Joey Harrington summed up the thoughts of the Oregon football team in a few words at the Ducks’ media day Friday.
“We’ve just been talking about the season,” Harrington said. “Now it’s time to play.”
At their last official talk session before the start of daily double practices, Harrington and the rest of the Ducks tried desperately to cut through the hype — Oregon was ranked No. 7 by The Associated Press Saturday — and just talk football.
The offense will be good. The secondary will be better. The special teams are a problem.
The season can’t get here fast enough.
“This season began the day after we beat the University of Texas in the Holiday Bowl,” Oregon head coach Mike Bellotti said. “It’s about time we got started playing.”
The Ducks’ veterans began twice-daily practices Saturday after the newcomers reported last week.
Bellotti and Harrington, among others, touted the Ducks’ offense as the team’s bright spot heading into fall camp.
“I’ve never seen this much talent on a football team,” Harrington said. “I think defenses are going to have a tough time preparing for every facet of our offense.”
Oregon will return many of last year’s top skill-position players, including Harrington, running backs Maurice Morris and Allan Amundson, tight end Justin Peelle, and receivers Keenan Howry and Samie Parker.
“This is the best offense I’ve ever played on,” Amundson said. “Some people say it could be Oregon’s best offense ever.”
The defense is more of a question, one that Bellotti said needs to be addressed in fall camp. The secondary is strong, and returning cornerbacks Rashad Bauman and Steve Smith are considered among the best in the Pacific-10 Conference. But the defensive line lost key players in Saul Patu and Jason Nikolao.
The Ducks don’t see that as a problem.

“The defense will be different because we lost some guys,” linebacker Kevin Mitchell said. “But every year guys step up. We look good and fast.”
Although the players wanted to avoid it, the hype eventually crept into media day. Reporters fired off questions about the rankings, expectations and pressure facing Oregon in 2001.
“Oregon has never been in this position before, and it’s a little bit different, to tell you the truth,” Harrington said about the national respect. “It’s a much tougher process to be the favorite week in and week out.”
“We’re going to get everyone’s best game this year,” Peelle said. “We’ve got to play hard every snap.”
The Oregon players agreed that the high expectations of fans, pollsters and players alike would make each game in the already-tough Pac-10 even tougher.
The Ducks will have to deal with that pressure immediately, on Sept. 1 at home against Wisconsin. Ranked 22nd by the AP and 23rd by the coaches, the Badgers offer Oregon a season-opening test and an opportunity to avenge last year’s 27-23 loss in Madison, Wisc.
“I think it’s great that we’re opening with Wisconsin,” Bellotti said. “I know [last year’s loss] has been on the minds of our players, and I also know having that as a first game has helped them work a little harder in the offseason.”
The Badgers will play once, at home against Virginia Aug. 25, before coming to Autzen Stadium. Bellotti said that might give Wisconsin a slight edge in the matchup.
“Playing a game is the fastest way to learn what kind of team you have, so that is a concern, that they will be a game up on us,” Bellotti said.
Another game, farther down the schedule, has already caught Oregon’s eye.
Civil War.
“I want to win,” said Harrington, who threw four interceptions in the Civil War loss to Oregon State last year. “That’s not something to be ashamed of. I want to win because … I’d just really love to win that football game.”
If the seasons of Oregon and Oregon State play out the way they should according to rankings, the Ducks-Beavers matchup could determine a Pac-10 title and a trip to the National Championship at the Rose Bowl.
But for now, as Harrington said, “We just want to play football.”
With the talking out of the way, Harrington and the Ducks can do just that.