Oregon Football Practice Recap: Sept. 30
By Rob Moseley
Editor, GoDucks.com
Venue: Autzen Stadium
Format: Walk-through
In the spring, when Oregon students are still in class while schools on the semester system are already in summer break, the UO quarter system can seem like a real pain (speaking from personal experience here).
For the football program, the quarter system’s late start is hugely beneficial. The Ducks went through all of preseason camp and the first five weeks of the regular season before classes began Monday, an intense two months devoted to football.
That being said, Oregon’s freshmen were happy to change up their routine a little bit as they began their collegiate journey on the academic side this week, prior to the Ducks’ game Thursday against Arizona (7:30 p.m. PT, ESPN).
“To be honest, I loved it,” defensive end Jalen Jelks said. “You really don’t get much time off from football, so jumping into class, meeting new people, it was a great experience.”
Quarterback Morgan Mahalak said he got to his first class after Monday’s practice a little tired, still a little sweaty, but glad to be on campus.
“It’s good to be back in school,” Mahalak said. “It’s good for me personally, just because I do better when I don’t have as much time on my hands, when it’s a little more structured.”
At this point in the year, the Ducks try to have practice wrapped up around 11 a.m., allowing players to get to campus for classes at noon or later. Mahalak’s early class Monday meant an end to his normal routine of being one of the last players off the practice field, putting in extra work with receiver Charles Nelson and others.
Because of weight-lifting and meetings, there’s no chance to make up for that lost time prior to practices. So, Mahalak said, he may try to do so in the late afternoon, to address “anything at practice I screwed up on or need extra work on. Just trying to get better.”
Jelks said he’s considering a business major, and is taking a business class this fall. That said, he isn’t locked into that academic track.
“I’m just kind of bouncing around, trying to find new classes, see what I like,” Jelks said. “My mind’s open to anything.”
Observations: No highlights to offer given that it was a walk-through, other than the seemingly customary single field-goal attempt just after warm-ups, which Matt Wogan nailed from around 35 yards out. … Former Ducks and local prep legends Dustin Haines and Justin Hoffman dropped by practice, and were introduced to the team afterward. Both were former walk-ons who eventually earned scholarships and were invaluable team leaders. “If we could take their hearts and their minds and surgically implant them in some guys, holy cow,” UO coach Mark Helfrich said. “They worked their tails off to maximize every single second.” … Still awaiting final word on the results of Monday’s walk-on tryouts. Sounds like a couple guys caught the coaches’ attention, but I don’t know exactly how many will ultimately join up.
