MADISON, Wisc. — When the 2000 non-conference schedule was released for the Ducks, many eyes were drawn to one particular game.
Nevada at home? Nah, that’s just a nice home-opener for the crowd. Idaho at home? Nope, although it’s not a bad team to play against in your final tune-up for the Pacific-10 Conference season.
But playing back-to-back Rose Bowl champion Wisconsin on the road? Now we’re talking. It doesn’t get much bigger than that.
It was the game that all the players were secretly talking about, but couldn’t do so in public in respect to Nevada. But right after Oregon dispatched of the Wolfpack 36-7 on Sept. 2, the hype for the Wisconsin game exploded.
“We are ready to go out there and do our thing, man,” sophomore
wide receiver Keenan Howry said after the Nevada win. “It’s going to be pretty awesome.”
“Wisconsin’s a great football team and so are we,” senior defensive end Jason Nikolao said. “May the best team win.”
“This is our chance to prove to the nation that we are an elite team,” senior wide receiver Marshaun Tucker said.
While the tough 27-23 loss handed to the Ducks by the fifth-ranked Badgers on Sept. 9 may not get the attention of the nation, it did prove to the Ducks and the rest of the Pac-10, that Oregon is no push-over.
“I would hope that this game would give us respect,” senior linebacker Matt Smith said following the Wisconsin game. “I think we have a great team and we came in here and played the fifth-ranked team in the nation step for step. We weren’t intimidated.”
The Ducks certainly answered any of the critics who questioned if some of their fight would be gone with the departure of emotional leaders such as Michael Fletcher, Brandon McLemore, Rueben Droughns and Peter Sirmon.
Against Wisconsin, Oregon never quit.
When they were down 20-9, and the 78,521 fans packed in at Camp Randall Stadium yelled at them with all of their might, all the Ducks did was perform a fast and furious 91-yard touchdown drive in 53 seconds that was capped by a Joey Harrington strike to tight end LaCorey Collins in the end zone.
And then when Wisconsin reclaimed its final lead of the game at 27-23, it would have been easy for the Ducks to fold. But they kept at it.
With only 1:09 to play in the fourth quarter, Oregon faced a near impossible fourth-and-13 from its own 17-yard line. Harrington dropped back, and completed the clutch pass to Howry for the 30-yard pick up.
Granted, Harrington would end that drive with two incomplete passes, a sack and then an interception, but the character of the 2000-01 Ducks was evident.
“There wasn’t any doubt in my mind that we were going to score on that last drive,” said Harrington, who admitted in his soft, emotional voice that he didn’t quite know how to react to this loss as he’d never lost a game as an Oregon starter before. “We’ve done it so many times before. We’re going to fight down to the end and never give up. It just didn’t happen this time for us. But that’s what Oregon football is all about.”
For most people who experienced last season’s wild ride, it was a message that was not new. But for highly touted junior college tailback Maurice Morris, it was a great sign to him that enforced in his mind that he came to the right place to play college football.
“The one thing I learned about this team is that we’re not going to quit,” said Morris, who was regarded as the No. 1 junior college prospect in the country last year. “I’m pretty sure that everyone’s disappointed, but we’re not going to let this one game have an effect on the rest of our season. I was excited to see us play like this and am glad to be here.”
While the hype leading up to the Wisconsin game was big, the hype on Morris was even bigger. The tailback didn’t play spring ball because he was finishing up classes at Fresno City College, and didn’t get a lot of chances to show his stuff during fall camp.
Which meant most of the focus would be on him during Oregon’s season-opener. And the junior didn’t disappoint, rushing for 166 yards on 20 carries.
His most impressive run thus far in the season occurred in the second quarter against Nevada. All Harrington had to do was pitch it out to Morris, and the speedster took care of the rest. Morris followed one-block and then turned on the after-burners, enroute to a 66-yard touchdown sprint.
Against Wisconsin, he was somewhat held in check, but still managed to show off his speed and strength by picking up 95 yards in 20 carries.
“I am very pleased with Maurice,” head coach Mike Bellotti said. “He showed the full gamut out there in that first game, and did a great job here in Wisconsin in a very tough environment.”
While Morris’ success is not a huge surprise, the sluggishness of the Oregon passing game certainly is. In the first two games, the Ducks only completed a total of 30 of 79 passes, as well as giving up a total of four interceptions.
Still, Harrington has resumed the starting quarterback role for his junior year, and left senior A.J. Feeley on the sidelines with a backwards hat and a headset. Feeley did get in briefly in the fourth quarter against Nevada, but only attempted four passes.
While mistakes such as dropped balls and missed reads plague the offense, the Duck defense continues to shine. In the first game, the defense came out inspired and held Nevada to minus-3 yards rushing, as well as giving up only 103 total offensive yards — its best such performance since 1962.
“I know there were some worries about us before the season started,” said Smith, who returned back an interception against Wisconsin for a 47-yard touchdown. “But we are very confident in our abilities. It’s a challenge every week to stop an opposition’s offense and I would put us up against anybody right now.”
Saul Patu — he of the billboards along Eugene streets with the slogan “Tu Tough” on it — and Nikolao help Smith lead a pride-filled defense. Nikolao recorded Oregon’s first points of the season when he stuffed Nevada running back Adrien Dugas in the end zone of Autzen Stadium for the safety.
After the first two games, the three big guns have a combined 40 tackles, four sacks and one interception.
Another huge addition to the defense is cornerback Rashad Bauman, who missed all of last season with a knee injury. Bauman made an immediate impact this month with an interception against the Wolfpack and by playing a tightly covered game against Wisconsin.
His return lets the Oregon defense have more options because defensive coordinator Nick Aliotti can put him on the opposing team’s best receiver, leaving the rest of the defense to give help elsewhere.
“Rashad is a great football player and he exudes that confidence which other people pick up on,” Bellotti said. “He’s a threat to intercept the ball, to make plays, and I think he has accepted that role not just of a player, but as one of the leaders on the field and I see a greater maturity this year in him.”
Maturity will be key to the success of this team as they try to form a solid unit that is prepared to go to battle together in the wild Pac-10.
With the league seemingly shedding that “Pathetic-10” label week after week, the Ducks are ready to move past the Wisconsin game and raise their level of play once more.
“We’re going to be ready and sky high for that first Pac-10 game,” said Tucker, who caught six passes for 196 yards, including a 71-yard gain, against the Badgers. “Losses such as these happen, and we just have to put them behind us and move on.
“I think we’re right where we want to be in terms of getting the offense going and the team ready for the league. I’m not worried.”
So as of now, the answers to the big questions are: Harrington is still the starter at quarterback. Morris is as good as advertised. Howry and Tucker are both splitting up time in the kick-off and punt returning duties. The “no-name defense” appears to be shedding that identity as each game
is played.
And also, that these Ducks can travel to the most intimidating of places, keep their poise and still execute the game plan.
Ducks toss Nevada, but can’t overcome Wisconsin’s might
Daily Emerald
September 17, 2000
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