11-22-2023 Emerald Media Group - Gameday

GAMEDAY 11.22.23

Emerald Media

SAYING GOODBYE TO THE BEAVERS RELIVE THE DUCKS’ BEST MOMENTS AGAINST OREGON STATE WITH THE DAILY EMERALD SPORTS DESK

O N E L A S T R I D E P G 1 1 • A R O U N D T H E PA C P G 1 7 • S T U D E N T S ’ G A ME P L A N S P G 2 0

‘ Tis the season to be jolly.

Whether you’re counting down to the holidays or savoring the final weeks of fall, The Duck Store is here to help make your season a little brighter.

With both great gif ts for Oregon fans or fans of Oregon,

we’ve got you covered.

PA G E 2

|

E ME R A L D G A ME D AY E D I T I O N

|

WE D N E S D AY, N O VE M B E R 2 2 , 2 O 2 3

UO D uc k Store.com

GAMEDAY

GAMEDAY

GAMEDAY, the Emerald’s football edition, is published by Emerald Media Group, Inc., the independent nonprofit news company at the University of Oregon founded in 1900.

EMERALD MEDIA GROUP 1395 University St., rm.302, Eugene, OR 97403 541.346.5511 | dailyemerald.com

NEWSROOM

BUSINESS

Editor in Chief Evan Reynolds

President & Publisher Eric Henry x317

Print Managing Editor Emma J Nelson

Vice President, Operations Kathy Carbone x302

Sports Editors Nina-Grace Montes Brady Ruth Copy Chief Olivia Ellerbruch Reporters Joe Krasnowski Joe Moore Jack Lazarus Owen Murray Ruby Wool Lily Crane

Creative Director Anna Smith x327

ADVERTISING

Director of Sales and Digital Marketing Shelly Rondestvedt x303 Account Executives Lola Tagwerker Cori Caplinger Cooper Gast Taylor Baumgardner

Photo Editors Molly McPherson Jonathan Suni Design Editor Liz Blodgett Associate Design Editor Ryan Ehrhart

ON THE COVER

In-state rivals Benny Beaver and the Oregon Duck face off before the start of the game.

(Jonathan Suni/Emerald)

The Oregon Ducks mascot dances during the third quarter. (Ali Watson/Emerald) WE D N E S D AY, N O VE M B E R 2 2 , 2 0 2 3

|

E ME R A L D G A ME D AY E D I T I O N

|

PA G E 3

OREGON OFFENSE PLAYER TROY FRANKLIN TRAESHON HOLDEN TEZ JOHNSON JOSH CONERLY JR. JUNIOR ANGILAU JACKSON POWERS-JOHNSON STEVEN JONES AJANI CORNELIUS TERRANCE FERGUSON BO NIX BUCKY IRVING KYLER KASPER KRIS HUTSON GARY BRYANT JR. GAAOPE LALOULU MARCUS HARPER II NISHAD STROTHER GEORGE SILVA PATRICK HERBERT TY THOMPSON NOAH WHITTINGTON

OREGON STATE OFFENSE

#

POS

YEAR

PLAYER

#

POS

YEAR

No. 11 No. 5 No. 15 No. 76 No. 54 No. 58 No. 74 No. 65 No. 3 No. 10 No. 00 No. 17 No. 1 No. 2 No. 75 No. 55 No. 50 No. 71 No. 88 No. 13 No. 6

WR-X WR-Z WR-F LT LG OC RG RT TE QB RB WR-X WR-Z WR-F LT LG/OC RG RT TE QB RB

JR SR/TR SR/TR SO RS SR/TR JR RS SR RS JR/TR JR SR/TR JR/TR RS FR JR RS JR/TR RS SO JR RS SR/TR JR/TR RS JR RS SO JR/TR

ANTHONY GOULD JESIAH IRISH SILAS BOLDEN JOSHUA GRAY HENELI BLOOMFIELD JAKE LEVENGOOD TANNER MILLER TALIESE FUAGA JACK VELLING JERMAINE TERRY II DJ UIAGALELEI DAMIEN MARTINEZ RWEHA MUNYAGI JR. JEREMIAH NOGA ZACHARY CARD JACOB STRAND NATHAN ELU DYLAN LOPEZ GRANT STARCK FLAVIO GONZALEZ GABE MILBOURN

No. 2 No. 13 No. 7 No. 67 No. 58 No. 70 No. 61 No. 75 No. 88 No. 84 No. 5 No. 6 No. 8 No. 18 No. 12 No. 69 No. 78 No, 57 No. 66 No. 77 No. 82

WR-X WR-X WR-SL LT LG OC RG RT LTE RTE QB RB WR-X WR-X WR-SL LT LG OC RG RT LTE

RS JR RS SR JR RS JR RS SR/TR RS S RS JR JR SO JR/TR SR/TR SO RS SR RS SO FR RS FR RS FR RS FR RS JR/TR SR/TR RS SO

OREGON STATE DEFENSE

OREGON DEFENSE PLAYER BRANDON DORLUS POPO AUMAVAE CASEY ROGERS JORDAN BURCH JEFFREY BASSA JESTIN JACOBS MASE FUNA KHYREE JACKSON TYSHEEM JOHNSON EVAN WILLIAMS NIKKO REED COLE MARTIN JOHNNY BOWENS III TAKI TAIMANI KEYON WARE-HUDSON MATAYO UIAGALELEI JAMAL HILL CONNOR SOELLE JAKE SHIPLEY TRIKWEZE BRIDGES BRYAN ADDISON STEVE STEPHENS IV

#

POS

No. 3 No. 50 No. 98 No. 1 No. 2 No. 4 No. 18 No. 5 No. 00 No. 33 No. 25 No. 21 No. 91 No. 55 No. 95 No. 10 No. 9

DE NT DT JACK WLB MLB SLB FCB FS BS BCB NB DE NT DT JACK WLB MLB SLB FCB FS BS

No. 22 No. 90 No. 11 No. 13 No. 7

YEAR

SR RS SR RS SR/TR SR/TR JR RS SR/TR SR SR/TR JR/TR RS SR/TR JR/TR FR FR RS SR/TR RS JR FR SR RS SR/TR JR RS JR RS SR RS SR

