The 2007 season was one of both a lot of joy and a lot of pain for Oregon fans. There was senior quarterback Dennis Dixon leading the Ducks to wins over Michigan, USC and Arizona State and a No. 2 ranking.
Then there was Dixon’s knee injury and three straight losses to finish the season, starting with the 34-24 loss to Arizona in which Dixon went down.
“I was there,” center Jordan Holmes said. “I only played a few snaps. It was rough, especially after Dennis (Dixon) went down. It was tough to see us kind of fall apart like we did. (Arizona) was good that year. It is always tough when you see someone go down like that.”
The knee injury effectively ended Dixon’s Heisman run and Oregon’s chances at the Pacific-10 Conference championship and a national title. But that was two years ago and both teams are full of new faces. Arizona (6-3 overall, 4-2 Pac-10) has a new quarterback in Nick Foles and the Ducks (8-2, 6-1) are led by junior quarterback Jeremiah Masoli and redshirt freshman LaMichael James.
“(2007 is) of no consequence to us,” head coach Chip Kelly said. “We’re such a young team that a lot of our guys were in high school when that happened…we don’t look in the review mirror.”
But like in 2007, this year’s game has a lot riding on it. Win, and the Ducks are one win away from a Pac-10 Championship and the Rose Bowl. Lose, and Oregon becomes one of four teams with two losses in conference and the entire situation becomes muddled.
“We see what’s at stake but we know we can’t be looking ahead,” linebacker Casey
Matthews said.
The Zona Zoo — Arizona’s student cheering section — will be in full force for the night game in Tucson. ESPN’s College GameDay will also be on hand to witness the battle as well. All in all, it’s a game that Oregon needs to win.
“It’s going to be loud,” Matthews said. “Fans were rowdy two years ago and with GameDay the fans will be this year too. It’s great exposure for this program and the Pac-10.”
The Wildcats too, are playing for something. With a little help, they might be able to sneak into the Rose Bowl, but at the very least it would be the best finish for the Wildcats in conference in a very long time.
“I’ve always thought of Arizona as one of the real tough places and teams to play since I’ve been here,” Kelly said.
The key to avoiding the upset for Oregon will be how fast of a start the team jumps out to. Last year, the Ducks were up 45-17 at halftime, but thanks to 28 second half points, the Wildcats brought the score to 48-45 before Oregon was able to seal the win with a touchdown run by running back LeGarrette Blount.
“It’s very important,” Holmes said. “That’s pretty much the key to our entire offense. Running as many plays as we can.”
“We look to do that early,” Masoli said. “Strike early and get on top so our defense has a little bit of room to play with and keep running the whole game as opposed to last year when we kind of fell off in the second half.”
One thing is for sure; the Ducks are about as focused as they’ve ever been for a game. They know what it would mean for them to get tripped up for a second straight time at
Arizona Stadium.
“We’re just focused at the task at hand,” Holmes said. We have a football game to win. We’re not thinking about GameDay or anythinglike that.”
“They say (the conference) is up for grabs, but we know we’re in control of our own destiny,” Matthews said.
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Ducks ready to put 2007 in desert behind them Saturday
Daily Emerald
November 18, 2009
Courtesey of Michael Ignatov
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