Oregon vs. Oregon St. 12-3-09

— t h e 1 1 3 th c i v i l w a r —

Game Day thursday, december 3,2009

Oregon Daily emerald

University of oregon

photo i llu str ation by Jac k H u nte r | ph otog r a ph er

Noisy Memories

Game Preview

uo, osu notes

Seniors play their last home

For the first time in history,

Ducks look to take advantage

game at Autzen Stadium, look

whoever wins the Civil War

of the porous Beavers’ second-

forward to running out of the

will to go to the Rose Bowl;

ary; OSU tries to control the

tunnel one last time

Ducks excited for challenge

ball with running game

PAGE 11C

PAGE 2C

PAGE 3C & 4C

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Q: Which player will have the biggest game in the Civil War? Vote online at dailyemerald.com/sports. See what readers said in Friday’s paper.

2c Oregon Daily Emerald Thursday, December 3, 2009

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Oregon coach Chip Kelly will get his first taste of the Civil War as a head coach tonight when the No. 13 Oregon State Beavers come into Autzen Stadium for the 113th game of the rivalry.

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No ifs, ands or buts: Civil War winner gets Roses Oregon looks to deny Oregon State a Rose Bowl bid, Pac-10 championship for the second straight year B en Schor zman Sports Editor

One hundred and twelve times the University has played a football game against the Oregon State Beavers. In those games the Ducks are 56-46-10 against their rivals from Corvallis.

But never has the Pacific-10 Championship and Rose Bowl been promised to the winner.

“It being the last game makes it that much more special,” senior place kicker Morgan Flint said. “And it being the Civil War, it’s always a big game whether it means everything or nothing.

Lucky for us it means everything and hopefully we’ll go out there

Your

and come out on top.”

For the first time since 2001 a team from Oregon will be the Pacific-10 Conference Champion. The stage is set for an epic collision under the Autzen lights tonight with state and conference bragging rights on the line.

“It will be crazy because it’s the Civil War, but what makes it more so is what’s at stake,” junior linebacker Casey Matthews said.

The Oregon players aren’t dumb, they know what winning would mean to Duck fans. But it’s been their goal since beating Arizona in double overtime Tu r n to preview | Pag e 5c

Game day forecast

40 degrees.

Clear. 0% chance of rain

At a glance Who: No. 13 Oregon State at No. 7 Oregon What: The 113th Civil War When: 6 p.m., ESPN Where: Autzen Stadium The Pacific-10 Conference Rose Bowl berth, the Pac10 Championship and the Platypus Trophy will all be awarded to the winner of the Civil War on Thursday night at Autzen Stadium.

Oregon (9-2, 7-1) looks to play in its first Rose Bowl since 1995, while the Beavers (8-3, 6-2) will try to make it to the Rose Bowl for the first time since 1965.

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Thursday, December 3, 2009 Oregon Daily Emerald 3c

Daily Lunch & Dinner

oregon notes

SPECIALS

Ground game is strength vs. strength Ducks best in conference rushing; Beavers best at stopping it

SPORTS

“There’s really a lot on the line. You’ve got to treat it like any other, but it’s really not like any other game.”

LUC A S CLARK SPORTS REPORTER

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Senior tight end Ed Dickson will play in his last game at Autzen Stadium tonight against the Oregon State Beavers.

carrying the load for the Ducks all season long as he’s tallied 1,310 yards on 190 carries and reached the end zone 11 times.

Junior quarterback Jeremiah Masoli, who has tallied 26 touchdowns during his 10 games in 2009, had a field day

KARAOKE SATURDAYS

against the Oregon State secondary last season completed 11-of-17 passes for 274 yards and three TDs. Wide receiver Jeff Maehl and tight end Ed Dickson each contributed more than 70 yards receiving and a score in 2008 and have continued with that pace so far this year.

Maehl leads the Ducks with 46 receptions for 548 yards and five touchdowns, while Dickson has pulled down 42 receptions for 551 yards and six scores. As a whole, the OSU defense allows more than 242 yards per game through the air, which will be an interesting matchup with the conference’s ninth-ranked passing offense that accounts for just 187.5 yards per game.

“You can’t not get excited when you’re playing in this atmosphere,” Kelly said.

But with the biggest game in the 113-year Civil War history coming to Autzen Stadium, there’s no denying that the Oregon faithful will play a key role as the 12th man.

“Oh my goodness, we have the greatest fans, I’ll put it like that,” senior Andre Crenshaw said. “We have the best fans you could ask for. They’re always going to be on our side and they’re always going to be there for us.”

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Oregon head football coach Chip Kelly has preached all year long to his team that they are going to take things on a day-to-day basis and not get overexcited or look too far into the future, but with the final regular season game falling on a Thursday night against the in-state rival Oregon State Beavers, the future is undeniably here.

And while Kelly and the Ducks continue to say that the annual Civil War matchup is just another game, it’s hard to believe given the gravity of the circumstances that they are approaching the contest lightly.