OREGON SPECIAL TEAMS

|

#

POS

YEAR

PLAYER

LUKE DUNNE CAMDEN LEWIS ANDREW BOYLE LUKE BASSO ROSS JAMES TEZ JOHNSON BUCKY IRVING

No. 45 No. 49 No. 98 No. 43 No. 92 No. 15 No. 00 No. 84

PT PK/KO KO/PK LS H/PT PR KR

FR SR RS SR/TR RS SO RS SO/TR SR/TR JR/TR

PT

GR/TR

JOSH GREEN ATTICUS SAPPINGTON DYLAN BLACK ANTHONY GOULD SILAS BOLDEN AJ WINSOR EVERETT HAYES PEYTON HOGAN JESIAH IRISH

E ME R A L D G A ME D AY E D I T I O N

|

WE D N E S D AY, N O VE M B E R 2 2 , 2 O 2 3

#

POS

YEAR

No. 8 No. 52 No. 95 No. 6 No. 2 No. 5 No. 4 No. 28 No. 00 No. 25 No. 1 No. 10 No. 98 No. 99 No. 82 No. 32 No. 44 No. 23 No. 24 No. 7 No. 21 No. 30

DE NT DT OLB MLB WLB LCB SS FS RCB NB DE NT DT OLB MLB WLB LCB SS FS RCB NB

JR RS SR/TR RS SR/TR RS SR RS SR/TR JR RS SR RS SR RS JR JR/TR RS/TR RS SR/TR FR RS SR RS JR FR RS FR FR RS SO RS SR/TR RS FR RS SO

OREGON STATE SPECIAL TEAMS

PLAYER

MATTHEW RIGNEY

PA G E 4

PLAYER SIONE LOLOHEA JAMES RAWLS JOE GOLDEN JOHN MCCARTAN CALVIN HART JR. EASTON MASCARENAS-ARNOLD JADEN ROBINSON KITAN OLADAPO AKILI ARNOLD TYRICE IVY JR. RYAN COOPER JR. ANDREW CHATFIELD JR. THOMAS COLLINS ISAAC HODGINS CORY STOVER ISAIAH CHISOM MELVIN JORDAN IV JERMOD MCCOY JACK KANE ALTON JULIAN NOBLE THOMAS JOSIAH JOHNSON

#

No. 37 No. 36 No. 48 No. 2 No. 7 No. 38 No. 35 No. 33 No. 13

POS

PT/H PK/KO LS PR KR/PR PT/H PK/KO LS KR

YEAR

RS SR/TR RS SO RS JR RS JR JR FR SR RS SO RS SR

For a more in-depth chart on both teams, visit ESPN.com

WE D N E S D AY, N O VE M B E R 2 2 , 2 0 2 3

|

E ME R A L D G A ME D AY E D I T I O N

|

PA G E 5

GAMEDAY

MURRAY: DEATH OF A RIVALRY In their “see-you-later” final matchup, the Ducks and Beavers wave goodbye

BY OWEN MURRAY DESIGNED BY GABRIELA MARTINEZ

Harrison Tre’Shaun (0) of the Oregon State Beavers celebrates a touchdown before any confirmation from officials. The Oregon Ducks traveled up to Corvallis to face their in-state rival, the Oregon State Beavers, on Nov. 26, 2022. (Jonathan Suni/Emerald)

The following was written in my Notes app the night of the Oregon Ducks’ Week 7 heartbreaking 36-33 loss to the Washington Huskies in Seattle: “Rivalries are built on history, but they’re fueled by the present. Bonfires can’t burn forever without someone to tend to them — the keepers of the flame, per se. It’s moments like tonight’s that crown those stewards of the rivalry on both sides of the gridiron. Whether or not you think that the Huskies’ victory was Michael Penix Jr.’s moment, it’s undeniable that it was his turn to step into the spotlight — as was it Bo Nix’s. Both stepped up to the moment, topping 300 yards passing and combining for six touchdowns and just one interception.

“Because that’s what rivalries do: test the mettle of players who claim that they’re unshakeable. They’re everything that sports are meant to be, multiplied by the force of the tens of thousands there to witness history. It’s memory being dragged into the present in a way that boils over all too often, and that’s why we watch.”

It was written after an exhausting, emotional day, but it rings true. What sparked between the Ducks and Huskies on that afternoon — and the battle for Pac-12 control that has happened since — is more than just competition. It’s a rivalry. In making a pact to pick a new division as a pair, Washington and Oregon have tied themselves together in a way that could be the genesis of something that they’ll both lose in the move to the Big Ten. If that Saturday in October was the jumpingoff point for what promises to be a fierce battle between the Big Ten’s West Coast contingent, it’s hard to beat. If there’s a rematch in Las Vegas, regardless of the outcome, the flame will be burning bright as the two head east next year.

With that exciting development comes the requisite concerns about what’s lost in the fallout of conference realignment. Games between Oregon and Oregon State have everything that makes a rivalry special, with the added bonus of the schools’ proximity to each other — as do Apple Cup faceoffs between the Huskies and their rivals to the east.

PA G E 6

|

E ME R A L D G A ME D AY E D I T I O N

|

WE D N E S D AY, N O VE M B E R 2 2 , 2 O 2 3

On Friday, the final chapter, at least for now, will be written in that story. The hallmarks of rivalry there are evident: Almost every time, form doesn’t matter so much as how much each side is willing to push themselves. The game means more than any other on the regular season schedule, and losing it will hurt fans and players alike.

The death of a rivalry is difficult to swallow, but it’s fitting that each of the two sides enters this farewell game at its absolute peak of recent seasons.

It’s not a one-off moment of remembrance. Each team has the chance to absolutely ruin the moment for the other — and that’s the way they like it. It will be electric, and an absolute firecracker of a Friday night show.

All of that energy, though, must be directed somewhere for the next decadeplus. It can’t sit and stew, and that’s what makes Oregon’s relationship with the Huskies so compelling to look at. Suddenly, the two are isolated on the West Coast, and closer together than they are to any other team. It’s never been a happy dynamic, but with a potential Pac-12 Championship rematch edging closer, the relationship is starting to bubble.

Like a phoenix, that sense of rivalry is rising from the ashes, returning to Autzen Stadium to instill passion into every Duck — those who walk through the gates and up the stairs every weekend, those who cheer on from a tailgate and those who send passive-aggressive texts to their Beaver friends.

If a rivalry is to be reborn, there’s no better moment. In a game that couldn’t mean any more, two teams will go head to head for possibly the final time, in the process turning back the clock to intense memories that evoke emotion unlike any other. In a rivalry that dates back to 1894, the teams will fight not only to win the game, but to beat the other. It’s a death in the way that a supernova is — with explosive energy, it collapses into something incredible, leaving in its wake an indelible mark on the world it departs.

So, for this moment, put the Huskies aside. Their time will come, but for now, it’s all about writing history. Enjoy the moment, bathe in memory and let yourself fall into the ocean of rivalry that will consume Autzen Stadium on Friday night.

Go Ducks, Beat the Beavs!!

