Good question. I wonder if he lost them the week leading to Oregon, actually.
Oregon game being a rivalry and the game being at home, the players still put up a fight, but I noticed the week leading up to the game Sark was constantly downplaying our chances of winning (it was obvious during gameday for example). Even if your team is probably gonna lose, that is not how you want to communicate. Look at Carroll. Even when we had Tarvaris Jackson and players off the street at some positions, the guy always believed in his guys, and they played with confidence.
If I was a player and was feeling like my coach doesn't believe in me, I don't know if I would fight the same way. Probably not.