“There’s really a lot on the line,” said redshirt running back LaMichael James.

“It’s the Pac-10 championship, it’s a chance to go to the Rose Bowl. You’ve got to treat it like any other game, but it’s really not like any other game.”

James will be a determining factor in the No. 7 Ducks’ rushing attack against the Pacific-10 Conference’s strongest run defense that allows just over 98 yards on the ground per game. Last year when Oregon traveled to Corvallis, then-senior Jeremiah Johnson rushed for 219 yards and a touchdown, while LeGarrette Blount tacked on an additional 112 yards and another score.

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oregon state notes

Slow start doesn’t stop Rose Bowl run Beavers rely on balanced offense, tough run defense LUC A S CLARK SPORTS REPORTER

Four weeks into the season things weren’t looking good for ninth-year head coach Mike Riley’s Oregon State football team as it sat 2-2 overall and 0-1 in Pacific-10 Conference play. But now more than two months later, Riley and the Beavers will be taking on the Oregon Ducks for a trip to the Rose Bowl — again.

This year, the No. 13 Beavers enter the game with one of the most talented and balanced offensive attacks in the Pac-10 Conference, which will rely on a heavy dose of sophomore running back Jacquizz Rodgers.

The 5-foot-7, 191-pound Rodgers has followed up his freshman campaign as the Pac10’s second-leading rusher with 1,313 yards and 19 touchdowns on 239 carries through 11 games. His four-touchdown performance against Stanford in early October reminded the nation that he wasn’t just a one-year-wonder. And after being named the Pac-10 Offensive Player of the Year last season, Rodgers has helped OSU to an 8-3 overall record as

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COMMENTARY

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j e f f r e y b a s i n g e r | th e dai ly barom e ter

The Oregon State offense runs through sophomore running back Jacquizz Rodgers, seen here against the Washington Huskies. Rodgers has 1,313 yards rushing this year and 19 touchdowns through 11 games.

the Beavers sit in second place in the conference standings.

“They’ve got a great running game,” Oregon junior linebacker Casey Matthews said.

“They can even hand the ball off to James Rodgers and that’s tough to stop, too.”

Jacquizz Rodgers was sidelined with a shoulder injury in last year’s Civil War and has yet face the speedy Oregon defense.

James Rodgers, Jacquizz Rodgers’ older brother, was held in check for the most part in last year’s Civil War, rushing seven times for 56 yards.

This season James Rodgers has played an intricate role for OSU in the return game and has been a force to be reckoned with offensively, as he leads the Pac-10 with 77 receptions (seven per game) for 865 yards and eight touchdowns, while also carrying the ball 49 times for 260 yards and another score.

But the Beavers main facilitator, senior quarterback Sean Canfield, has been a rock all season long for OSU, completing over 70 percent of his passes and averaging more than 254 yards per game through the air. His mark of 19 touchdowns through the

air is tops in the conference for quarterbacks.

“He’s actually turned into one of the better quarterbacks in the Pac-10 this year,” Matthews said of Canfield. “He’s had a great senior season and he can throw a deep ball. He’s pretty efficient.”

And while the Beaver offense is putting up an average of 32.4 points per game, their defense has continued to shine — a typical Mike Riley team.

The Beavers have allowed 98.5 yards per game on the ground, but have had some trouble defending the pass as they’ve given up more than 242 yards per game through the air.

“They’re good tacklers,” Oregon senior running back Andre Crenshaw said. “And they play well in space and they all get to the ball.”

Senior linebacker Keaton Kristick has been a force up the middle all season long for OSU and he ranks sixth in the Pac-10 with 80 tackles (7.3 per game) on the year. Defensive coordinator Mark Banker has gotten plenty of help from the Beavers sophomore class as well, with linebacker David Pa’aluhi III and safety Cameron Collins following closely

“They’ve got a great running game. They can even hand the ball off to James Rodgers and that’s tough to stop, too.”

Case y Matthews Li n e bac ke r

behind with 64 and 60 tackles, respectively. Safety Lance Mitchell, also a sophomore, is tied for fifth in the Pac-10 with three interceptions on the year.

“Those guys, they really fly around to the ball,” Oregon’s LaMichael James said.

“They’re really aggressive and they don’t miss too many tackles. They’re just a really great defense.”

Oregon State featured a similarly strong defense in 2008, but it proved to be no match for Oregon’s zone-read option in last year’s Civil War. With another shot at the Roses, and the bitter taste left in OSU’s mouth after the 65-38 stomping at home last year, Riley and his team will have one thing on their minds — redemption. lc l ark@dai lye rm e a ld.co m

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Thursday, December 3, 2009 Oregon Daily Emerald 5c

junior Spencer Paysinger said. “(The fact) that we have this opportunity to play our rivals in the Civil War for the Rose Bowl.”

Senior cornerback Walter Thurmond III, who has been sidelined with a seasonending knee injury since the Ducks 42-3 win over then-No. 6 California, reiterated that same message with no lack of confidence whatsoever.