541-485-7776 • vonkleinrentals.com • 1301 Ferry St. #2 /vonKleinPropertyManagement

WE D N E S D AY, N O VE M B E R 2 2 , 2 0 2 3

|

E ME R A L D G A ME D AY E D I T I O N

|

PA G E 7

1214 KINCAID ST PRESENTS...

GAMEDAYS AT

Experience the greatest sci-fi dispensary in the galaxy.

RENNIE’S

Cannabis Journal Now open Eagle 5 Food Truck

PA G E 8

|

E ME R A L D G A ME D AY E D I T I O N

|

Download & Save 5%

WE D N E S D AY, N O VE M B E R 2 2 , 2 O 2 3

OPEN EVERYDAY UNTIL 2AM FOLLOW US ON SOCIALS @RENNIESLANDING

GAMEDAY

BO NIX IS EVERYTHING HE WAS SUPPOSED TO BE The Heisman favorite has lived up to his lofty projections

BY JOE KRASNOWSKI • DESIGNED BY RYAN EHRHART There are always expectations that come with being a top recruit. Expectations of awards, accolades and championships. These are only elevated when you win Alabama’s Mr. Football Award after your senior season of high school and being a quarterback at Auburn is in your blood.

Enter Bo Nix, five-star recruit and son of former Tigers quarterback Patrick Nix — no pressure, kid.

“My initial college football dream was simply to play football at Auburn, beat Alabama and win a national championship,” Nix said in an interview with Yogi Roth. “Growing up that’s all I wanted to do. My dad got to do it so that gave me perspective that maybe I could do it.”

However, playing at Auburn wasn’t the fairy tale that Nix had envisioned as a kid. Nix’s career as a Tiger was full of injuries and ideas of what Nix could be. At one point in his last year at Auburn, Nix was benched weeks before suffering a seasonending injury. It was time for a change for the once highly touted prospect.

Enter UO and former offensive coordinator Kenny Dillingham.

Dillingham — who was Nix’s offensive coordinator at Auburn — was a primary factor in Nix’s recruitment to Eugene.

“Why not Oregon? That’s what I told a lot of people, they always have great talent, always well coached and in a good conference,” Nix said before last season to GoDucks. “When Coach Dillingham got the job [as UO’s offensive coordinator], we already had that connection. Already had a great relationship when he coached me back in the past.”

Nix had a breakout season for the ages, combining for 43 total touchdowns. He led Oregon to a 10-3 record in his first season in Eugene.

“This school has changed my life,” Nix said in the same interview. “This school just gave me an opportunity to be myself again and get out of the spotlight of ‘you’re playing because your dad played here’ or ‘you are only doing it because you are an Auburn fan’ or this and that. But now I can just go do it because I love playing quarterback.”

Although Dillingham left for the head coaching job at Arizona State at the end of the 2022 season, Nix announced that he would return for his fifth and final season of eligibility at the helm, with pre-season hoopla of Bo-Dacious posters littering a Heisman campaign across the country. Nix’s second season at Oregon had immense hype around it, and his second act has been even better.

Through Week 12, Nix has combined for 40 total touchdowns to just two interceptions. His 77.7% completion percentage is the best in the country.

“He just prepares every single day the same, in and out, same juice, same fire, same love [and] same compassion,” center Jackson PowersJohnson said. “Bo’s the same every day.”

In Oregon’s Week 11 victory over USC, Nix outdueled reigning Heisman-trophy winner Caleb Williams adding four touchdowns on 412 yards passing.

“That was a Heisman trophy performance from Bo Nix,” Lanning said after the USC game.

Now the newly crowned all-time leader in collegiate starts by a quarterback, there’s little Nix hasn’t seen on the football field.

“He’s a field general out there, I’ve got nothing but respect for the guy,” Arizona State defensive lineman Dashaun Mallory said after Oregon’s win to SunDevilSource Video. “He obviously was controlling the entire game, from the first snap to the last snap, and I mean, I’ll give respect where respect is due, and Bo Nix is just that guy.”

Behind Nix, Oregon is 10-1. The Ducks — the nation’s highest-ranked one-loss team — are just one win away from a Pac-12 championship berth.

“It’s exciting to see where we’ve come, where we

were and how far we’ve gone,” Nix said after the Ducks’ win over Dillingham’s Sun Devils. “Just to know that there’s probably even more we can do better at. I think that’s what keeps us going back to practice on Monday.”

Once heralded as a savior for an SEC program, Nix has found his collegiate success 2,500 miles away.

“It was always Oregon, everything always pointed to Oregon,” Nix said. “I don’t think I could have made a better decision.”

Now the betting favorite to win the Heisman, Bo Nix is everything he was supposed to be.

Bo Nix (10) warms up in the Arizona sun, hoping to rise in the Heisman rankings with an impressive game. The Oregon Ducks defeated the Arizona State Sun Devils 49-13 on Nov. 18, 2023. (Jonathan Suni/Emerald)

WE D N E S D AY, N O VE M B E R 2 2 , 2 0 2 3

|

E ME R A L D G A ME D AY E D I T I O N

|

PA G E 9

Looking Glass is hiring Mental Health Therapists!

Join a passionate workforce dedicated to serving youth, adults, and families in our community

Apply Now! Looking Glass Counseling Program embraces a healthy, balanced work environment for staff and values the importance of culture and community.

2022

At Looking Glass our mental health therapists enjoy training and support from a diverse and committed team.

www.lookingglass.us/employment www.lookingglass.us/employment PA G E 1 0

|

E ME R A L D G A ME D AY E D I T I O N

|

WE D N E S D AY, N O VE M B E R 2 2 , 2 O 2 3

GAMEDAY

THE LAST RIDE OF RIVALRY As Oregon plays host to the last rivalry game against Oregon State, what would a win mean for each team in their last Pac-12 regular season game?

The No. 15 ranked Oregon State Beavers (8-3, 5-3 Pac-12), coming off a close loss in their most recent matchup with Washington, make the short trip down to Eugene to take on in-state rivals No. 6 Oregon (10-1, 7-1 Pac-12) Friday evening in the last matchup of this historic rivalry in the Pac-12.

This matchup will bring the emotion out of both squads with the future of the rivalry very much in doubt. Autzen Stadium will play host to Oregon’s last regular season football game in the Pac-12, something that evokes both sadness and excitement for Ducks fans.

For Beavers fans, the conference realignment has only left a bad taste in their mouths. Oregon State was not included in any of the moves that Pac-12 teams made to larger and more lucrative conferences. Both Washington State and Oregon State have full control of the conference’s decisions as it reaches its crescendo, while all of the other Pac-12 members moved to the Big 12 or Big Ten. This will surely light a fire under the Beavers, who want to show up their rivals in the last dance of the Pac-12 as we know it.

