Look what a first-ever 10-win season in school history and a No. 7 final ranking can to do to a program.
The Oregon football team, which completed its spring season Saturday, is being hyped as a preseason top-10 (some even say top-5) team with the ability to perhaps compete for the national championship.
Oregon head coach Mike Bellotti has heard the compliments and answered the questions, but he knows that in order for his players to stay focused, they must not let all the acclaim tell them how great they are.
“I’m excited about what people say, but I want to keep our heads a little closer to the ground than above the clouds,” Bellotti said. “I want them to understand that it takes a lot of work to be good, and what we accomplished last year helps, but it doesn’t make it happen next year.”
While the Ducks’ offense is loaded with returning starters, Bellotti knows that his team has too many question marks in its kicking game and on its defense to be fully satisfied.
Gone from the special teams corps are placekicker Josh Frankel, punter Kurtis Doerr and kickoff man Dan Katz. Throughout the spring, newcomers Navid Niakin, Jared Siegel and David Rosenberg took their turns to try to replace Frankel, but nobody stood out above the rest. This will be a position that could go down to the wire.
The punting duties mostly went to Jose Arroyo this spring, but Oregon’s best kick during Saturday’s Spring Game was from walk-on wide receiver/punter Gary Daniels, who booted a 62-yarder.
“We still need some work on our kicking game,” Bellotti said. “Our execution in that area needs to be better.”
As for the defense, only four starters return, but the Ducks are used to that as they returned only four starters a year ago as well. The concern this year, though, is that three of the returnees are in the secondary, leaving some important spots on the front line.
Defensive linemen Quinn Dorsey, Chris Tetterton and Zack Freiter all had solid springs and could join up with Seth McEwen, the only returning starter on the line.
“I’m not worried at all about the defensive front five,” safety Keith Lewis said. “The guys up front will step right in and do the job. We’re going to be a complete unit.”
Oregon’s linebacker threesome is intact with Kevin Mitchell, Wesly Mallard (he of the helmet-popping-off hit against Arizona) and junior transfer David Moretti, who made his presence felt this spring.
One of the biggest strides taken during the month of April on the offensive side of the ball was that of quarterback Jason Fife. The sophomore from Lake Elsinore, Calif., secured the No. 2 signal caller position behind Joey Harrington with his solid spring.
“It’s totally exciting … it’s awesome,” said Fife, who completed 16 of 27 passes for 273 yards and three touchdowns in the Spring Game. “I’m glad to be behind Joey and I hope I can step in somewhere and help the team win this year.”
Harrington, who is being hyped by Oregon as a Heisman Trophy candidate, is eager to get back on the field with 1,000-yard rusher Maurice Morris and returning receiver Keenan Howry. That’s not even to mention hyped transfer tailback Onterrio Smith from Tennessee, who will team with Morris and Allan Amundson to provide a lethal one-two-three punch in the backfield.
“I’m anxious to get going,” said Harrington, who was named to the Playboy preseason All-American team. “But we have a lot of work to do.”
Most of the Ducks will be staying in town to stay in shape together before fall camp begins Aug. 11. And after that, the season will begin in a hurry with a Sept. 1 rematch with Wisconsin at Autzen Stadium.
“My plan is to take it one game at a time and hopefully make it to the Rose Bowl,” the soft-spoken Morris said.
The Rose Bowl will be the site of this year’s national championship game. Is that what Morris meant?
“Yes, sir,” he said.
And so continue those great expectations.