“I’m completely confident in the guys,” Thurmond said.

“We’ve been playing great all year and it’s another game and guys are excited for the Civil War and I think it means a lot to everybody.”

From Pag e 2c

to hush the talk and focus on the present. They don’t want to think about the other 112 games these two teams have played, or even the 65-38 win Oregon had last year. This is 2009 and for them, Oregon State is just one more team on the schedule.

“We try to tell (everyone) that it’s just another game,” senior running back Andre Crenshaw. “We have to go out practice hard and do what we know how to do.”

“We’ve got great leadership,” head coach Chip Kelly said.

“Our older guys, the Ed Dickson’s, Spencer Paysinger, the T.J. Ward’s, the Will Tukuafu’s, these guys have been pretty poised throughout the whole season. So I’m not worried about them getting too excited and playing the game in their minds before we play the game on Thursday.”

But for the freshmen and players not familiar with the Civil War, senior cornerback Walter Thurmond III says they

won’t be able to actually know what it’s like until they run out of the tunnel.

I don’t think any of the freshmen are aware yet,” Thurmond said. “They’re just treating it like another game and it won’t be until they get out there in the game that they’ll know about the rivalry.”

It’s unthinkable for many fans of football in the state of Oregon that either the Beavers or Ducks will be representing the Pac-10 in Pasadena on Jan. 1, but after eight conference games, that’s where things are.

Both teams have gotten to this point by two very different routes. Oregon lost almost a month ago to Stanford on Nov. 7 and had to save its slim lead in conference on Nov. 21 against Arizona. Meanwhile, the Beavers were 2-2 after their loss to Arizona on Sept. 26 and floundering. Then they reeled off six wins in their last seven games and Oregon State hasn’t lost since Oct. 24 at USC.

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Now the Oregon State offense, led by running back Jacquizz Rodgers and quarterback Sean Canfield will try and do what the Ducks did to them last year: stop Oregon from going to the Rose Bowl. But the Oregon defense will do everything in its power to keep the dangerous Rodgers brothers off the field and in control.

“Our offense has been good this year in Pac-10 and as a defense we know we need to get the ball to them because they’re a pretty powerful force,” Matthews said.

It is also Senior Night for Oregon, so the added emotions of seniors saying farewell to the Autzen crowd will heighten the mood.

“I really couldn’t tell you until I’m out there (what I will feel),” senior tight end Ed Dickson said. “Basically, to put it on the line, I’m a senior and it’s my last time playing in Autzen Stadium in front of Duck fans.

I might get emotional but it will drive me to compete that much harder.”

The underclassmen know

how important it means to play well as well.

“You’ve just got to respect the seniors, you’ve got to know how they’re feeling,” junior linebacker Spencer Paysinger said.

“It’s their last game; you know they want to go out on top with a win. So its pretty much securing anything and everything for this win.”

Oregon’s entire season comes down to this game. Kelly’s favorite saying of the next game is the biggest game is finally as true as it can be and not only will the entire state of Oregon be watching tonight, but most of the country too.

And a little bit of friendly smack talk from Thurmond summed up what a lot of Duck fans are hoping for.

“I can’t even tell you until game time when I walk out there with my family (what I’m going to be feeling),” he said. “I’m just looking forward to that game and watching the guys putting a smacking on the Beavers.” b sc hor zman @dai lye m e r ald.co m

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a 6-0 record at home this season and have yet to score less than 30 points in each of those wins.

And over the past five outings Oregon is averaging 44 points per game with big days against two of the conferences toughest defensive units — USC and ASU. In those two games seven different Oregon players — James, Masoli, Crenshaw, Maehl, Dickson, Kenjon Barner and Jamere Holland — were able to find the end zone at least once.

But come Thursday night, both teams will have to take a step back and appreciate the fact that they are going to be in the Civil War history books for a long time to come.

“I’d say it’s just overall amazing,”

preview

Junior quarterback Jeremiah Masoli in the pocket against the Washington Huskies on Oct. 24.

From Pag e 3c

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6c Oregon Daily Emerald Thursday, December 3, 2009

BY THE NUMBERS

9

147.47

56-46-10

National rank in rushing for Oregon State RB Jacquizz Rodgers, who averages 119.36 yards per game on the ground

Oregon’s overall record in the Civil War against Oregon State, dating back to 1894

8

Passing efficiency rating of Oregon State QB Sean Canfield.

The senior’s mark leads the Pac-10 and ranks 18th nationally.

65.66

Giveaways by the Beavers this season, the second-best mark in the nation. The Ducks have forced 24 turnovers this season.

10 12/1/07 National rank in rushing for Oregon RB LaMichael James, who averages 119.09 yards per game on the ground

98.5

Percentage of offensive plays conducted by Oregon State involving either Jacquizz or James Rodgers. James is the Beavers’ top receiver and second-leading runner; his brother is the Beavers’ top rusher and second-leading receiver.

