Something was hurting him on that October night in Southern California.
But of course, the competitor in him wouldn’t let him admit it.
A.J. Feeley was more devastated about his team’s 34-29 loss to UCLA than some nagging arm problem. It was a loss that he nearly saved after a heroic gut-wrenching 88-yard drive with one minute and 16 seconds left.
The only problem is that Feeley’s dart to wide receiver Marshaun Tucker with less than four seconds left ended one yard shy of the Rose Bowl end zone.
Little did anyone know at the time, but that heartbreaking defeat would signal the beginning of the end for Feeley’s 1999 campaign.
Never mind the fact that Feeley entered the contest that night leading the Pacific-10 Conference in passing after throwing 161 passes for 1,389 yards and 11 touchdowns.
Following his 20 of 47 passing performance for 313 yards, he went on to start the next game at Arizona on Oct. 22. But after opening the game by completing just seven of 23 passes, head coach Mike Bellotti made the switch to Joey Harrington, who proceeded to rally the Ducks to the dramatic 41-38 win.
Feeley was again given the start the next week at home against Arizona State, but he only completed nine of 25 for 134 yards in the first half. And again Bellotti handed the ball over to Harrington in the second half.
And as all Duck fans remember, Oregon won a wild 17-13 affair in which Harrington found Tucker in the end zone with only nine ticks on the clock.
Harrington ended up taking over the starting job, and Feeley was back on the sidelines — the spot he had occupied for the previous three years — one as a redshirt and two as a third-string quarterback behind Akili Smith and Jason Maas.
Questions surrounding his arm crept into some people’s minds, but most were more caught up with Harrington and the team’s astonishing success.
Feeley was left behind in the shadows for the rest of the season. And sure enough, in the winter it was determined that the quarterback — who had waited so long for his turn to shine — had some painful nerve damage in his elbow.
Feeley was required to wear a cast during the winter, and he was unable to work out. It was yet another challenge that stood in his way.
“That was really frustrating,” Feeley said. “I didn’t know what was going on. I wasn’t sure if I was going to have to have surgery or if it would heal on its own. It’s fine now, but it’s still not where I want it to be.”
But that’s not stopping the Ontario, Ore., native from engaging in yet another Oregon spring quarterback battle. Last spring it was the heated battle between Feeley and Harrington that drew plenty of spotlight, but this spring things aren’t exactly the same.
“Probably the main difference between this spring and last is just the media,” Feeley said. “Just having to deal with questions day in and day out. ‘How did you do today compared to Joey?’
“So it’s been less competitive in that aspect, but as far as on the field, it’s still really competitive between the two of us.”
The quarterback duel will certainly still be one of the major focuses of Saturday’s annual Spring Game at 1 p.m. in Autzen Stadium, for which admission is free.
“Joey Harrington is the starter based on the way we finished the season,” Bellotti said. “But we have two great quarterbacks, and as I’ve said for many, many months now, I’m pleased with that.
“We’re very fortunate and very blessed.”
It would be easy for Feeley to feel the exact opposite of his coach. But the soon-to-be senior is not complaining. Rather, he’s competing.
In the scrimmage last Friday, Feeley looked impressive in completing seven of 10 passes for 68 yards and a touchdown.
“I’m always confident,” Feeley said. “I don’t look at this spring as a chance to prove myself because people know what I can do.”
Teammates are amazed at how well Harrington and Feeley handle such a delicate circumstance.
“I’m surprised with how well they do,” fullback Josh Line said. “It’s a really weird situation. Either one of them could probably start at any other Pac-10 school.”
But instead both QBs are in Eugene, and that’s fine with Feeley. He is as excited as ever just to get back on the field on Saturday and get his arm back to where he knows it can be.
“I’m really excited to play in front of a crowd again at Autzen,” Feeley said. “I’m going to get through this and get back on course.”