Sitting, waiting, practicing, resting, watching and eating.
Finally, after two weeks of nothingness, it’s game week. But not just any game week. It’s Civil War week.
“It’s here. I can’t wait. We’re ready,” defensive lineman Chris Tetterton said.
A lot has happened since the Ducks (9-1 overall, 6-1 Pacific-10 Conference) last played Nov. 10, when they beat UCLA. Good teams have since lost, and Oregon has been guaranteed at least a trip to the Fiesta Bowl, regardless of what happens against Oregon State.
But while the Ducks have remained in contention for the national championship, they didn’t receive much help Monday from the new Bowl Championship Series rankings, which has Oregon at No. 5. Miami moved into the top spot, followed by Florida, Texas and Nebraska.
“I thought we’d move up a couple, but oh well, what are you gonna do?” tight end Justin Peelle said.
“I think the problem is not playing,” Oregon head coach Mike Bellotti said. “Had we played and secured a victory I think it would have changed things. I certainly would like to be higher, but I think we have to win this last game.”
The game against the Beavers begins at 1:30 p.m. Saturday at Autzen Stadium. Oregon has treated the contest as its first bowl game and has tried to use its time off wisely. But even Bellotti admitted that the long break between regular season games is a little ridiculous.
“We’re used to one-week byes and sitting back, and that was OK, but the second week in a row of sitting around and watching other people play got very old for me,” Bellotti said. “Watching other people determine our fate, I’m tired of that.”
There was plenty for Oregon to watch these last couple of weeks. On Nov. 17, Washington’s victory in the Apple Cup secured the Ducks’ Fiesta Bowl berth and took some of the pressure of having to win the Civil War off their backs.
And this past weekend, the losses of Nebraska and Oklahoma certainly grabbed Oregon’s attention.
“I watched a lot of football. A lot of crazy stuff happened,” linebacker David Moretti said. “Nebraska, by the way they got beat, and Oklahoma — both were pretty big shockers. It shows you that in a rival game, you throw everything out.”
With a win against Oregon State, the Ducks could have a chance to finish first or
second in the final BCS rankings released Dec. 9 and play in the Rose Bowl, but they’d need a few more upsets.
“I tend to stay away from it all,” Tetterton said. “That’s Justin (Peelle) and Joey (Harrington’s) department to calculate everything. Joey’s always got the scenarios: ‘If these people do this and if these guys take a car ride from point A to point B, then they can go to the Rose Bowl.’
“I just listen to everything they say and go, ‘Oh, that’s nice.’”

Harrington earns

Offensive Player of the Year
The Pac-10 handed out its season awards Monday, and quarterback Joey Harrington was honored as the league’s Offensive Player of the Year.
The senior has compiled a 23-3 record as a starter and has passed for 2,310 yards this season on 175-of-300 passing. His 23-touchdowns-to-five-interceptions ratio is tops in the Pac-10.
“(Joey’s) certainly deserving, because he’s been the catalyst for us to get to where we’re at,” Bellotti said. “He’d be the first to tell you that when that happens, that becomes a team award.”
Joining Harrington on the Pac-10 First Team Offense is Peelle and receiver Keenan Howry, who was also named on the First Team Specialists for his punt returns.
Defensive back Rashad Bauman and linebacker Wesly Mallard made the Pac-10’s Second Team Defense, while Oregon’s tailback tandem of Maurice Morris and Onterrio Smith both made the Second Team Offense.
Smith and Mallard also were listed among the Second Team Specialists.