The date of the last game in which Oregon was defeated in Autzen Stadium by a Pacific-10 Conference opponent – also, not coincidentally, the date of the 2007 Civil War

74.1

Success rate of opposing offenses against the Ducks’ defense within the red zone (20-yard line and in), the best mark in the Pac-10

Rushing yards allowed per game by the Oregon State defense, the 13th-best mark in the nation

2009 Oregon Statistical leaders

-4

Receiving yards, on two catches, for Duck WR Garrett Embry, who has played in all 11 games

2009 OSU Statistical leaders

Rushing

ATT

gain

loss

AVG

TD

Rushing

ATT

gain

loss

AVG

TD

L. James

190

1343

33

6.9

11

Jac. Rodgers

239

1355

42

5.5

19

J. Masoli

105

745

126

5.9

12

Jam. Rodgers

49

297

37

5.3

1

passing

ATT

Pct

YDS

TD

YPG

passing

ATT

Pct

YDS

TD

YPG

J. Masoli

264

58.3

1865

14

186.5

S. Canfield

370

70.3

2797

19

254.3

receiving NO.

YDS.

AVG.

TD

LONG

receiving NO.

YDS.

AVG.

TD

LONG

J. Maehl

46

548

11.9

5

58

Jam. Rodgers

77

865

11.2

8

87

E. Dickson

42

551

13.1

6

36

Jac. Rodgers

67

436

6.5

1

35

D.J. Davis

20

215

10.8

2

23

D. Adeniji

47

672

14.3

4

41

Defensive

Solo

AST

Total

TFL/YDS sacks

Defensive

Solo

AST

Total

TFL/YDS sacks

J. Lewis

50

22

72

4.5-20

2-12

K. Kristick

39

41

80

7-18

1-6

J. Boyett

43

24

67

1-3

-

D. Pa’aluhi

26

38

64

6-12

0.5-1

S. Paysinger

36

30

66

6.5-13

1-2

C. Collins

33

27

60

1.5-3

-

C. Matthews

34

32

66

4-25

2.5-22

L. Mitchell

33

26

59

0.5-2

-

T.J. Ward

36

17

53

2.5-4

-

T. Clark

32

13

45

-

-

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Thursday, December 3, 2009 Oregon Daily Emerald 7c

2009 uo schedule

2009 osu schedule

september

september

3 12 19 26

5 12 19 26

at Boise State (L, 19-8) vs. Purdue (W, 38-36) vs. Utah (W, 31-24) vs. California (W, 42-3)

October

October

3 10 24 31

3 10 24 31

vs. Washington State (W, 52-6) at UCLA (W, 24-10) at Washington (W, 43-19) vs. USC (W, 47-20)

at Arizona State, (W, 28-17) vs. Stanford (W, 38-28) at USC (L, 42-36) vs. UCLA (W, 26-19)

November

November

7 14 21

7 14 21

at Stanford (L, 51-42) vs. Arizona State (W, 44-21) at Arizona (W, 44-41)

December

3

3

Students on Campus: Video: what type of reception can oregon state fans expect at autzen stadium? check out this video and more online at dailyemerald.com

at California (W, 31-14) vs. Washington (W, 48-21) at Washington State (W, 42-10)

December vs. Oregon State, 6 p.m.

.com

vs. Portland State (W, 34-7) at UNLV (W, 23-21) vs. Cincinnati (L, 18-28) vs. Arizona (L, 37-32)

at Oregon, 6 p.m.

stephen Paea (54) Defensive tackle

jordan holmes (54) center

PLAYERS TO WATCH

The best rushing offense in the Pacific-10 Conference is up against the best rushing defense in a winner-take-all scenario — meaning Oregon cannot slack in the running game. Offensive line coach Steve Greatwood has no doubt stressed the point of attack this week, and Paea is perfectly equipped to disrupt the Ducks in that

area. Paea has 5.5 tackles for loss and three sacks on the season, and should command double teams from the Oregon interior line.

Holmes, the unofficial captain of the offensive line, will see to it that all gaps are opened and maintained against the Beavers’ improving defensive line.

