Well this is a bold claim, but ESPN might have a point.
ESPN's Chantel Jennings wrote a piece on recent Washington commit Elijah Molden, a four-star cornerback from Eugene, Oregon. Molden was figured to be a lock for the Ducks, but Jennings now says that Molden's commitment to an in-conference rival is a new "rock bottom" for Oregon.
But even with all that, he knew that if he committed to Oregon, it really would be for mostly one thing: His dad played there.
And with Washington, "It's not just one reason," he tells people.
It's the culture of the program.
Jennings claims that Oregon's demise under Mark Helfrich has been related to the culture and lack of leadership of the program. The Duck has emerged as a hot and attractive program under Chip Kelly, with all the new Nike jerseys being the cool new thing on the block. Now the jerseys are seen as a gimmick, Helfrich is on the hot seat, and the Ducks are 3-7 just two seasons after playing for the inaugural title under the College Football Playoff.
Even worse, Molden's father Alex — who was an All-American in the 90s — agreed with that sentiment.
"They support his decision," Alex said. "Knowing that it was probably the best thing for him because what's going on at Oregon right now with the product that they're putting out there ... You see that out on the field. What's the leadership?
Yikes. That doesn't look good for Oregon.
