Saul Patu’s eyes grew a little larger, his mouth opened a little wider and his voice got a little lower.
“It’s Husky week,” he said.
For defensive end Patu, this is the game that he has been eyeing on his calendar since the schedule was released. The Seattle, Wash., native is well aware of the bitter Oregon-Washington rivalry, seeing how he grew up in Husky territory.
“This game is always in the back of my mind, and when it comes time to think about it, I kind of lick my chops and can’t wait,” Patu said. “It’s fun because I grew up wanting to be a Husky. So this is a special game for me.”
Patu missed last season’s 34-20 loss to Washington up in Seattle due to injury, and was forced to watch the game from the sidelines. With this being his senior year, he is healthy and ready to “put on a show” in front of about 30 family and friends.
Patu will have his parents, grandparents, sisters, brothers, nieces, nephews and some high school friends in attendance at Autzen Stadium on Saturday.
“Last year was tough to not contribute in that heartbreaking loss, but I’m more than ready this week,” Patu said.
Patu and the rest of the surprising Oregon defense will have quite a challenge this week in stopping Husky quarterback Marques Tuiasosopo and the offense’s tricky option schemes.
When the season began, Patu was one of the “sure things” on a defense that was loaded with question marks. But after the first four games, the defense has proven to be the team’s strength and heads into this weekend ranked 11th nationally in total defense. The Ducks are also ninth in the nation in guarding the pass and in the top-30 in stopping the run.
This will be the biggest challenge thus far in the season, as Tuiasosopo possesses many skills that can confuse and disrupt a defense.
“As a defense, we’re excited about the opportunity to shut down the Huskies,” Patu said. “I expect Marques to be at the top of his game and I expect our defense to be at the top of our game as well.”
An interesting side note to the Patu-Tuiasosopo battle will be that the two Samoans share some of the same cousins.
“It’s nice to see another Samoan out there,” Patu said.

Back to the books
It’s tough enough that the Ducks have to switch focus from one Top-10 opponent to another in back-to-back weeks, but they will also have to deal with the added pressure of attending class this week. The players will have to add some Economic, Communication and Sociology books to their collection of playbooks.
No problem, they say.

“I think there won’t be that big an adjustment,” wide receiver Keenan Howry said. “Anytime you have a chance to take a break and relax outside of football it’s good. Because you once you get out to practice, your whole focus has to be football and U-Dub, and that’s it.”

Once a Duck, always a Duck
A face from the past was on hand last Saturday to provide special encouragement to his former teammates.
Former Oregon tailback Reuben Droughns, now of the NFL’s Detroit Lions, returned to Eugene watch the Ducks take on the then-No. 6 UCLA Bruins.
“It was great seeing Reuben because he’s one of those guys that when you just look at him you see that fire in his eyes that lets you know he could strap on the pads at any time and go to battle,” Howry said.
Droughns separated his shoulder in the preseason with the Lions and has been on injured reserve since Aug. 22. He also traveled to Madison, Wis., to be there for Oregon’s loss against Wisconsin.
“I know it’s tough for him to not be playing, but I know he’ll be out there again in no time,” Howry said.

Message board trash talk
There certainly has been no idle moments in the cyberspace battle among Northwest college football fans this week.
For example, “Dawgfan” had this to say about this week’s contest against the Ducks on the Huskyfan.com message board:
“I don’t pay much attention to the ducklings as they are not a big rival,” the fan wrote. “We will beat you again and move on to another Pac-10 title. Face it, you’re not much of a rival. Press on and shoot for another trip to Hawaii. Washington 35, Oregon 13.”
Meanwhile, over on the Duck message boards, the fans have tried to stay somewhat objective in their discussion about the game, but with the rivalry as intense as it is, that is often tough to do.
“I hate the arrogant Huskies and I’m sure I’m not the only one who feels that way,” “Portland Duck” said. “I hope Tui gets the crap kicked out of him and Neuweasel wipes that smirk off his face after we beat the snot out of his team.”
The best comment about the game didn’t even come from one of the fan sites. It came from CBS SportsLine.com when talking about this weekend’s game being one of the premier showdowns of the week.
“We don’t want to say the two teams hate each other, but let’s just say that if the players’ paths ever cross again in life — and one was on the ground dying of thirst — the other wouldn’t give him a drink of water. ‘I’d let the vultures get you,’ he’d say.”
The quote was taken in context from Sue’s vicious speech toward Kelly in the final episode of CBS’ hit television show, “Survivor.”
Fitting, because many people believe that the winner of Saturday’s contest will be the ultimate survivor of the Pacific-10 Conference.