starting lineups oregon state

oregon

Offense

Special Teams

defense

Offense

Special Teams

Defense

WR: Damola Adeniji

PK: Justin Kahut

DE: Gabe Miller

WR: D.J. Davis

PK: Morgan Flint

DE: Will Tukuafu

LT: Michael Philipp

KO: Justin Kahut

DT: Brennan Olander

LT: Bo Thran

KO: Rob Beard

DT: Brandon Bair

LG: Grant Johnson

P: Johnny Hekker

DT: Stephen Paea

LG: Carson York

P: Jackson Rice

DT: Blake Ferras

C: Alex Linnenkohl

KR: James Rodgers

DE: Matt LaGrone

C: Jordan Holmes

KR: Kenjon Barner

DE: Kenny Rowe

RG: Gregg Peat

PR: James Rodgers

SLB: Keaton Kristick

RG: Mark Asper

PR: Kenjon Barner

SLB: Eddie Pleasant

RT: Mike Remmers

LS: Marcus Perry

MLB: David Pa’aluhi

RT: C.E. Kaiser

LS: Michael Clay

MLB: Casey Matthews

TE: Brady Camp

HLD: Taylor Kavanaugh

WLB: Dwight Roberson

TE: Ed Dickson

HLD: Nate Costa

WLB: Spencer Paysinger

LCB: James Dockery

WR: Jeff Maehl

LCB: Cliff Harris

WR: James Rodgers

FS: Cameron Collins

WR: Lavasier Tuinei

FS: T.J. Ward

QB: Sean Canfield

SS: Lance Mitchell

QB: Jeremiah Masoli

ROV: Javes Lewis

RB: Jacquizz Rodgers

RCB: Tim Clark

RB: LaMichael James

RCB: Talmadge Jackson III

WR: Casey Kjos

h o l m e s p h oto by l e s l i e m o n tg o m e ry | d e s i g n e r pa e a p h oto by j e f f r e y b a s i n g e r | t h e da i ly b a r o m e t e r

8c Oregon Daily Emerald Thursday, December 3, 2009

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CATCHING UP WITH » simi toeaina

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The Oregon Daily Emerald caught up with senior defensive lineman Simi Toeaina after practice this week to discuss everything from his relationship with his cousin Jeremiah Masoli to his home in American Samoa. Here’s what he had to say:

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Defensive lineman Simi Toeaina has been a mainstay on the line the past few years. Tonight marks his last game at Autzen Stadium.

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ST: Yeah I like movies. My favorites are Gladiator and 300.

ODE: Now I understand you’ve done some relief work back in Samoa. Tell me a little bit about that.

ST: Yeah. The team organized a food drive for some of the villages back in American Samoa after the tsunami hit. We have quite a few guys on the team that have family there. (The fundraiser raised nearly 18 tons of food, water, and medical supplies for those in need.)

ODE: So now after five years this will finally be your last run out of the Autzen tunnel. What’s that going to be like for you?

ST: It’ll be emotional. But it’s going to have to last for just that moment, because once it’s game time you’ve got to stay focused.

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Oregon Daily Emerald: Tell me a little bit about being cousins with Jeremiah Masoli.

Simi Toeaina: It’s great. We’re together before practice, during and after, so it’s really good.

ODE: Do you live with him or any other guys on the team?

ST: No, I live on my own. But friends are always coming around my spot so it’s not too bad.

ODE: What do you do as far as cooking goes?

ST: A lot of rice. Got to have fresh rice every day.

ODE: So what do you like to do outside of football?

ST: Just hang out mostly.

ODE: All right, well, what about music? What kind of music are you listening to these days?

ST: I listen to a lot of reggae.

Obviously Bob Marley and a few others.

ODE: What about movies?

Part of my job at the Emerald is filling out our “By the Numbers” section for Game Day. I usually approach the numbers by highlighting what I feel are important statistical matchups between teams, along with strengths and weaknesses of each team that I find notable.

The rest of the numbers consist of whatever I find remotely interesting. (Chip Kelly: Please, find it in your heart to get Garrett Embry a five-yard reception today. Please!)

The number I’m focusing on this week is the number I’m saving for this column: 10.

Simply put, that’s the number of wins Oregon will have if it can defeat Oregon State today.

Remember the last time Oregon had a 10-win season? You should, because it was last year.

The Ducks’ 42-31 victory in the Holiday Bowl cemented Oregon’s record at 10-3, a true high note for then-head coach Mike Bellotti to go out on.

Bellotti, now the school’s athletic director, knew the importance of 10-win or better seasons. In his 14-year coaching career (1995-2008), Bellotti had four of them ­— 2000, 2001, 2005 and 2008. Those four also

happen to be the only four 10win or better seasons in school history, which dates back to 1894.

Oregon has also had one 11-win season in 2001, while the rest were exactly 10 wins.

The Ducks’ only loss that year was also their only Pacific-10 Conference loss — to Stanford, 49-42. Most Still on longtime OrHis feet egon fans still get squeamish over that game.

That season was punctuated with a national championship snub and a dramatic exclamation point, as the Ducks overwhelmed Colorado, 38-16 in the Fiesta Bowl (The Ducks would have gone to the Rose Bowl if it wasn’t the national title game).

The lasting highlight from that game is Maurice Morris’ touchdown run in which he rolled over a Colorado linebacker and ran past a group of Buffaloes defenders who thought he had touched down. Just when you thought Morris’ excellent run was over, he popped back up and surprised you with even more.

Not unlike this year’s Oregon football team. Did anyone really — really? — think of what this year’s Civil War could mean for the program, or for the state of Oregon? On the other hand, did anyone really believe that the Ducks could win 10 games before postseason play even factored in?