The Beavers got the better of the Ducks last season, in a game which included 21 unanswered, fourth-quarter points to lift Oregon State to a 38-34 victory. That game was highlighted by the relentless rushing attack of the Beavs with star running back Damien Martinez at the helm.

The sophomore standout is No. 11 in the country in rushing yards with 1,147 along with nine touchdowns. Oregon State has a top-25 rushing offense in the country, and a big reason for that is Martinez’s dominance as the focal point of the entire

BY JACK LAZARUS • DESIGNED BY GABRIELA MARTINEZ offense. Martinez has also rushed for over 85 yards in his last six games, rushing for over 100 in each of the last three contests.

Oregon tends to have trouble with dominant running backs like Martinez, especially when it faces a very balanced offense. OSU has that balance with transfer quarterback DJ Uiagalelei running the offense. The Beavers will make sure the Ducks are challenged on defense, something that really hasn’t happened since the Washington game early in October.

Uiagalelei is having his best campaign as a college player in his first season in Corvallis, and coming off his worst performance as a Beaver last week, he’ll be fighting for redemption.

The OSU defense is nothing to balk at as well, as it has had some of its most successful outings in recent weeks against some of the best quarterbacks in the nation in Shedeur Sanders and Michael Penix Jr. There is much to be desired in the rush defense, which is where Oregon is likely to attack, as Bucky Irving has been unstoppable in the past few weeks.

While Oregon State no longer has much to play for, having been removed from contention for the Pac12 title after its loss to Washington, it would relish their opportunity to potentially play spoiler to Oregon’s outstanding season.

The Ducks control their own destiny.

If they win, they’re in. With a victory in Eugene on Friday, Oregon would clinch a rematch with its crossstate rival Washington in the Pac-12 title game. Given the heartbreaking nature of their loss at Husky Stadium, the Ducks will be itching to get revenge for a game many believe should have been theirs.

Bo Nix has shined when the national spotlight has been on him this season, but there hasn’t been a game with this much riding on it since the game against Washington. Nix faces real pressure as he hopes to give the Ducks that final lift to the Pac-12 title game and the fight for a place in the playoff.

Oregon has controlled the rivalry in the 21st century, but have won just four of the last seven matchups, while losing two of the last three. The Beavers, whose future as a power five team lies in the balance, will hope to show the college football world that they messed up by not including them in their grand plans for conference realignment.

Both squads have a lot to play for in the last ever matchup of the Oregon powerhouses. Oregon State just wants to spoil its neighbor’s chances at a second berth in the College Football Playoff, while Oregon just wants to stick it to its “little brother” one last time before moving on to the postseason.

Troy Franklin yells after a big catch that led to an important first down. The Oregon Ducks traveled up to Corvallis to face their in-state rival, the Oregon Beavers, on Nov. 26, 2022.

(Jonathan Suni/Emerald) WE D N E S D AY, N O VE M B E R 2 2 , 2 0 2 3

|

E ME R A L D G A ME D AY E D I T I O N

|

PA G E 1 1

GAMEDAY

RELIVING SOME OF MOMENTS AGAINST As the UO vs. Oregon State rivalry takes an uncertain turn, we look back at the Ducks’ best victories

BY DAILY EMERALD SPORTS DESK • DESIGNED BY RYAN EHRHART

The Ducks and Beavers are set for one last matchup in a rivalry that dates back to 1894 before Oregon heads to the Big Ten next year and leaves its “little brother” –– a term often used derisively

by Ducks fans to describe Oregon State –– behind. The Ducks lead the all-time series 67-49-10 and are looking to add another victory this Friday in the closing chapter of the Pac-12. Ahead of the historic game, members of the Daily Emerald sports desk break down some of the biggest moments between the two foes.

quarterback Sean Mannion’s career. Mannion still holds the records for most passing yards and passing touchdowns in Oregon State history.

This rivalry game signified the ending of the college careers of two of the greatest quarterbacks ever in the state of Oregon. It also marked the Ducks’ seventh straight win in the rivalry series. It may not have been the most important victory of Oregon’s 2014 season, but no season ever

OREGON WINS IMPRESSIVE 47-19 GAME IN CORVALLIS NOV. 29, 2014 — LILY CRANE Even though the Beavers were far from the Ducks’ toughest opponent in 2014, this was still a matchup with big implications.

The dominant victory paved the way for one of Oregon’s most successful seasons to date. The win secured the Ducks’ spot in the Pac-12 Championship game. Oregon would later win the Rose Bowl and advance to the National Championship.

It was also Marcus Mariota’s last rivalry game with Oregon and the quarterback did not disappoint. He threw for 367 yards and four touchdowns and ran for two more. Not only did the performance influence the team’s postseason run, but it set up Mariota to win the Heisman Trophy two weeks later.

On the Beavers’ side, the game was the end of PA G E 1 2

|

E ME R A L D G A ME D AY E D I T I O N

|

feels as satisfying for Ducks fans without a win against the Beavers.

OREGON EARNS REDEMPTION AGAINST THE BEAVERS WITH 69-10 SMACKDOWN NOV. 25, 2017 — JACK LAZARUS

WE D N E S D AY, N O VE M B E R 2 2 , 2 O 2 3

This game came a season after a tough matchup in 2016 where the Beavers scored 20 unanswered points in a rainstorm to steal a win from the Ducks, who were led by true freshman Justin Herbert.

OREGON’S BEST RIVAL BEAVERS The offseason showed that the Beavs were not going to let the rivalry go unnoticed, even given how bad both teams were that season. This gave the Ducks a lot of motivation heading into the 2017 matchup with their in-state rivals.

The Beavs came into Autzen having won only one game in 2017, and with the rising star of Herbert and Oregon State’s constant reminder of the year prior, the writing was on the wall for what happened that day.

Oregon pounded its in-state rivals 69-10 with Herbert and star running back Royce Freeman each shining, taking the prior year’s historic loss personally. Freeman broke the record for most

career touchdowns in the Pac-12 that day, breaking a record set by a Beaver with one of his two touchdowns, while his 122 rushing yards put him at seventh in NCAA history at the time.

The Ducks also avenged their loss from the previous year, which had been the first Beaver win at the time since 2007 — Oregon State wouldn’t win again until 2020.

OREGON DEFEATS OREGON STATE 38-29 IN MEANINGFUL CLASH NOV. 27, 2021 — NINA-GRACE MONTES

GAMEDAY

Travis Dye and Byron Cardwell, my grandpa’s favorite players at the time. After their combined 143 rushing yards, their style of play and performance was all he talked about the rest of the weekend. This game sent the Ducks into the Pac-12 championship and transformed my grandparents from casual fans — supporting the university because they have grandchildren attending — to proud Oregon fans for life.

