Ducks react to report of marijuana usage

Post practice interviews with the Ducks one day after ESPN published an article online Wednesday about the marijuana usage in college football while focusing on Oregon.

The Ducks did not practice on Wednesday, but returned to the Moshofsky Center for drills on Thursday. Head coach Chip Kelly spoke with the media following practice, addressing the ESPN The Magazine's article on marijuana use within the University of Oregon football program.

Coach Kelly said that he didn't think his team would be as successful as it has been if so many of his players were smoking pot, citing his 34-6 record. Kelly emphaized that he and his staff focus on educating his players about the effects of marijuana use.

"Our medical staff and doctor (Greg) Skaggs talk about it all the time," said Kelly. "We've brought in people from the outside to talk about the effects of drug and alcohol abuse on your body and that's really the biggest thing for us, the education part of it."

Some players were reluctant to talk about the ESPN The Magazine article. Yet others were quick to say that it would not become a distraction to the team.

"I just want to come out here everyday and listen to the coaches because they do a great job of teaching us and coaching us on the field and off the field," said senior safety John Boyett. "I just want to try to get better every day as a team and try to focus on the good things and become better as a team so we can win games when the season comes."

"(We'll) continue to work hard in practice, worry about football and let our coaching staff and administration worry about everything else," said senior tailback Kenjon Barner.

Concerning the statistic that possibly 40 to 60 percent of current Oregon football players are participating in the use of marijuana. Players said they couldn't believe that.