One word comes to mind when I reflect back on Nov. 21, 2009: stressful.
I have never been more on edge as a sports fan than last November when then-No. 11 Oregon traveled to Tucson to take on an unranked, but bowl-eligible, Arizona Wildcat team.
At the time, the Ducks sat 8-2 overall and 7-1 in conference play with only Arizona (6-3, 4-2 Pac-10 at the time) and Oregon State (then, 7-3, 5-2) remaining on the schedule. Just two weeks prior, Oregon stumbled at Stanford for its first loss in over two months. A sloppy win over Arizona State followed and then on to Arizona.
I can remember sitting around the TV, watching the Zona Zoo climb its way down to field level, anxiously waiting to charge the gridiron after a stunning upset.
Enter Ed Dickson.
With just six seconds left in regulation and Arizona students chomping at the bit, the senior tight end grabbed an eight-yard touchdown pass from Jeremiah Masoli and Morgan Flint split the uprights to send the game into overtime. I think we can all remember Ed’s touchdown celebration; it stayed on the SportsCenter opening credits for some time after. A defining moment in the historical season and one that has vividly stuck with me.
Back to the game.
Suddenly, thousands of Arizona students were forced to return to their seats for the overtime period. The teams would exchange scores once more; Arizona kicked a field goal; and Masoli found the end zone eight plays later to seal a 44-41 Oregon victory. It didn’t happen quite that fast, but escaping Tucson and having a Rose Bowl left to play for was a huge relief, to say the least.
Thanks to the beauty of the Pac-10 schedule alternating each year, here we are again. Two conference games left on the schedule — Arizona and Oregon State. This year, however, Arizona has been flirting with the top 25 consistently, coming in at No. 22 this week.
But make no mistake (as if you need the heads up), the repercussions in 2010 are much, much larger. A perfect record and national championship hopes lies in the balance, with two opportunities left to prove worthy of a title shot, or settle, yes settle, for a Rose Bowl berth.
As this much-needed bye week draws to a close and the more attention I pay to Arizona, the more the Wildcats start to scare me. It’s hard to say which Wildcat squad will show up on game day. The team that upset a top-10 ranked Iowa team in September, the team that fell at home to Oregon State, or the one that got blown out by Stanford two weeks ago?
On paper, the matchup looks to be the most intriguing of Oregon’s recent contests. Arizona (who, by the way, also had a bye this week) features the top-ranked rush and pass defense in the Pac-10, as well as the league-leading passing attack that averages more than 300 yards per game (11th nationally). Oregon, meanwhile, brings in the top-ranked scoring offense in the nation. The Ducks’ 50.7 points per game is actually the lowest total of the season after being held to just 15 points in Berkeley.
Most of the big names are back from a year ago. Jeff Maehl and LaMichael James, Nick Foles and Nic Grigsby — this time, in Eugene.
The venue will make all the difference. A cliché, maybe, but true nonetheless. For the majority of Oregon fans, this post-Thanksgiving matchup will be the last time they get to see the Ducks play live during an emotional 2010 season. Some will have the fortune of getting into Reser Stadium the following week, some even the bowl game later on.
Regardless, the contest marks the final home game in the best year in Oregon football history. Seems like yesterday I was watching Kenjon Barner run for five touchdowns against New Mexico, and now it’s almost bowl season?
It will be the biggest game of the week for the Ducks (right, Chip?) and one that has the usual colossal implications. It seems like we’re saying that every week, but this time there’s no mistaking an epic showdown will ensue.
I just hope, for my sake, Oregon can get a little bit of breathing room late so I can enjoy an 11th Pac-10 win without pulling my hair out in the process.
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