OREGON EARNS BOWL CHAMPIONSHIP SERIES NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIP SPOT WITH 37-20 ROAD WIN DEC. 4, 2010 — JOE MOORE

This game will always be close to my heart for multiple reasons. My grandparents came up from California to watch their first college game live and they were in for a show.

After a big loss against Utah, the Ducks bounced back huge offensively with 506 yards — 275 throwing and 231 rushing. It was the perfect revenge performance after losing against the Beavers in Corvallis the previous season. Oregon’s 38 points were the second most that Oregon State had allowed all season, adding salt to the wound of the historic rivalry.

The game also showcased the talents of running backs

The Ducks came into the contest needing a win to secure a spot in the BCS Championship game. While the Beavers, who were sitting at 5-6 on the year, were not the biggest challenge Oregon had faced that season, the game still held the most weight.

With a spot in the Championship on the line, LaMichael James rushed for 134 yards and two touchdowns. This game, and the subsequent BCS Championship game, cemented my Ducks fandom at a young age. My earliest college football memories are from that season, and while the events of this matchup against Oregon State are not as vivid as my memories of other matchups in the historic rivalry, I still remember the feeling I had when I knew that the state of Oregon would be represented in the championship that season.

James was my favorite Oregon player of all time for a couple of seasons, being passed only by Marcus Mariota and his own run to a championship game, so watching a dominant performance from James in one of the greatest Oregon football seasons ever was an amazing memory for me as a young football fan.

OREGON RESETS TONE OF RIVALRY IN 14-7 WIN NOV. 27, 1975 — BRADY RUTH While nobody on our desk and almost no one currently attending UO was alive for this game, it was undoubtedly one of the most important clashes in the history of the rivalry.

Entering this game, the Beavers had won 13 of the teams’ last 15 meetings, including the most recent two matchups. The Ducks’ big win in head coach Don Read’s second season at the helm rewrote the tone of the series for years to come.

After the low-scoring win, Oregon would go on to win 11 of the next 12 — there was a 0-0 tie in 1983 — and wouldn’t outright lose to the Beavers until 1988. Since then, Oregon has had a heavy upper hand in the rivalry.

However, it can always be argued that the biggest meeting is the next one, or in this case, the last one. The Ducks won’t have the Beavers on their schedule next season for the first time since 1944, and look to leave Oregon State with a parting gift of a loss in Autzen Stadium on Friday night.

Photo illustration by Ryan Ehrhart (Emerald)

WE D N E S D AY, N O VE M B E R 2 2 , 2 0 2 3

|

E ME R A L D G A ME D AY E D I T I O N

|

PA G E 1 3

GAMEDAY

BATTLE OF SECOND CHANCES Oregon and Oregon State will be led by their transfer quarterbacks in this year’s rivalry game

BY EMMA LOGAN • DESIGNED BY GABRIELA MARTINEZ Taking a risk can make or break a football player’s career. Leaving a place where they have found a home on the field to restart their college football career can be a difficult choice to make.

As the Oregon Ducks and the Oregon State Beavers prepare for their final rivalry game in the Pac-12, their offensive leaders have something in common.

They both took a shot at a second chance in their careers when entering the transfer portal, finding a new home on the West Coast.

DJ Uiagalelei left behind three seasons at Clemson as the Tigers’ quarterback.

In December 2022, he announced that he would travel out west to play for Oregon State. This decision came shortly after entering the transfer portal and making the big move back to the West Coast. The southern California native had a 22-6 record as the Tigers’ starter but wanted a change in terms of where his career was headed.

“I wanted to go somewhere where they’re going to let me be who I am as a player, let me play free and let me go out there and just cut it loose,” Uiagalelei told ESPN. “Just somewhere where I can do what I wanted to do.”

In the 2023 season, Uiagalelei led the Beaver offense with an 8-3 record heading into the final regular season game. All three losses have been decided by no more than three points, and two out of the three teams have been ranked. Overall this season, he has 2,418 total yards with 20 touchdowns and six interceptions.

In his third and final season as a Clemson Tiger, Uiagalelei had 2,521 total yards for 22 touchdowns and seven interceptions on the season. This year, he has almost reached those totals before the end of the season and is averaging almost two more yards per pass. His performance so far has proved his choice to have paid off. As he nears the end of the season with one year of eligibility, he has announced to wait until playing in a bowl game to decide on whether he will be back for his final year.

Oregon quarterback Bo Nix entered the transfer portal prior to the 2022 season and made the decision to move west after three years playing for the

Auburn Tigers. His father, Patrick Nix, played quarterback for Auburn and Nix went on to follow in his footsteps. However, after facing a tough 2021 season ending in an injury, he made the tough choice by moving to Oregon with two years of eligibility.

In an interview with ESPN, Nix discussed the pressure he felt while playing in the Auburn uniform and wanted to find a place that was different from where he had started his career. Oregon ended up being that place for him where he could play football free of external and internal pressures.

In his first year in the Oregon uniform, Nix had 3,593 total passing yards for 29 touchdowns with seven interceptions. Prior to the 2023 season, he announced he would be returning to the Oregon football program and use his final year of eligibility.

This year, Nix has led the Ducks to a one loss season heading into their final regular season game. Not only are they in the running for a spot in the College Football Playoff, but Nix has been in the Heisman conversation for the whole season. He has proved that a fresh start can completely turn one’s career for the better.

Leading up to one of the most important games of both teams’ seasons, the offensive leaders are coming off of two completely different games.

Oregon State battled in front of a home crowd and ended up falling short to the Washington Huskies by a score of 22-20. Uiagalelei completed 15 out of 31 passes for 164 total yards and had zero passing touchdowns.

Meanwhile, Oregon traveled to face Arizona State resulting in a commanding 49-13 win on the road. Nix owned the offense completing 24 out of 29 passes for 404 total yards and six touchdowns. It was his second-highest passing yard total of the 2023 season.

Nix heads into this highly anticipated matchup with the upper hand. The two transfer quarterbacks will play for a team victory while also proving that restarting their careers out west can lead to success.

