Oregon coach Mark Helfrich denies players are quitting

Oregon coach Mark Helfrich denies players have given up on season

EUGENE, OR - OCTOBER 08: Head coach Mark Helfrich of the Oregon Ducks talks to the referee during the game against the Washington Huskies on October 8, 2016 at Autzen Stadium in Eugene, Oregon. The Huskies defeated the Ducks 70-21. (Photo by Otto Greule Jr/Getty Images) /

The 2016 season is going downhill for the Oregon Ducks football team, but coach Mark Helfrich is refuting the idea that his players have quit.

An off week is coming at a good time for the Oregon Ducks, after a 70-21 loss to Washington last Saturday that dropped their record to 2-4 this season. During a four-game losing streak, the Ducks have been out-scored 197-124 and 121-54 over the last two games by Washington State and Washington.

The direction the 2016 season is going has brought speculation about head coach Mark Helfrich’s job status, and he is firmly on the hot seat. Morale among the players is surely not great right now, and senior offensive guard Cameron Hunt offered a window into that after last week’s loss.

Via the Eugene Register-Guard:

"“We’ve got some guys on our team who are busting their tails to win and other guys on our team that don’t even care if we win or lose,” senior Cameron Hunt told the Eugene Register-Guard, estimating 30 to 40 percent of the team falls into the latter category. “I don’t think everyone is bought-in.”"

Helfrich spoke the media after practice on Thursday, and he of course roundly denied Hunt’s sentiment.

"“Guys are speaking very emotionally after a game. They’re frustrated and competitive guys and you say things that are not true,” Helfrich said. “There’s no truth to what was said. Guys are frustrated and that’s fine.”"

The Ducks face an uphill climb to even become bowl-eligible, with four of their final six games on the road (Cal, USC, Utah and Oregon State) and home games against Arizona State and Stanford. A very young team that returned just eight starters from 2015, and a quarterback change from FCS transfer Dakota Prukop to freshman Justin Herbert, may give Helfrich a mulligan for this season.

Helfrich has pointed to plenty of support from Oregon athletic director Rob Mullens, despite the team’s current record, which can be expected at this point. But if Hunt’s comments ring true on the way to a 3-9 or 4-8 record, Helfrich should not keep his job.

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