Before the 12-game schedule was fully established, the 10-win season was considered a rarity in college football, a mark of an elite team. After all, teams have recently made Bowl Championship Series bowl games through conference championship games, even if the conference record is less than stellar.

Further diluting the power of 10 wins is the exclusion of undefeated teams from the national championship picture, which figures to happen again this year.

Even where the Ducks stand now is fairly hallowed ground.

Before Bellotti took over for Rich Brooks in 1995, the program had accomplished only four nine-win seasons (one of them took place in, yes, 1994, Brooks’ only nine-win season). Only twice have the Ducks ever gone undefeated — 1916 when they went 7-0-1,

including a 14-0 win over Penn to seal up the program’s last Rose Bowl victory, and 1895 when they went 4-0, including two wins over Willamette. Duck fans were surely proud of head coach Percy Benson’s boys and their 48-2 win over Oregon Agricultural College that year. Any guesses as to what OAC calls itself now?

Oregon has won 28 games in its last three seasons. It took legendary former head coach, athletic director, and founding father of Duck athletics Len Casanova six and a half seasons to amass that win total. Put in the right perspective, this program’s success has been downright unfathomable, even when you consider the resources Oregon has enjoyed in recent years.

Jamie Slade, Brian McAndrew and Michael Bishop, of Supwitchugirl, recently verbalized what so many Duck fans wanted themselves: They smell roses, and they want to enjoy them. Personally, I’d be content with the sweetly simple smell of the Ducks’ 10th win, filtered through a rarefied air.

And besides, it would mean a victory over the Beavers. How could I go wrong with that?

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The big game of the week is the 113th Civil War between No. 13 Oregon State and No. 7 Oregon. The winner will be the Pac-10 Champion and the conference’s Rose Bowl representative on Jan. 1 in Pasadena, Calif.

USC, Arizona battle for bowl positioning Saturday Patrick Male e Sports R eporter

Arizona at No. 20 USC (12:30 p.m. Saturday) ABC The Wildcats enter this matchup a week removed from an exciting 20-17 win over Arizona State. Though Arizona appeared to be in command with an early 14-0 lead at halftime, the Sun Devils were not ready to quit. In what would be their last home game, seniors Danny Sullivan connected with Kyle Williams for a 44-yard touchdown pass in the fourth quarter to cut the lead to 14-10. After an Arizona field goal with 7:50 left, Williams and Sullivan connected again to tie the game at 17. After a three-and-out by the Wildcats, it looked as if Arizona State would get the ball back with about a minute left. However, Williams fumbled the punt and the Wildcats took over at the Sun Devil 22. Sophomore kicker Alex Zendejas then kicked a 32yard field goal as time expired to give the Wildcats their seventh win. Sophomore quarterback Nick Foles finished with 148

yards and no touchdowns, while sophomore running back Keola Antolin ran for 78 yards and a touchdown on just seven carries.

The Trojans, meanwhile, regained a bit of their swagger with a 28-7 win over UCLA last week.

The Bruins struggled to find a rhythm on offense, and didn’t score until the fourth quarter.

On the Trojans’ side, senior running back Allen Bradford ran for two touchdowns and freshman quarterback Matt Barkley went 18 for 26 with a touchdown and interception. The touchdown came on a controversial 48-yard pass to senior wide receiver Damian Williams with just 44 seconds left.

Key stat: Arizona has lost seven straight matchups against the Trojans.

No. 19 California at Washington (3:30 p.m.)

The Golden Bears should come into this game feeling refreshed after a bye week. They are also coming off of two straight wins over ranked teams (Arizona and Stanford). Junior running back Jahvid Best will

not be returning to the field after suffering a concussion three weeks ago but his replacement should do just fine. Sophomore running back Shane Vereen has been on fire since replacing Best. Two weeks ago against Stanford, he ran for 193 yards (a career-high) and three touchdowns. Junior quarterback Kevin Riley added 235 yards thorough the air, and the Golden Bears went on to win 34-28. Washington is also looking to end their season on a high note. The Huskies finally ended a four game losing streak with a 30-0 win over the reeling Washington State Cougars. Jake Locker threw for a touchdown and also ran for 94 yards and a score. Freshman running back Chris Polk continued to impress with 130 yards and a touchdown, while sophomore wide receiver Jermaine Kearse had 94 yards and a touchdown on just four catches. The defense also stepped up, allowing Washington State to gain just 163 total yards and forcing two turnovers.

Key stat: Last year, the Golden Bears racked up 431 rushing yards against Washington.

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media and the headlines would read “Ducks upset,” instead of “Beavers win.” To fall at home, where they’ve been stellar all season long, would lead to questioning if the season was a success: a string of dominating performances sandwiched between two devastating losses.

