What a show it could’ve been.
The Pacific-10 Conference’s top two running backs — Oregon’s Onterrio Smith and Oregon State’s Steven Jackson — battling it out for the rushing title, busting big runs in the biggest game of the year, the Civil War.
Instead, with Smith sidelined after knee surgery, Jackson will be the lone star in the backfield Saturday at Reser Stadium. Which leaves Oregon’s struggling offense to rely on two virtually unknown tailbacks in Terrence Whitehead and Ryan Shaw, California natives playing in their first Civil War.
But Oregon’s offense won’t change without Smith. And running backs coach Gary Campbell said he’s still anticipating a good show from his backup ‘backs.
“I’m expecting good things out of them,” Campbell said of Whitehead and Shaw, Oregon’s new one-two tandem in the backfield. “I’m not expecting a fallout. I expect those guys to step up and carry the load.”
They have yet to show that they can be as effective as Maurice Morris and Smith last season, but Whitehead, a true freshman, and Shaw, a redshirt sophomore, are just getting started.
“They’re both capable of starting and playing the whole game, but I just feel that they have some strengths that we need to take advantage of,” Campbell said.
Taking advantage of everyone is no easy task in a stacked backfield, even without Smith. Besides Whitehead and Shaw, senior Allan Amundson and redshirt sophomore Kenny Washington are also vying for carries.
“When you have such a talented backfield, it’s hard to keep everybody happy,” Campbell said. “We know, that in this league, you’re always going to need guys. And that’s what it’s come to now. We need them.”
 
Listed as an “athlete” in the Oregon media guide, Whitehead says he has equal desire to play on both sides of the ball.
“I love playing defense, but I love to score touchdowns,” said Whitehead, a standout at safety and running back at Crenshaw High School in Los Angeles. “If the coaches don’t want to give me a try on the defensive side — I have been trying to put a little bug in their ears — I think I’ll be committed to get ready for the backfield.”
Already this season, the 5-foot-10, 202-pound Whitehead has shown his commitment as a tailback — and talent. In place of Smith, Whitehead rushed for 132 yards on 29 carries in a win over Stanford, though he has been slowed of late by ankle injuries.
“He is a student of the game,” said Amundson, who shared a dorm room with Whitehead during fall camp. “Every night he was studying his playbook, asking me questions. He really wanted it, you could tell.”

Campbell compared Whitehead to former Oregon star Saladin
McCullough.
“The thing about Terrence is that he’s a real smooth guy. He has real good moves,” Campbell said. “He sees the field very well. He has a good feel for where defenders are and makes nice cuts.”
Getting to Eugene wasn’t easy for Whitehead. Originally signed in 2001, he had to sit out last season because his entrance exam score was challenged. After two games this season, though, an anonymous tip from the NCAA put Whitehead’s eligibility in question again, forcing him to miss the final two preseason games before taking another entrance test.
Now surely entrenched on the Oregon roster — and the man tabbed to replace Smith should he opt for the NFL after this season — Whitehead is no longer getting headaches from entrance exams. Instead, he’s creating the headaches on the field.
“I see myself as a playmaker,” Whitehead said. “I see myself putting up some big numbers for the Ducks.”
 
While Whitehead provides the finesse, Shaw is the power.
The son of former a former NFL player, Shaw is finally getting his chance to carry the load. In a losing effort against Washington last week, the 5-foot-11, 201-pounder had his best game in a Duck uniform, leading the Ducks with 42 yards on seven carries, a 6-yard average.
“I’ve been waiting for my opportunity for awhile,” Shaw said. “I’m just trying to make my reps count.
“I have faith that everything will work out.”
His father, Pete Shaw, played eight seasons as a cornerback for the San Diego Chargers and New York Giants. But Shaw said he never felt pressured to play football, which he picked up as a freshman in high school.
“I just can’t say enough about him,” Campbell said of Shaw. “Ryan’s a quick guy with a little more power than Terrence. Right now, I’d venture to say that (Shaw’s) running a little bit faster right now because he’s healthy. Unfortunately, he hasn’t gotten to play a whole lot this year, but fortunately he’s got fresh legs because of it.”
At La Costa Canyon High School in Carlsbad, Calif., Shaw tallied 2,580 yard and 33 touchdowns in his final two seasons. Upon coming to Oregon, though, Shaw faced the challenge of competing for playing time against the likes of Smith and Morris. As a freshman, he participated in just three preseason games. Last season, he redshirted to save his eligibility.
“He’s going to see more action this week and those guys are going to share the duties,” Campbell said. “(Whitehead and Shaw) have some things that they both can do and we’re going to let them do what they do best.”
What a show it could be.