with a quarterback plagued by off-field scrutiny.
Kelly’s distractions may have been easier to deal with because Jeremiah Masoli was dismissed from the Ducks before the 2010 season began.
Chizik had to go through this season while amid a media storm about Tiger QB and Heisman Trophy candidate Cam Newton being involved in an alleged pay-for-play plot.
“We’ve seen us go through a lot of good,†Chizik said. “But we’ve had our share of bad, too.â€
Chizik talked Sunday about Newton and his ability to play through the distractions.
“I’ll talk in generals about Cameron and his ability to be able to focus in situations that were obviously difficult at times,†Chizik said. “His preparation, his focus on the field on the practice field, he’s just solid. He’s a guy that just really doesn’t flinch.â€
There will be pressure on the Tigers to win the fifth straight national title for the SEC. But Chizik said the team won't focus on that.
“Obviously, that’s what everybody else is going to talk about,†Chizik said. “(But) the things that everybody else will talk about out there, we won’t really have the opportunity, if we’re preparing correctly, to pay any attention to that.â€
To prepare correctly, Chizik said the Tigers must take the title game like they have taken their previous 13 games.
“We’re going to prepare, like it’s any other game,†Chizik said. “And we’ve played in a bunch of huge ones this year. We’re not saying it’s just another game. But we’re going to prepare like we have for the previous 13. And we’re going to prepare and really and truly try to focus in on one thing and that is to win the national championship.â€
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