Junior quarterback Kellen Clemens returns
after a year of starting all 13 games fo the Ducks — but sharing the spotlight with Jason Fife. The two-quarterback system wasn’t
working for Oregon and when Clemens took over full-time after his fourth-quarter comeback against California, the Ducks went 3-1.
Clemens’ numbers speak for themselves. He went 72 of 107 for 774 yards and nine touchdowns since taking over in the fourth quarter of the California game last season.
During his off-season workout program, Clemens led all quarterbacks with a 308-pound squat and a 310-pound bench press.
Even more distinguishable from last year is his leadership. Head coach Mike Bellotti said he has seen the strides his signal-caller has made.
“Kellen has done well in camp. He’s a great leader, great quarterback and has been very efficient,” Bellotti said.
Clemens said he is eager to get into Autzen Stadium in front of the fans.
“Just thinking about getting in there and playing gives me goose bumps,” Clemens said. “When it comes to Saturday, it’s going to be important for me to be calm and step back away from everything and execute our game plan.”
Defensive end Devan Long said he believes Clemens’ time has come.
“Kellen looks really good out there calling the shots, and it’s Kellen’s world, and we’re all just living in it,” Long said.

— Clayton Jones

Indiana starting quarterback Matt LoVecchio is proving to be the leader to take the Hoosiers out from the bottom of the Big Ten Conference.
LoVecchio, a native of Franklin Lakes, N.J., is the only quarterback on the Indiana roster with any significant experience at the collegiate level.
In his first game this season against
Central Michigan last week, LoVecchio threw for 121 yards and one touchdown. He also ran for 20 yards and scored one rushing touchdown.
After transferring from Notre Dame following the 2001
season, LoVecchio started 11 games for Indiana and compiled 1,778 yards and threw for three touchdowns last season.
His most memorable moment came when
he drove the Hoosiers 66 yards for the
game-winning touchdown against Illinois at Indiana’s Memorial Stdium on
Nov. 8, 2003.
During his tenure at Notre Dame, he
became the first freshman to start at quarterback for the first time in nine years. During the 2000 season, LoVecchio led the Irish to a Fiesta Bowl victory as part of a seven-game winning streak to end the season.
Before his collegiate career, LoVecchio
was a USA Today prep All-American and
rated as one of the top prep quarterbacks
in the nation.
At Indiana, LoVecchio is majoring in business.

— Alex Tam