Joey Harrington crouched behind center Ryan Schmid and positioned his hands to receive the snap. He peered over the rest of his offensive line, all wearing green jerseys.
With the quarterback’s helmet rotating left-to-right, he read the opposing defense, all clad in white uniform tops.
Harrington promptly did a three-step drop, rolled to his right and completed the five-yard pass to veteran receiver Marshaun Tucker.
No, it isn’t football season yet and this wasn’t taking place on the turf of Autzen Stadium.
But Harrington’s pass to Tucker on the practice field near the Moshofsky Sports Complex did mark the opening of the all-so-important spring season. On Monday, Oregon players donned helmets and pads for the first time since its 24-20 upset victory over Minnesota in the Sun Bowl on Dec. 31.
The team practiced again Tuesday, had Wednesday off and will be back at work this afternoon. The team will work out four times a week for the next three weeks, leading up to the annual Spring Game on April 29 at Autzen.
It is a time for head coach Mike Bellotti and his coaching staff to set the depth chart and get a chance to work with many players individually.
“It’s just nice to get back out here,” Bellotti said. “You spend all winter lifting in an individual basis, and then this is what I consider the team building situation, where we can actually go out and generate some chemistry and unity.”
When Harrington and the offense were going through drills, there were two notable absences.
Herman Ho-Ching, who would have been listed as the No. 1 tailback this spring, and probable starting tight end LaCorey Collins have been dismissed from school for academic reasons.
The loss of both players is huge, but especially at tailback where there is just one player on the spring depth chart who played last season. Jermaine Hanspard, who currently also runs track, will get ample opportunity to show what he can do in the backfield after converting from the cornerback slot.
Bellotti uses his words carefully when addressing Ho-Ching’s situation. Ho-Ching, who rushed for 494 yards and five touchdowns in two seasons, must take classes at a junior college in the spring and at Oregon in the summer to have a chance to play in the fall.
“As I understand it, the only thing I can say officially is that he’s not enrolled in school,” Bellotti said. “So wishful thinking, there’s a chance he could be here. Really, it’s up to Herman at this point.”
Collins, who had 35 catches for 513 yards and eight touchdowns in three seasons, may be remembered most for “LaCorey’s Leap.” It occurred in the fourth quarter of Oregon’s 47-28 win over Texas-El Paso on Sept. 11. Harrington’s pass to Collins was well off the mark, but Collins leapt and snared the darting football with one hand — his off hand, mind you — and completed the 27-yard pass play to set up the final touchdown of the afternoon.
Current Ducks realize the impact Ho-Ching and Collins could have had, but echo the opportunity it gives to other players.
“Yeah, it’s a tough blow, but guys will step up,” outside linebacker Garrett Sabol said. “It’s going to be hard. I mean, Herman was probably the best running back I’ve ever seen and it’s too bad what happened with him.”
“The loss of certain players will certainly affect you,” cornerback Brian Johnson said. “But the guys that we have here know the system and know how to play. It’s their turn to shine.”
Also out for next season is senior tailback Jason Cooper, who was forced to miss his senior season due to a nagging foot injury. Reserve kicker Arash Emami and tight end Danny Pulido have left the team for personal reasons, while inside-linebacker Ruben Vaughan has been dismissed for disciplinary reasons.
There is a bright spot, however, in the return of cornerback Rashad Bauman. Bauman suffered a season-ending knee injury last spring, and Monday marked his return to action.
“It’s nice to have him back,” Bellotti said. “I think that he’s healthy, he just needs to take it easy. I know he’s glad to be back, and we’re glad to have him.”
Bellotti will be keeping a close eye on a number of positions, where players will try to fill the roles vacated by the 22 highly respected seniors.
“My concern is at defensive tackle, the safety position and filling out the starting five in the offensive line,” Bellotti said. “The greatest competition in my mind will be at the linebacker positions.”
Oregon football springs forward
Daily Emerald
April 5, 2000
Emerald
0
More to Discover