Regardless of what the numbers say, Jason Fife is his own toughest critic.
In his words, the junior quarterback has had only a “decent” preseason, despite an 8-to-1 touchdown to interception ratio and a pass efficiency rating that ranks in the nation’s top-15.
“At times, I was frustrated with myself,” said the first-year starter, who had the unenviable task of replacing the legendary Joey Harrington. “I’ve missed some open receivers. And the offense hasn’t really clicked yet.”
Fife overcame a late fumble to pull off a Harrington-like comeback against Fresno State on Sept. 7, leading the Ducks (4-0) on a four-play, 43-yard touchdown drive in the final two minutes of the 28-24 victory.
“I think Jason Fife has done a great job of taking over the leadership role,” Oregon head coach Mike Bellotti said. “He’s earned his team’s respect because he’s brought them back from behind to earn a victory.”
Fife has made good on advice to play his own style, not just to imitate Harrington.
“(Fife’s) been himself. He’s not trying to be ‘Joey II’ or anything like that,” Bellotti said. “He’s as tough on himself as anyone else, if not harder.”

Speaking of…
Harrington won his first NFL game Sunday, a 26-21 victory over the New Orleans Saints, in his second career start for the Detroit Lions.
A week after throwing four interceptions in his inaugural start, Harrington, the No. 3 pick in the NFL draft this year, completed 20-of-36 passes for 267 yards, one touchdown and no interceptions.
“I thought he did pretty well,” Bellotti said of his former quarterback. “He was the beneficiary of some help from his defense early on, but certainly that drive at the end of the game to preserve the win was vintage Joey.
“I’m very happy for him.”

Flying south, again
Saturday’s game against Arizona marks Oregon’s first Pacific-10 Conference game of the season and its first road game. The Ducks have not played on the road since Nov. 10, 2001 — a 21-20 win over UCLA at the Rose Bowl — and have not lost on the road since Nov. 18, 2000, when they fell 23-13 in Corvallis.
“We need to rely on each other and create our own energy (on the road),” Fife said.
For the second straight season, and the third time in the last four years, Oregon travels to Arizona. The Ducks are also scheduled to play in Arizona next season.”It’s just one of those scheduling quirks that I’m not happy about,” Bellotti said.
The Ducks practiced inside the Moshofsky Center, where the turf is shorter and the temperature is hotter, on Monday to simulate the atmosphere at Arizona Stadium in Tucson. Weather forecasts call for a high of 88 degrees Saturday.
“On the road in the Pac-10 is a very difficult place to be,” Bellotti said. “When we go on the road, we have to change our mentality. We have to make sure we beat the home team, not just play with them, because you won’t win.”

Back on track
Freshman Terrence Whitehead, who rushed 10 times for 32 yards in the season-opener against Mississippi State, will be back in action against Arizona after a two-week eligibility fight with the NCAA.
Whitehead, a backup tailback from Los Angeles, had to retake his college entrance test to be eligible to play after an unknown source questioned the test he passed last spring.
A two-week break from football has slowed Whitehead’s conditioning, but Bellotti said he will most likely play Saturday.
“He didn’t appear to be in quite the shape he was … and I’m going to tell him I’m not pleased about that,” Bellotti said. “But Terrence is a great young kid, and he’s anxious to play, and I’m anxious to get him back in there.”

AcademiDucks
It seems success on the football field translates into success in
the classroom.
Of the Oregon football players who enrolled in 1995, 88 percent graduated within six years — the best percentage in the Pac-10.
The NCAA survey released last week also showed that Oregon graduated 79 percent of all its athletes. Comparatively, the University’s overall graduation rate is
59 percent.
For football, Oregon State ranked last in the conference with a 25 percent graduation rate.