In 2002, No. 6 Oregon relinquished a 21-point advantage to Arizona State and watched Andrew Walter rack up a Pacific-10 Conference record 536 yards passing in a 45-42 upset at Autzen Stadium.
In 2003, Oregon didn’t seem to have a chance as Kellen Clemens threw interceptions on his first two passes, including one returned for a touchdown, and the Sun Devils trounced and humiliated the Ducks 59-14.
In 2004, the Ducks wear the scars from those painful losses and hope to use it as motivation against No. 21 Arizona State Saturday at Autzen Stadium.
“They torched us last year in Phoenix,” Oregon head coach Mike Bellotti said. “The temperature torched us and the team torched us. We can look at that film and be very embarrassed about our effort and our performance.”
Despite their 4-7 record of last season and a sixth-place ranking in the Pac-10 preseason media poll, the Sun Devils have turned it around thanks, in part, to their improved defense.
“I think the difference in this team from last year to this is the intensity with which they are playing on defense,” Bellotti said. “They look to be equally adept to taking on the run or the pass.”
Arizona State has held opponents to a stingy 12.8 points per game, ranking them first in the Pac-10 and 12th in the nation.
The leaders of the defense are junior linebackers Dale Robinson and Jamar Williams. Robinson is tied for first in the conference with four sacks and is fourth in tackles, averaging 9.8 tackles per game. Williams is tied for first in the conference and fifth in the nation with three interceptions.
“Dale Robinson and Jamar Williams are making a whole lot of plays at their position,” Bellotti said.
To penetrate this tough Arizona State defense, Bellotti believes they will need to establish a good running attack so they can open up their passing game.
A key for that will be junior running back Terrence Whitehead. The Los Angeles native ran for 115 yards last week against Idaho and leads the team with 228 yards.
If the Ducks can run the ball, it will open up more one-on-one situations for the 6-foot-plus Oregon receivers against an Arizona State starting secondary that averages 5-foot-10. Senior Oregon wide receiver Marcus Maxwell thinks the height difference could benefit them.
“We do look to take advantage of them since we are taller,” Maxwell said. “We need to focus and make sure we study their defense and know their DBs inside and out.”
The matchup that may concern Oregon the most is Walter and his explosive aerial attack against the Duck secondary.
“We have to not allow Andrew Walter to throw for 300 yards,” Bellotti said. “If he does that they are probably going to lose.”
“This will be the best quarterback we’ve seen to date. We’re talking about Jason White, a Heisman trophy winner, but he didn’t throw the ball as much as I expect Andrew Walter will,” Bellotti said.
And expect Walter’s passes to
be directed at junior wide receiver Derek Hagan. He is currently second in the conference in receptions (7.75 per game) and receiving yards per game (112.8).
A big loss for Arizona State is the absence of running back Loren Wade. He is suspended indefinitely from the team for violating team rules.
The team also lost backup running back Randy Hill due to injury, so they are to No. 3 running back Hakim Hill.
“Losing your one and two tailbacks is difficult and certainly puts a higher premium on their passing game,” Bellotti said, “which is basically what has beaten us the past couple years so I think it makes it that much more of an emphasis to stop Andrew Walter and Derek Hagan.”
The Ducks hope the return of Justin Phinisee to the secondary, plus a healthy Haloti Ngata to add pressure, will slow down Arizona State’s passing attack.
Oregon freshman Jackie Bates believes if the team plays as a whole the rest will take care of itself.
“Everyone just needs to play their part,” Bates said. “If everyone executes and trusts in their teammates we should be fine.”

The difference in this game, according to Bellotti, will be ball security and which team can create the most turnovers.
“We have been on the negative side of the turnover/takeaway ratio,” Bellotti said. “Arizona State has been on the positive side. So we have to make sure we protect the football and figure out a way to get some take-aways.”
The biggest challenge for the Sun Devils may be dealing with a
rambunctious Autzen Stadium crowd.
“Autzen Stadium is the toughest place there is,” said Arizona State head coach Dirk Koetter, a former Oregon offensive coordinator. “The crowd is right on top of you and the fans are very knowledgeable. They know when to be loud. They are good at disrupting the game.”
Walter agrees: “Autzen Stadium is the loudest place that I have ever played. The only place that might come close is Nebraska. Autzen is definitely the
loudest and they are making noise from the moment we step out onto the field.”
The crowd might be extra loud this game after watching the Sun Devils score late in the game last season when the victory was already in hand.
But Bellotti said he doesn’t hold a grudge against Koetter.
“I respect Dirk. I like him a lot and I think that’s a mutual feeling.”Bellotti said.

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