PASADENA, Calif. – Chip Kelly expected the avalanche of offense produced by Oregon and Wisconsin in the 98th Rose Bowl, knowing his Ducks would need the late breaks that always eluded them in their BCS bowl losses the past two years.
Maybe that’s why the Ducks coach practically took flight in excitement when Wisconsin receiver Jared Abbrederis’ fumble in the final minutes plopped right down near the Oregon sideline, inexplicably nestling in the grass like an Easter egg for Michael Clay to find.
Oregon has been very good throughout Kelly’s three seasons. The Ducks finally were lucky as well Monday night, and now they’re Rose Bowl champions for the first time in 95 years.
Darron Thomas passed for three touchdowns, De’Anthony Thomas scored on runs of 91 and 64 yards, and the No. 6 Ducks earned their first bowl victory under Kelly, holding off the Badgers 45-38 in the highest-scoring Rose Bowl ever played.
“Any time you win, it feels unbelievable, and the thing that gets you excited is when you can share it with your players,” said Kelly, whose leaping excitement after Abbrederis’ fumble betrayed excitement behind that calmly cerebral exterior. “When they see the fruits of their labor pay off, that’s why
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