First off, let me welcome all of you Ducks fans back to Eugene from your summers.
To all the new students here, you couldn’t have come at a better time for Oregon athletics.
Are you ready?
Good.
I’m expecting this year will be one of the best years in history for all of Oregon’s sports teams.
Of course, we’re all excited about the prospects of another great football season. Who wouldn’t be?
This season’s squad is oozing with talent and experience in all areas, from quarterback Kellen Clemens to tight end Tim Day and a running game by committee led by Terrence Whitehead and seniors Kenny Washington and Ryan Shaw.
The depth in so many areas will be able to wear down opponents throughout the season. Just remember that all of these players are more than capable of starting or making a key contribution to the team.
Hell, the receiver core is so deep that the squad’s top returning receiver, junior Demetrius Williams, was not even penciled in as the starter at one of the receiver positions to begin the season. Williams, who piled up a total of 935 yards receiving and eight touchdowns last season, began the season as a backup to receiver
Marcus Maxwell. At the other receiver will be 6-foot-1 senior Keith Allen.
Last season, Maxwell and Allen combined for a total of only 114 yards receiving and no touchdowns.
Yeah, you read that right.
In addition to the football team, there needs to be some love given out to all of the other varsity sports teams at this university.
Start off with Oregon’s volleyball team, which mightily struggled last season to a 3-26 overall record.
And this season?
The Ducks won their first four matches and their first tournament of the year, The Oregon Classic.
Senior outside hitter Lauren Westendorf was named the Pacific-10 Conference Volleyball Player of the Week at the beginning on the month. It was the first such honor for an Oregon volleyball player in, get this, more than nine years. The last one was Amy Barnes on Sept. 18, 1995.
Oregon volleyball is now getting noticed. Good for them.
Moving on, the Oregon women’s and men’s tennis team are going virtually unnoticed despite having two of the top 20 players in the nation.
For the women, senior Daria Panova is expected to be one of the top 10 players in the country and a favorite to win the national championship. For the men, senior Sven Swinnen was ranked as high as No. 16 in the nation last season and returns as Oregon’s No. 1 player.
And this is only the fall sports season.
Looking toward the winter season, we have men’s and women’s basketball at Mac Court, which every college student should experience at least once during his or her time here.
And in the spring, the tradition of Oregon track and field continues at legendary Hayward Field.
So get out and explore and support the variety of Oregon sports teams that we have.
This whole year will be one to remember here in Eugene.
And on another note, even though this is the first issue of the school year, this will be the last edition of Holding Court.
Thanks for reading.
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