The Oregon Ducks arrived safely in Phoenix, Ariz., on Sunday, and will practice on Monday to continue preparation for the BCS national championship game Jan. 10 at University of Phoenix Stadium in nearly Glendale.
"The kids are fired up to be here to represent the University of Oregon," coach Chip Kelly said during a news conference at Sky Harbor International Airport. "Getting a chance to play in the national championship is what these guys have worked for since last January when we came back from the Rose Bowl."
Players and coaches and support staff got through the trip without any problems, although Kelly joked, "Besides coach (Nick) Aliotti's two hips, where he's got to get wanded through, we were pretty good." Aliotti had double hip replacement surgery several years ago.
Kelly says the 12-0 Ducks, who face 13-0 Auburn, are approaching it as "a business trip." They won't be relaxing in Arizona.
"Our guys know we keep the same schedule when we leave the 'Cas' (Casanova Center) 'til we get to the Eugene airport 'til wheels up," he adds. "It's just like any other away game for us in terms of how we traveled today. We've just got a couple more players with us than we normally do on a travel squad." Postseason games allow for expanded rosters.
The Ducks haven't reflected too much on their epic season, given the date ahead with the Cam Newton-led Tigers.
It'll be the first BCS title game berth for the Ducks, who had to settle for the Fiesta Bowl in January 2002 after finishing the regular season 10-1 – and then whipped Colorado to conclude the previously best season in school history. And, in 2007, the Ducks were cruising along with the BCS title game in their sights when QB Dennis Dixon went down with a knee injury, and several losses followed.
"I knew we had something special, and I've said it before, during spring practice," Kelly said. "We had 15 practices in the spring and we didn't have a bad one." The coach added that keeping an eye on the program's "vision" and fueling things with hard work paved the way to Glendale.
A reporter asked Kelly about how dealing with the media ranked in his priorities.
"It's No. 1 in my book," he said to laughter.
The Ducks' practices will be closed this week. Players and coaches will do media interviews starting Wednesday, with a full media day scheduled for Saturday.
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