Perhaps it was all ruffled feathers for nothing.
(Sorry, we had to)
Hours after rumors began flying that Oregon coach Chip Kelly would be taking the job as the head coach of the Tampa Bay Bucs, with some news outlets even going so far as to confirm those reports, it appears Kelly has had a change of heart and will stay in Eugene.
Adam Jude of the Eugene Register Guard had the story very early Monday morning.
“I’m staying” Kelly reportedly told a source, who in turn told Jude. Adam Schefter of ESPN also got in on the supposed flip-flopping just a short while ago along with a slew of Oregon beat writers.
A short while later, the Bucs franchise confirmed that Kelly was not coming aboard.
“His heart is with college football and Oregon and he’s no longer being considered,’' team general manager Mark Dominik told the Tampa Bay Times Monday morning.
Kelly finished his third season with Oregon in 2011, winning the Rose Bowl against Wisconsin 45-38. His immediate success with UO had also led to rumors connecting him to the Miami Dolphins job just a couple weeks ago.
For now, though, Kelly is staying.
Again, all of this back and forth comes just a over a week away from National Signing Day. Even if Kelly is staying, never underestimate the power of uncertainty on the mind of a 17 or 18-year-old kid.