On the brighter side, they would still finish as the No. 2 seed for a bowl. A loss to the Ducks would be heart breaking for the darkhorse Beavers for two reasons: one, it would mean their rivals from the south had knocked them out of a possible Rose Bowl two years in a row and it would send them to a drastically worse Bowl — possibly the MAACO Las Vegas Bowl. However, as the home team and the favorite, the Ducks are the ones who have everything to lose.

LC: There’s no doubt that a loss for either team would be devastating with so much at

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stake, but junior quarterback Jeremiah Masoli has found a way to make the big plays all year long when the Ducks have needed them the most. His numbers may not jump off the page, but Masoli leads one of the most powerful offensive attacks in the country that puts up more than 37 points per outing. Having thrown only four interceptions on the year proves that he can be trusted late in the game, despite being deemed “careless” by some. And his six-touchdown performance last week again showed that he is one of the premier playmakers in the Pac-10 Conference.

JS: There will be a solid quarterback on the other sideline, as well — something that the Ducks have not been used to while playing in Autzen. While their 6-0 record may look impressive on paper, the best

at our

WEAR YOUR SPIRIT ON YOUR SLEEVE.

Lucas Clark: For the No. 7 Oregon Ducks and the No. 13 Oregon State Beavers, Thursday night will either be a storybook ending or a demoralizing defeat.

The Ducks entered the season with national title aspirations but after their slip up at Boise State on Sept. 3 and again at Stanford on Nov. 7, Chip Kelly’s squad has one goal at this point in the season: to win the Pacific-10 Conference title and make the trip to Pasadena, Calif., to play in the Rose Bowl. The implications are obviously larger than life, but Oregon is 6-0 in Autzen Stadium this season and has a lot of momentum coming off the dramatic double-overtime win over Arizona two weeks ago.

Jesse Severson: The pressure for this all-important Civil War seems to weigh heavier on the Ducks’ feathered shoulders.

They come in as the favorite when it comes to the national

Thursday, December 3, 2009 Oregon Daily Emerald 11c

Autzen memories: Fly seniors say goodbye Ward, Tukuafu, Dickson, others looking forward to an emotional final game at home BEN SCHORZMAN SPORTS EDITOR

The largest crowd in Autzen Stadium history was 59,592 for the USC game this year on Halloween. The largest crowd in Beaver Stadium history (the home of Penn State and the largest football stadium in America) was 110,753 for a Penn State win over Nebraska in 2002. The Big House in Michigan squeezed 112,118 people into the stadium to watch Michigan beat Ohio State on Nov. 22, 2003. It was the largest crowd in NCAA football history.

Despite these humongous crowd sizes, Autzen has been heralded as the loudest, most hostile setting to watch a football game. The crowd noise reached 127.2 decibels against USC in 2007 — comparable to a jumbo jet taking off — and opponents regularly talk about how the crowd affected their play.

But if you’re a Duck, there is no better place to play. There are 15 seniors who are saying goodbye to Autzen on Thursday and of all the memories they have from their years in Oregon, the home field is the one that dominates the landscape.

“It’s really hard to describe the atmosphere of playing in front of all those fans,” senior cornerback and captain Walter Thurmond III said. “I’m going to miss it a lot. If I had to go out in front of any crowd, I’m glad I had to do it in front of Autzen.”

Unfortunately, Thurmond won’t be able to run out of the tunnel because of a knee injury that has held him out since Sept.

26, but the West Covina, Calif. native has been a part of some great memories in Autzen. He started against Oklahoma in 2006 when the Ducks upset the Sooners on a blocked field goal.

He was there in 2007 when Oregon beat both USC and Arizona State in front of two of the largest crowds in stadium history. But what Thurmond will remember most is the inescapable noise raining down on the field and invading every nook and cranny of his body.

“It’s unbelievable,” he said.

easy...

j ac k h u n t e r | P h oto g r a p h e r

Oregon players run out of the tunnel at Autzen Stadium against the USC Trojans on Oct. 31. The run out of the tunnel is a favorite memory of Oregon seniors, and they’ll make the entrance for the last time tonight against the Beavers.

“You just hear a humming sound going through your helmet when the crowd gets into it.”

“It’s deafening,” senior T.J. Ward said. “You can’t hear anything else.”

Another Duck captain and senior, defensive end Will Tukuafu, said his first game against Houston in 2007 is something he will never forget. He was mesmerized by the crowd when he first ran out of the tunnel.

“I could hear the rumbling in the tunnel and I didn’t understand the magnitude until I stepped out,” Tukuafu said.

“You feel the noise, it’s not just something you hear. It’s amazing. I’m standing next to my Dtackle and you can’t talk to him.

You can’t hear him and he can’t hear you. Everything is a hand signal and you put your head down and get ready to go.”

For senior running back Andre Crenshaw the spectacle inside Autzen caught him off guard in 2006 when he ran out of the tunnel for his first contest as a Duck against Stanford. He

remembers being shocked that such a small place could manage so much noise.

“We did pre-game, and I was like, ‘OK, this is cool.’ I didn’t think it was going to be as crowded or as loud as it was,” the Lancaster, Calif. native said.