Bo Nix (10) sits on the bench to start the half as the Ducks enjoy a 42-0 lead over the Sun Devils. The Oregon Ducks defeated the Arizona State Sun Devils 49-13 on Nov. 18, 2023. (Jonathan Suni/Emerald) PA G E 1 4

|

E ME R A L D G A ME D AY E D I T I O N

|

WE D N E S D AY, N O VE M B E R 2 2 , 2 O 2 3

HERBIVORE CARNIVORE LOCAVORE RBIVORE CARNIVORE LOCAVORE HERBIVORE HERBIVORE

CARNIVORE CARNIVORE

LOCAVORE LOCAVORE

New Haven inspired apizza, New pub Haven inspired apizza, brewed beer New Haven inspired apizza, pub brewed beer New Haven inspired apizza, pub brewedSt. beer 390 Lincoln @4th pub brewed beer

390 Lincoln St. @4th 541.735.3860 390 LincolnSt. St.@4th @4th 390 Lincoln 541.735.3860

530 BLAIR BLVD EUGENE 530 BLAIR BLVD EUGENE (541) BLAIR 735-3520 BLVD TACOVOREPNW.COM 530 EUGENE (541) 735-3520 TACOVOREPNW.COM

30 BLAIR BLVDTACOVOREPNW.COM EUGENE (541) 735-3520 (541) 735-3520

TACOVOREPNW.COM

LUNCH & DINNER 541.735.3860 541.735.3860 LUNCH & DINNER EVERYDAY

LUNCH & DINNER DINNER EVERYDAY DINEEVERYDAY IN& | CARRY OUT LUNCH DINNER DINEEVERYDAY IN | CARRY OUT LUNCH FRIDAY & SATURDAY thewheelapizzapub.com EVERYDAY DINE IN | CARRY OUT thewheelapizzapub.com DINE IN || CARRY CARRY OUT OUT DINE IN thewheelapizzapub.com thewheelapizzapub.com

WE D N E S D AY, N O VE M B E R 2 2 , 2 0 2 3

|

E ME R A L D G A ME D AY E D I T I O N

|

PA G E 1 5

PA G E 1 6

|

E ME R A L D G A ME D AY E D I T I O N

|

WE D N E S D AY, N O VE M B E R 2 2 , 2 O 2 3

GAMEDAY

AROUND THE PAC-12: WEEK 12 In the final week with all 12 of its teams in action, what happened in the Pac-12?

BY BRADY RUTH • DESIGNED BY RYAN EHRHART

After the game, head coach Dan Lanning claimed that Oregon fans made it seem like a Ducks home game with the energy they brought. The Oregon Ducks defeated the Arizona State Sun Devils 4913 on Nov. 18, 2023. (Jonathan Suni/Emerald)

The No. 6 Oregon Ducks (10-1, 7-1 Pac-12) dissected every aspect of the Arizona State Sun Devils (3-8, 2-6 Pac-12) in their 49-13 win last Saturday. Week 12 was the final week of the college football regular season in which each Pac12 team was in action. Who were the winners and losers as the season took one step closer to its close?

NO. 5 WASHINGTON SURVIVES NO. 11 OREGON STATE WITH GUTSY 22-20 WIN In a sloppy and scrappy game, the Huskies (11-0, 8-0 Pac-12) fended off a late push by the Beavers (8-3, 5-3 Pac-12) to punch their ticket to the Pac-12 Championship Game. Michael Penix Jr. and Rome Odunze were on the same page all night long as the pair connected for seven receptions for 106 yards and two touchdowns. Washington looks to keep its playoff hopes alive in a matchup with instate rival Washington State (5-6, 2-6 Pac-12) next week.

Oregon State played the Huskies well and kept them close, but three turnovers (two interceptions and a fumble) sunk the Beavers on Saturday.

Oregon State’s final home game of the season was an exciting one for the home fans in rainy Corvallis. While the loss eliminated Oregon State from Pac-12 Championship Game contention, the Beavers could still play spoiler for the Ducks in Eugene on Friday night.

NO. 17 ARIZONA CONTINUES HOT STREAK WITH 42-18 WIN OVER NO. 22 UTAH If Oregon doesn’t make it to Vegas for the Pac-12

Championship Game, it’ll be the Wildcats (8-3, 6-2 Pac-12) that play the Huskies for the crown.

Arizona dominated the Utes (7-4, 4-4 Pac-12) all game long on Saturday, taking advantage of several Utah mistakes to win its fifth-straight game, four of which have come against ranked opponents. The Wildcats could earn their Pac-12 Championship Game bid with a win over Arizona State in Week 13 paired with an Oregon loss.

Utah’s season has hit a slide recently with the Utes now having lost three of their last four games. A blocked punt that turned into an Arizona touchdown coupled with two Utah interceptions made the Utes’ win over a red-hot Wildcats team impossible. Utah doesn’t have much to play for in Week 13, having already clinched bowl eligibility, but looks to extend Colorado’s (4-7, 1-7 Pac-12) losing streak next Saturday.

USC’S WOES CONTINUE IN 38-20 LOSS TO UCLA In one of college football’s most storied rivalries, the Bruins (7-4, 4-4 Pac-12) took their turn exposing a USC (7-5, 5-4 Pac-12) team that has fallen off the face of the earth. UCLA recorded three takeaways to hand the Trojans yet another loss. The Bruins will take on California (5-6, 3-5 Pac-12) next Saturday.

The Trojans started the season as the clear favorite to win the Pac-12 with a decent chance to make the College Football Playoff, especially with Caleb Williams as quarterback. Instead, USC had one of the worst defenses in the country, lost five of its last six games and will have to settle for a mediocre bowl game appearance. The Trojans

don’t have any more regular season games and should instead use Week 13 to try and figure out what in the world happened to a team that was supposed to be great.

WASHINGTON STATE DOMINATES COLORADO IN 56-14 WIN The Cougars snapped their six-game losing streak to earn a thumping victory over the struggling Buffaloes on Friday night. Washington State could still earn bowl eligibility with an unlikely upset-win over Washington next Saturday.

Despite all the offseason and early-season hype, Colorado looks primed to finish last in the conference for the second-straight season.

Quarterback Shedeur Sanders exited the game in the first half with an injury and things didn’t get any better for the Buffs after that. Colorado now has five straight losses and plays Utah in Salt Lake City next Saturday.

CAL EARNS RIVALRY WIN 27-15 OVER STANFORD Cal kept its bowl dreams alive with a win over its biggest rival. The Golden Bears collected 455 total yards of offense on Saturday. They can still make it to a bowl game if they can knock off UCLA on the road next Saturday.

For Stanford (3-8, 2-7 Pac-12), Saturday’s game only mattered for bragging rights in a storied rivalry that dates back to 1892. The Cardinal still lead the series 60-47-10 all-time but have now lost three straight to the Golden Bears. Stanford hosts No. 19 Notre Dame (8-3) in Week 13.

WE D N E S D AY, N O VE M B E R 2 2 , 2 0 2 3

|

E ME R A L D G A ME D AY E D I T I O N

|

PA G E 1 7

PA G E 1 8

|

E ME R A L D G A ME D AY E D I T I O N

|

WE D N E S D AY, N O VE M B E R 2 2 , 2 O 2 3

CROSSWORD

WORD JUMBLE

Across

1 “Sounds cool, man” 6 Antioxidant-rich berry 10 Protrudes 14 Background tunes for a treetrimming party 15 Quarterback’s setback 16 “Just __!”

