Phew. That’s all I can begin to say about another puzzling weekend of college football. No matter how long you try to wrap your brain around the possibilities of what can happen come bowl season, it’ll only tap the surface of what could transpire between now and then.
Again, the Pacific-10 Conference made itself look like the most schizophrenic league in the country. California couldn’t manage being the highest-rated team for one week before they collapsed against an Oregon State team that’s been perceived as underachievers all season. Despite knocking off the No. 2 team at the time, the Beavers failed to garner a single vote in the polls. USC gave another underwhelming performance by barely finishing off Arizona. Arizona State trailed at halftime to Washington before mounting a second-half comeback.
Now, for the first time in several years, the Ducks will be regarded as the best team in the conference, with the best shot at a BCS bowl. They’ve certainly been the most consistently good team in the Pac-10 thus far. Against Washington State, the Ducks made multiple statements about what kind of team this is.
It’s not a team that’s going to have a hangover after a tough loss. It’s not a team that’s going to let its personnel on the field dictate the way the team plays. It’s not going to crumble this time around.
But while the team may not fall apart, yet, key members of the team are.
Although Saturday’s win was impressive, it was hollowed in a matter of minutes by injuries suffered to Cameron Colvin and Jeremiah Johnson. While the offense has tremendous depth, both of them were key factors in Oregon’s offensive scheme. Colvin was already filling in for Brian Paysinger, who is also lost for the year, and thus Colvin is another senior receiver whose career as a Duck is over.
Johnson, while not a starter, was perhaps a more crucial loss because of his ability to relieve Jonathan Stewart during games and there would be no drop-off in terms of production from the running back position. Johnson was a key cog that made the Oregon offense so dynamic. Running the triple option with either Andre Crenshaw or Remene Alston won’t be the same.
Both players’ contributions on the field will sorely be missed but especially their spirit, especially the jubilant Johnson, who was on the sidelines during the second half cheering on his team. It’s a good thing for the Ducks that their offense is loaded and that its main components-Dixon, Stewart and the offensive line-remain intact. If the Cal-Oregon State game was any indication, it’s virtually impossible to replace your starting quarterback.
But the Ducks will continue to replace their veteran playmakers and keep moving as they try to entrench themselves atop the Pac-10 standings. The combination of Derrick Jones and Aaron Pflugrad will have to try to fill the void while Jaison Williams, Garren Strong and Ed Dickson will have to elevate their level of play.
Now when the Oregon players say they control their own destiny, I’ll believe them. Right now they reside in the 10th spot in the BCS standings and would likely earn a berth if the season ended today. If they can again fill in for the departed injured players and continue to win, who knows what could happen.
That much is certain in college football this year.
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