“But when we went back into the locker room and came back out of the tunnel, I did a whole 360 to look at the whole stadium. I was like, ‘This is crazy.’ There’s no other feeling like it.”

Senior place kicker Morgan Flint grew up a Duck fan and he was at the memorable Washington-Oregon game in 1994 when Kenny Wheaton had “The Pick.”

He’s lived his childhood fantasy of playing for the Oregon Ducks, and now as a senior he has to say farewell.

“It was pretty amazing,” Flint says of his first time out of the Autzen tunnel. “I didn’t have a jersey yet, they actually gave me a Jonathan Stewart jersey because I ended up being 23 and he was 23 his first game.”

Little stories like that are what will define this class of seniors

more than the big games they play in. Yes, they will play for a Pac-10 championship and a Rose Bowl berth today, but Autzen Stadium has been the backdrop for all of it and will remain forever in their minds. The wins and the losses will fade into a rush of adrenaline as the team emerges from the west tunnel, led by a motorcycle and Puddles the mascot. The cheers wash over the players and don’t stop for the next 60 minutes of football and even longer.

This is Autzen Stadium.

“It’s like a little kid and their first experience at Disneyland,” senior tight end Ed Dickson said of playing at Autzen for the first time. “You’re amazed, your eyes open and it’s everything you ever dreamed of.

Growing up and playing football, this is everything you ever dreamed of. And if every kid in America can experience that, it would make them a better person and cherish life just a little bit more.” b sc hor zman @dai lye m e r ald.co m

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12c Oregon Daily Emerald Thursday, December 3, 2009

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From Pag e 10 c

quarterback to come into the bedlam that is Autzen has been a freshman, USC’s Matt Barkley, who, besides the hype, has put up far-from-Heisman numbers.

What Sean Canfield will bring for the Beavers, including a senior presence, is the conference lead in passing yards per game (254.3), completion percentage (70.3), and touchdown passes (19) and only two more interceptions than Masoli despite attempting 106 more passes. It could come down to what makes more plays — Canfield’s left arm or Masoli’s legs?

LC: Agreed. Canfield is arguably the best quarterback that the Ducks will face all season in terms of moving the ball through the air, but Oregon’s tattered and beaten up secondary is slowly improving week by week. The loss of senior cornerbacks Walter Thurmond III and Willie Glasper left Oregon hurting and scrambling for answers, but the play of freshman safety John Boyett and sophomore cornerback Javes Lewis has been nothing short of stellar. Lewis leads the team with 72 tackles on the year, while Boyett follows closely behind with 67.

The Duck’s heavily touted freshman cornerback Cliff Harris has been a welcoming surprise in the Oregon secondary as well and his ability to tackle in the open field will be tested against OSU’s

dangerous fly-sweep.

JS: For the Oregon State defense, the most important key will not be the amount of time, but the reason for the amount of time the Ducks’ high-flying offense has the ball. Chances are, the Ducks time of possession will be lower than the Beavers, seeing as the Ducks are ninth in the conference in T.O.P. per game. However, that could come at two ends of the spectrum: either it is because the score-before-you-can-blink offense is plowing through the Beavers’ defense like a buzzsaw, or Oregon State is forcing the Ducks out of their game and into three-and-outs (see: Boise State).

It should be an interesting matchup on the ground: Masoli and freshman LaMichael James lead the top-ranked Pac-10 rushing offense (231.4 ypg) but will have to find their way though the Beavers’ top-ranked Pac-10 rushing defense, which allows 98.5 yards a game, more than 10 yards better than the second best team.

LC: The fact that Oregon’s defense will be on the field for the majority of the game is nothing new, and if all is going well it should be expected. When the Oregon offense is firing on all cylinders it puts points up on with short drives that often end in long runs by James or Masoli, but both teams have proven to be

exceptionally efficient in the red zone all season. Ranking first and second in the conference in that category, the Beavers have converted on 96 percent of their red zone attempts with the Ducks following closely behind at 95.7. But on the flip side, Oregon features the top-ranked red zone defense in the conference, while OSU sits in ninth. It will be times like these that ultimately decide the game in my mind. Both teams are going to make their runs; it will just be a matter of who can respond most adequately.

JS: Also something to think about has been Mike Riley’s history when he’s had time to prepare.

He’s undefeated in bowl games and has a strong record after byeweeks. This season his Beavers went to USC and almost (and should have) came out with a win.

Last season, the Beavers knocked off the top-ranked Trojans at home and beat Arizona State with a week off before hand. Same story in 2007, when Oregon State took out Stanford and the Ducks. Take in consideration last season, the Ducks thrashing of the Beavers in Corvallis came when Oregon had a bye-week to prepare. With a week-and-a-half (two-and-ahalf if you include that the Beavers didn’t have to worry about Washington State) you can be sure that Riley will have his top game plan ready for the Ducks. s p ort s@dai ly e m e r a ld.co m

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