17 “Get lost!”

19 “You Bet Your Life” host Jay 20 Industrious insect 21 “If I Could Turn Back Time” singer 22 Knight game 23 Hands-on creation?

26 Small parts for big names 29 Lamarr of the silver screen 30 Particle with an orbital system 31 IRS convenience 33 Brownie __ mode 36 What some favors and one part of the answers to 17-, 23-, 46-, and 57-Across come with?

40 L.A.-to-NYC dir.

41 Tiny bits 42 Set the pace 43 Brittney Griner’s org.

44 Little rascals 46 Home of SpongeBob SquarePants 51 Dark wood 52 Portal 53 Itinerary info 56 “Sounds cool!”

57 Actress who completed her EGOT with a Grammy for the audiobook “Finding Me” 60 Story 61 __-Alt-Del 62 Leaves out 63 Actor Sharif 64 “Black-ish” star Tracee Ellis __ 65 Windbreaker fabric

Unscramble these Jumbles, one letter to each square, to form four ordinary words.

WLONF TBETU LFITEL VNCSAA Now arrange the circled letters to form the answer as suggested by the cartoon.

Down

12 Tied up in knots 13 “House of Gucci” director Ridley __ 18 Cries of discovery 22 King Herod’s realm 23 Service plaza rig 24 Tiny bits 25 Linus Van __: “Peanuts” kid 26 12 bottles of wine 27 Env. directive 28 Extra 31 Founded: Abbr.

32 Drone-regulating org.

33 “Excuse me ... ” 34 __ year 35 Stirs in 37 Nincompoop 38 Asian desert 39 Chowder morsel 43 Time for cold feet?

44 Greek portico 45 Le __ Bleu: Julia Child’s alma mater 46 Lunchbox type

47 Steel girder 48 Souvenir toy from Australia, say 49 Landfill emanations 50 Road trip expense 53 Mean business?

54 “Mambo King” Puente 55 Trade gp.

57 Bygone TV attachment 58 Skater Midori 59 “Doctor Who” role for Karen Gillan

SUDOKU

ANSWERS

Jumbles - FLOWN, BUTTE, FILLET, CANVAS CARTOON CAPTION - A TWIST OF FATE

THAT SCRAMBLED WORD GAME By David L. Hoyt & Jeff Knurek

1 Pulitzer-winning architecture critic Saffron 2 Once in a blue __ 3 Lift with effort 4 Ailing 5 Film set at the Bates Motel 6 Made inquiries 7 Tahrir Square city 8 “__ your age!”

9 Actor Barinholtz 10 Bucket of bolts 11 Burn through

©2023 Tribune Content Agency, LLC All Rights Reserved.

WE D N E S D AY, N O VE M B E R 2 2 , 2 0 2 3

|

E ME R A L D G A ME D AY E D I T I O N

|

PA G E 1 9

GAMEDAY

THANKFUL FOR THE RIVALRY SERIES UO students schedule their Thanksgiving break plans around the historic football tradition

BY RUBY WOOL • DESIGNED BY GABRIELA MARTINEZ

A Beavers fan revs their toy chainsaw during the Ducks’ third down. The Oregon Ducks traveled up to Corvallis to face their in-state rival, the Oregon Beavers, on Nov. 26, 2022. (Jonathan Suni/Emerald)

While UO gets out of school on Thursday for Thanksgiving, campus will not be quiet over the holiday weekend. Many students are staying in Eugene to celebrate a different annual holiday: the Rivalry Series. Devoted Duck fans have arranged their plans to accommodate for what might be the final series showdown between the Ducks and the Oregon State Beavers.

the Pac-12 conference.

Evan Tucker, a UO sophomore, will trek back to Eugene from his home in Grants Pass, Ore., to attend the historic match-up — his first rivalry game as a Duck. He hopes his presence, among others, will push head coach Dan Lanning to break his 0-3 losing streak against Oregon’s rivals — Oregon State and the University of Washington.

“Growing up there was something I always heard in school, “Are you a Duck or are you a “I mean, I changed my Thanksgiving break Beaver?” Tucker said. “This rivalry has been plans so I could be here to witness this special ingrained in me since I was young, so game,” UO junior Ana Burt, the vice it is really personal.” president of the UO Pit Crew, said.

Oregon fans, reaching far and wide, “This is too important for me not be wonder if questions like this will in-person cheering on the Ducks.” still be posed given the collapse of Originally from Minneapolis, Burt the Pac-12. However, when Oregon has been a fan of Oregon athletics confirmed its move to the Big Ten and looked forward to this series conference, the university stated in a since she was a kid. Burt attended press release that “[in] coming years, her first rivalry game as a freshman the UO will prioritize the long-held in 2021 — when the Ducks defeated traditions, including competition the Beavers 38-29 at home. across all sports with Oregon State “I will never forget the feeling of University.” Thus, there is some beating the Beavers in Autzen,” Burt hope for the future longevity of this said. “It’s an atmosphere unlike beloved tradition. anything I’ve experienced before.

“I hope that we will play each other No matter if you’re an Oregon fan in a non-conference game in the future. or OSU fan, this game is exciting It is one of the oldest college football for everybody.” rivalries in the country — taking that The communication disorders and away will be very sad,” Ro said. sciences major, who has made her Despite the concern for the closest friends in the student section, future fate of the Rivalry Series, said she expects the student turnout Oregon student fans will have to be impressive, especially among their eyes focused on the field this true Oregonians.

Friday, with stomachs stuffed from Among those in green attire holiday festivities. will be Eugene native Anthony While the rest of the nation is Ro. Approximately 24 hours after A Beavers fan erupts as the game clock reaches zero and their win becomes official. The Oregon Ducks traveled up to Corvallis to face their in-state rival, the Oregon Beavers, on Nov. 26, 2022. (Jonathan Suni/Emerald) busy shopping for Black Friday he sits down to eat, celebrate and sales, Oregon football fans, Ducks and dine with his family and friends, Ro Beavers alike, will be styled shoulder-to-shoulder would miss this match-up. will return to his usual front row seat in Autzen in their respective school colors from the sidelines The beloved tradition holds more than a Stadium’s section seven. to the standing-only section. UO students would century’s-worth of history. The Rivalry Series “My earliest memory as a child is watching be thankful for a win to seal the “final” in-state between current No. 6 Oregon and No. 15 Oregon the 2009 Oregon vs. Oregon State game, where series and lock in Oregon’s chances at a Pac-12 State has been played 126 times. In the coming the Ducks secured their spot in the Rose Bowl,” Championship appearance. days, UO and Oregon State will meet for the 127th he said. “I am ready to make more memories time and play their final game as both members of like this on Friday.”

