The final play of Oregon’s 31-24 loss to California at Autzen Stadium Saturday, where senior wide receiver Cameron Colvin fumbled the ball into the end zone and out of bounds to end the game, was the main topic of discussion for many Oregon fans after the game.
The main topic for the Oregon football players in the locker room was support for Colvin.
“I had strong words for Cameron. I just wanted to let him know that everyone is behind him,” said senior quarterback Dennis Dixon. “I mean, you can’t knock a guy that’s trying to make a play. He’s a great athlete and a hard worker and everyone is 100 percent behind him.”
Colvin said that the outpouring of support from his teammates was immediate and emphatic.
“As soon as I got into the locker room that night Jeremy Gibbs (Oregon senior defensive tackle) grabbed me and was like ‘Yo brother, don’t worry about it. You were just trying to win the game for the team.’”
“No one is even worried about it,” said Colvin. “Everyone knows I was trying to make a play. A lot of guys say that if there’s anybody they would want to have the ball it would be either me or Jonathan in that situation. They know I was just trying to make a play and things like that happen.”
Dixon said that the unity the players displayed in support of Colvin is one of the strengths of this season’s team.
“We’ve got this unit, we’ve got this bond on both sides of the ball right now that no one can break us,” he said.
And the support didn’t come just from his teammates. Colvin said he received several phone calls from friends and family after the game as well.
“I got a lot of calls saying, ‘You’re trying to make a play, you’re a playmaker, just keep doing what you’re doing. Next time just try and protect the ball a little better and make the play,’” he said.
As for the play, Colvin said that the pylon and the touchdown seemed so close he had to go for it.
“I was trying to reach out for the pylon because I was so close. It was in slow motion like in one of those movies,” he said. “I was just reaching, trying to get it out there and I guess the guy caught my elbow and the ball slipped out of there.
“I thought it was over (the goal line) then it came out. It just happened so fast, it was one of those split moment things, but it happened and it’s time to move on.”
Colvin also said that prior to the play, he was unaware of the rule that declares a ball fumbled from the field of play into the end zone and out-of-bounds a touchback.
“I didn’t even know about the rule until it happened and coach Bellotti explained it to me on the sideline, but it’s a rule for a reason and you can’t do anything about it,” he said. “It was a new experience, and dealing with adversity like that, it makes you stronger as a player. It makes me more determined to get over that hump, get over the goal line.”
And as soon as the next day, Colvin said, the team began to focus on Oregon’s Oct. 13 game against Washington State at Autzen Stadium.
“We’re motivated. Even the day after when guys are in getting treatment everyone was saying, ‘We can’t even dwell on that anymore, it’s over with.’” said Colvin. “And we’re still a favorite to contend for the Pac-10 so we’ve got to keep motivated and play hard.

Big shoes to fill at linebacker

Senior Linebacker A.J. Tuitele had surgery to place a pin in his broken foot Tuesday, but details of how the operation went were unavailable at press time.
No matter the outcome of the surgery, Tuitele will surely be out for an extended period of time, likely for the remainder of the regular season. Senior linebacker Kwame Agyeman has been named to take over the starting role at weakside linebacker.
Agyeman, who has 22 tackles on the season in a reserve role, has played mostly strong and middle linebacker. But Oregon coach Mike Bellotti already likes what he sees.
“He’ll do very well,” said Bellotti. “In fact he actually made more plays in a short period time there than he has at either (strong) or (middle), so I’m sort of excited about that.”
Agyeman said that a smooth transition for him is just a matter of shifting his focus to the details of the weakside position, and the opportunity to play more snaps is a good motivator.
“I just need to go watch some film here and there and start watching it from the (weak) perspective more. I need to get those reads down a little more because I’m used to the (middle) and (strong) stuff,” he said. “It’s kind of got me excited. I hate to lose A.J. but I love to get the opportunity. I just want to make the most of the opportunity right now.”
The biggest adjustment for the linebackers, and the defense in general, will be not having the vocal presence of Tuitele on and off the field.
“It’s going to be hard to adjust to him not being around as much,” said Agyeman. “A.J. is not only a leader on the field but off the field he’s a great person and a guy you want to be around.”

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