If the interview Oregon coach Mark Helfrich did with ESPN's Tom Rinaldi was supposed to sooth the angst in the UO fan base, I don't think it worked.

Oregonian/OregonLive columnist John Canzano dug into the subject with his Sunday column.

I linked Canzano's piece yesterday. But here it is again, in case you missed it. It's a worth a read.

A couple points:

-- Canzano hits this one hard. Helfrich comes across insincere, detached or both in his public comments.

I think fans want to see a little Rich Brooks-style anger. Two years ago, the Ducks were en route to the national title game. Two weeks ago they weren't competitive against Washington in their own stadium.

Helfrich has to be hurting. If he isn't angry, he should be. I think fans want to see that and not watch him deflect.

After watching Oregon State coach Gary Andersen for a season and a half, I can't imagine him reacting publicly to a fall from the pinnacle the way Helfrich has.

-- As a concept, Win The Day is about process. You do everything you can to win each day, every day. If you honor the process, the results take care of themselves.

That was my understanding when I heard Chip Kelly articulate it.

When Helfrich told Rinalidi he believes the Ducks are winning "the majority" of days, he either misses the intent of the slogan or describes an epic failure to successfully apply the process.

Maybe he merely was deflecting.

I think Helfrich is a smart guy and a good coach. I think he deserves the opportunity to get this turned around. There still is half a season to play.

That said, I wonder about UO athletic director Rob Mullens' decision to elevate Helfrich to head coach when Kelly departed for the NFL.

I've questioned why the Ducks didn't make an aggressive move to sound out former UO assistant Chris Petersen while he still was at Boise State, and before he began building the UW juggernaut.

But if Mullens was determined to stay in-house, why not Nick Aliotti?

Aliotti then was in his second stint as UO defensive coordinator. He was architect of the Gang Green defense for Oregon's breakthrough 1994 Rose Bowl team. He ran the defense during the Fiesta Bowl victory over Colorado, and for the Ducks' first national title appearance.

He was an Oregon loyalist, knew the program inside and out and was a dynamite recruiter. In 1995, after Brooks left for the NFL, Aliotti expressed interest in the head-coaching job. Offensive coordinator Mike Bellotti got it instead.

I know this: you wouldn't have to wonder what Aliotti really was thinking had his team been blown out of Autzen Stadium by the Huskies.

OK, more links:

The top three on my ballot for The Oregonian/OregonLive Power Rankings? Washington, Washington State and USC.

How The O's Pac-12 Power Rankings turned out.

Here are the ESPN.com Pac-12 Rankings, if you want to compare.

My three takeaways from the weekend (video).

ESPN.com Pac-12 guru Ted Miller: Projecting the Pac-12 finish at midseason is fraught with danger.

The Merc's Jon Wilner on the USC resurgence, UCLA's regression and more in his Pac-12 weekend rewind.

Jeff Miller of the Orange County Register: Logic and common sense take a back seat in poll voting.

The Portland Tribune's Kerry Eggers has lots of questions as the Beavers enter Washington week.

An early look at Washington, which plays host to the Beavers on Saturday.

The betting lines open with the Huskies as a huge favorite over OSU.

Huskies look to extend their dominance over OSU.

The Tacoma News Tribune's Christian Caples says the OSU game figures to the easiest remaining on the UW schedule.

The O's Gina Mizell takes a long look back at OSU's loss to Utah.

Moments that mattered in Utah's victory over the Beavers (slideshow).

The Beavers look better, but still need to put two halves together.

Three years after her husband's death, Carol James remains Washington's Dawgmother.

The Ducks come out of the bye week looking for a fresh start.

The Oregon-Cal game matches two statistically terrible defenses.

Cal quarterback Davis Webb and receiver Chad Hansen are expected to play against Oregon.

Wilner says this week's game with the Ducks is must-win for Cal.

Wilner gives Stanford a C for the Cardinal's 'ugly' victory over Notre Dame.

Colorado's Buffaloes display their toughness while pummeling ASU.

The Utes blame themselves for making the game with OSU 'too interesting.'

Utah is 6-1 and bowl eligible, but how good are the Utes really.

UCLA can't run away from the October losses.

Slumping UCLA tries to stay cohesive.

The Cougs have rebuilt their expectations after the 0-2 start.

Arizona State's running game is MIA.

USC receiver Steven Mitchell's season ends with a torn ACL.

Once again Mitchell faces reconstructive surgery.

Fourth-down failures have been costly for Arizona.

USA Today's George Schroeder: Nebraska is 6-0 but skeptics abound.

Stewart Mandel of FoxSports.com wants more chaos in the battle for the four College Football Playoff spots.

The links from Beaver Sports Now.

The links from Duck Sports Now.

-- Ken Goe

503-221-8040 | @KenGoe