PA G E 2 0

|

E ME R A L D G A ME D AY E D I T I O N

|

Ro has recently become the face of his hometown university’s student section. He was featured on ESPN College Football’s Instagram account holding up a “BO 4 Heisman” poster from the UO vs. USC game on Nov. 11. He said his friends informed him that the UO camera crew is expected to capture more moments of Ro on the jumbotron this week.

With so much on the line for Oregon — Nix’s Heisman Trophy standings and the Pac-12 Championship — Ro said there was no way he

WE D N E S D AY, N O VE M B E R 2 2 , 2 O 2 3

beer hall whiskey lab 5 food vendors LIVE MUSIC & TRIVIA co-work & meeting space beer hall whiskey lab 5 food vendors LIVE MUSIC & TRIVIA co-work & meeting space

beer BAR COCKTAIL BAR 6 food carts LIVE MUSIC, bingo & TRIVIA beer BAR COCKTAIL BAR 6 food carts MUSIC, & TRIVIA 777 W. 6thLIVE avenue, eugene.bingo beergardenme.com 777 W. 6th avenue, eugene. beergardenme.com

Choose Bell EstateWHEN When CHOOSE BELL Real REAL ESTATE LOOKING FOR CAMPUS HOUSING! Looking for CampuS Housing!

2023

Gifts Made by Hand Here in Oregon, International Cuisine, and Live Performances

Lane Events Center on 13th & Jefferson • Free Admission • Free Parking

The Most Festive Way to Shop for the Holidays!

630 River Rd. Eugene November 18, 19 • 24, 25, 26

541.688.2060 Bell-Realty.com 541.688.2060

December BELL-REALTY.COM 2, 3 • 9, 10 • 16,17 • 22, 23, 24 Hours: 10am -6pm • For full details, Artisan Directory and more visit www.holidaymarket.org CAMPUS HOUSING LISTINGS AVAILABLE STARTING FRIDAY, JANUARY 29TH, 2021. CHECK BACK DAILY FOR UPDATED LISTINGS! WE D N E S D AY, N O VE M B E R 2 2 , 2 0 2 3

|

E ME R A L D G A ME D AY E D I T I O N

|

PA G E 2 1

FIN

DY

OU

RP

UR

PO

SE

...

FIN

O Y D

Y R U

!

JOIN OUR TEAM! APPLY TODAY

“At the Y, we embrace an environment where we help people grow and become better.”

—Y Staff

Be a part of our all-star team opening the new Y this year!

Eugene Family YMCA | 541.686.9622 | eugeneymca.org PA G E 2 2

|

E ME R A L D G A ME D AY E D I T I O N

|

WE D N E S D AY, N O VE M B E R 2 2 , 2 O 2 3

GAMEDAY

STEVE STEPHENS IV: A NATURAL LEADER How a journalism major has become another coach and inspiration to his team

BY BRADY RUTH • DESIGNED BY RYAN EHRHART Steve Stephens IV isn’t one of the bigger names on Oregon’s football roster. He’s not a guy who’s been collecting highlights week after week. He’s not a guy with much NFL chatter surrounding him. What he is, though, is a senior leader and coach for the Ducks’ young defense. And he’s found a way to show up in big moments.

Take Oregon’s 63-19 win over California for example. In a sloppy and chaotic first quarter, Oregon turned the ball over on its first offensive play of the game. A big moment for the Golden Bears to gain some earlygame momentum was silenced by a Stephens interception.

“I hadn’t been a part of a game that started off that crazy,” Stephens said the following week. “It was a great opportunity. They were in the red area and I got a pick, a turnover on downs, [the offense] went down and scored. It was just a great feeling to help my team win.”

Stephens has been a program guy — one of the few players, it feels like, that isn’t a transfer to UO. Stephens has been a Duck since 2018. He’s watched his program and team win and lose and grow. A growth, he comments, he strives for himself.

“I feel like I was one of those guys that had to come in and develop, learn, build on my habits, understand how to go about my business and things like that,” he said prior to the USC game. “Finally, I just feel like I’m at that point where I’m playing at an elite level and I’m trying to build on my standard and it’s just been exactly that.”

Stephens has been a role player for the defense this season, and a role model for some of the younger players. He’s donned the nickname “Coach Steve” and takes immense pride in making his teammates better.

“On the field, I can see a correction that needs to be made long before we actually watch it on film,” Stephens said. “I just feel like they noticed that because I’m always talking. I’m always communicating with the young guys and the guys in my room and they feel that so they call me coach Steve.”

It stems from Stephens’ lengthy history with the program. He’s learned all the ins and outs that Oregon head coach Dan Lanning

expects, and does what he can to make sure it’s reflected in practice and in games.

“I have a unique ability where I am able to communicate really well,” Stephens said. “I’m able to take things from the meeting room to the field extremely well and I spread that to my teammates. I stand on the sidelines and whether it be the [second or third string guys practicing], I’m watching those guys take reps and I’m making sure that they’re doing whatever they have to do to succeed and making sure they’re upholding the standard [by] running the plays properly.”

Stephens has been one of the best spoken athletes that’s made regular appearances at media scrums and press conferences.

One reason for it could be that he’s playing in his senior season and has been well-trained in conversing with the media.

Another could be that he’s studied media himself.

“I feel like [I’m a great communicator] in all walks [of life],” Stephens said. “I got my degree in journalism with a focus in advertising and we do a lot of group work and having to collaborate with different individuals and different groups means having to speak a lot.

So, I feel like it’s just something that I’m able to do all throughout my life and in different aspects of my life.”

Stephens is a versatile player for the Ducks, especially with the work he puts in off the field. However, he’s also a major piece of Oregon’s defense on the field. This season, he’s averaging just over 3.6 tackles per game and he’s forced a fumble and reeled in an interception.

For a defense that entered the year needing to define its identity, Stephens has played a major role in getting it where it needs to be: an “elite level” that he says needs to continue to be the standard.

There’s little doubt, with his communication and charisma, Stephens is a people person with a future in helping others, no matter where his path takes him.

Steve Stephens IV (7) discusses with his defense before the Sun Devils start their series. The Oregon Ducks defeated the Arizona State Sun Devils 4913 on Nov. 18, 2023. (Jonathan Suni/Emerald) WE D N E S D AY, N O VE M B E R 2 2 , 2 0 2 3

|

E ME R A L D G A ME D AY E D I T I O N

|

PA G E 2 3

A debit card for Duck fans

Or visit MyOCCU.org/GameDayDuck

PA G E 2 4

|

E ME R A L D G A ME D AY E D I T I O N

|

WE D N E S D AY, N O VE M B E R 2 2 , 2 O 2 3