LOS ANGELES — What do you know about Oregon coach Mark Helfrich?
We know the other coaches in this College Football Playoff, all right. Alabama’s Nick Saban, Ohio State’s Urban Meyer and Florida State’s Jimbo Fisher reign as the three kings of the FBS who have parceled six of the last eight national championships.
Helfrich is seemingly the “other guy,” and the face-value judgment is a happy-go-lucky guy who inherited that Nike-fueled space ranger program Mike Bellotti and Chip Kelly built with the help of Phil Knight; the guy who played off the “Jesus, girls and Marcus Mariota” this season and another bizarre question about whether or not he was ready for the 49ers at his last press conference Thursday.
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“No, I’m not ready to play in the NFL,” Helfrich quipped.
Don’t underestimate Helfrich’s wit, or the precision behind it. The have-fun-but-get-things-done approach extends to all corners of the program.
“We have an environment that I think is unique that we take our job seriously but we don't take ourselves seriously,” Oregon offensive coordinator Scott Frost said. “I think there's more enjoyment and laughing in our football building than almost any football building in the country.”
“Unique” is a buzzword tied to Oregon, but it should extend to Helfrich. He’s 22-3 in two seasons. He’s made a seamless transition from offensive coordinator under Chip Kelly, and with two wins Helfrich could top what Kelly did in five years by winning the program’s first national championship.
In a sense, Helfrich is Oregon, moreso than Bellotti or Kelly. Helfrich grew up in Medford. He played at Southern Oregon and raved about that program’s NAIA championship this season. That’s a point of pride, but he’s willing to share the unique Oregon experience with outsiders.
“The simplest thing we’re different speaking as an Oregonian there isn’t a ton of talent in the state of Oregon so we kind of have to go everywhere,” Helfrich said. “That ascension with the helmets and uniforms and that kind of stuff, but hopefully we’ve moved beyond that.”
Oregon play-by-play announcer Jerry Allen, also a native Oregonian who has called Ducks’ games for 28 seasons, appreciates Helfrich more than most. Allen said Helfrich is “terribly underrated,” and some of that gets in lost in the transition from Kelly.
“Chip was such a brilliant head coach, but Mark is more of a personable person,” Allen said. “I never want to make Chip out as a bad guy, but Mark is special. That's why Oregon didn't miss a beat; because he was so much a part of the success."
The buzzwords around that success tumbled off countless Oregon players and coaches’ tongues through Rose Bowl media days. “Win The Day.” Process. It’s all-wrapped in those constantly-evolving fluorescent uniforms with the Swoosh that evolved into trendiest brand in college football.
Of course, Helfrich has added his own personal touches with “no-sweat” practice two days before games. Frost said that contributed to the Ducks’ strong finish, one in which Oregon outscored opponents 238-85 over five games once November hit. That has Fisher’s attention, a coach who once took over for Bobby Bowden.
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“Mark’s trying to be himself,” Fisher said. “He’s not trying to be Mike Bellotti or Chip Kelly. I don’t see that. I see him being Mark. That’s why he’s having success. He’s having consistency and trying to lead them to their first national championship.”
There’s no question the players are all in. When asked if Helfrich was the most underappreciated coach in the country, he answered, “Most underpaid yes.” Center Hronnis Grasu called Helfrich, “One of the nicest guys ever.”
But he’s not always Mister Rogers. Running back Byron Marshall said Helfrich might have us fooled.
“The media kind of takes him as a light-hearted guy who is too nice, a guy who won't get after players,” Marshall said. “But it's the complete opposite that. When it's time to get after guys, he's going to do it."
So Helfrich brings an edge, and he’s got a personality match at his disposal in Heisman Trophy-winner Marcus Mariota. This might be the most prolific clean-cut quarterback-coach relationship ever. Kelly knew how to work with quarterbacks, but so does Helfrich.
“When you have that kind of camaraderie as a team, you can play incredible football,” Mariota said. “Coach Helfrich has really gotten us to play the best that we can, and that's all you can really ask for out of a head coach.”
What more do you need to know?
