The incremental steps of Mark Helfrich's downfall at Oregon probably started in last year's Alamo Bowl when Oregon gamboled a 31-0 halftime lead against TCU and nonetheless found a way to lose. That is not something that happens to Nick Saban or Urban Meyer and their big boy programs, and Oregon envisions itself as a program where things like that don't happen.
After all, the Ducks had averaged 11 wins over the previous eight seasons. A 9-4 campaign felt like a down year.
So, how would a 4-8 season feel, as Helfrich and the Ducks just turned in?