By Aaron Fentress, The Oregonian
View full size Thomas Boyd/The Oregonian Chip Kelly
EUGENE - The media contingent on hand today at the Moshofsky Center for Oregon's final practice in Eugene of the 2010 season was sparse compared to previous days.
The reason? What more is there really to ask, let alone say?
The No. 2 Oregon Ducks have spent the better part of the past four weeks preparing for the Bowl Championship Series title game Jan. 10 against No. 1 Auburn in Glendale, Ariz. Plenty of work remains between now and then with the remaining preparation to take place in Arizona.
Oregon will take Saturday off before traveling Sunday and resuming workouts Monday. Ducks coach Chip Kelly said he couldn't be more pleased with where his team is and how it has practiced since returning from the Christmas holidays last weekend.
"Our guys have been great, they've been really good," Kelly said. "You worry about when they come back from the holiday what they are going to be like. But we practiced really well the day before we left, there was no drama about getting back here and everybody was fired up and our practice Monday really kind of set the tone for the week."
The excitement of change and moving to the site of the big game was present. Players wore their game shoes in practice. You know, the fluorescent yellow shoes that could require Auburn defenders to wear sunglasses (NCAA be advised).
There was, also, a twinge of sadness. Senior wide receiver Jeff Maehl noted the finality of the day.
"It's kind of sad," he said. "It's my last practice here. It's up and down but we're ready to get down there and start preparing for (the Tigers) down there."
The Ducks will arrive Sunday and immediately partake in a media event. On Monday they will hit the practice field again to re-start the entire process of preparing for a game that can't get here soon enough.
"I just think they are right on track where they need to be," Kelly said. "They've been good every single day in practice. And they know for us to win and for us to play well, it's about preparation."
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