The Oregon football team will finish its season with a losing record for the first time since 2004. On Saturday the Ducks go to play No.11 Utah. After a decade of successful play, the Oregon program is answering new questions.

After an embarrassing 52-27 loss to Stanford, few questions were asked about the upcoming game.

Secondary coach John Neal had a unique perspective when asked about the state of the program.

“I got on a boat before fall camp started. … I’ve never been more sick in my life, and there was nothing I could do,” Neal said. “I couldn’t get off the boat. I thought about, ‘I’ll just fall off the boat and sink’. I was throwing up so much I turned it into a workout to see how strong my core could get.

“It is kind of like that right now. We’re on this boat, it is sick but I can’t jump off it. Is it different, yeah. … A minute ago, I was standing on the shore and it was great.”

Neal said he doesn’t read about opinions surrounding Helfrich’s status. He said he can look at himself in the mirror and assess his own performance as a coach.

“It’s not unfair,” he said. “It’s the business we’re in. I’ve been fired three times. Not one time was I on a good team. Here it’s different because we have done well and had success. … The business of winning is now. I get it.”

Some Oregon fans want head coach Mark Helfrich fired. If he is fired, many of the assistant coaches could depart as well. The pressure is on, but they do not want to change their habits.

“We’ve all been the same people doing things the same way,” linebackers coach Don Pellum  said. “We’ve given all we’ve got every day.”

While the Ducks fight to keep the sinking ship afloat, the Utes still have a Pac-12 championship on the table. The Utes are allowing 23 points per game while scoring 31 points per game. Average by Pac-12 standards, but Stanford’s offense ranked last in scoring. They finished with 52 points against the Ducks.

It will be an uphill climb for the Ducks. However, an upset win could shift the narrative of the season.

“Focus on trying to get that upset,” Neal said. “It happens, it can happen, and I’ve got to believe that.”

Follow Jack Butler on twitter @Butler917

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