Four games into a season of high expectations, the Oregon Ducks are embarking on history.
Four years into his collegiate career, Keenan Howry hopes to make a long-lasting statement of his own.
For now, though, he’s going to have to wait. Patience and hope, it seems, are the only things he can cling to, the only things that may ensure his legendary status.
What makes a player great? Prestige? Accomplishments? Statistics? Records?
It’s each, really. And Howry is on the verge of it all.
How’s this for prestige? Howry has his picture plastered some 15 stories tall in Manhattan.
His accomplishments? When Howry came to Oregon in 1999 as a true freshman, he made an immediate impact. In game No. 2, Howry snagged his first collegiate reception, and he hasn’t stopped yet. Going into play against Portland State, Howry caught a ball in 38 straight contests — tied for the longest streak in the nation. If he continues the streak, Howry will have a chance to set an NCAA record for consecutive games with at least one reception Nov. 23 against Oregon State.
Stats? Through Idaho, Howry has 139 receptions, 1,994 yards and 19 touchdowns.
And his records? Well, they’re in the making.
Howry ranks third all-time in two different categories and needs just 24 receptions, 751 yards and 6 touchdowns to become the greatest Oregon receiver to ever don a green and yellow uniform.
But, if things continue to go the way they’ve gone through the first three games of the season, the All-American candidate might leave Oregon as just a name in the record books — not as the player he’d so much like to become.
See, when you ask Howry who’s the greatest Duck receiver of all time, he lists the only two names in front of his, Cristin McLemore and Tony Hartley.
And when you ask him where he stacks up in it all, he shies away.
“I don’t know, I mean that’s for a lot of other people to figure out,” Howry said.
But he can help a lot of people make their decision because, in sports, the numbers say it all. Long after the players leave and the memories fade, the stats still stand tall. Stats aren’t the only things that matter but, sometimes, they’re all that’s remembered.
So if Howry could be immortalized for just one thing in his Oregon career, what would it be?
“Touchdowns,” he quickly said.
But then, later, he said touchdowns and receptions are “interchangeable.” Truth be told, deep down, he’d like them all.
“I mean, I’ve led the team in touchdowns and receptions since I’ve been here,” Howry said. “That’s a great feat. If I can get those (records), it will be a great thing to accomplish. But, I mean, there’s a lot of other things that we’re out to get as a team. That’s first and foremost.”
That’s Howry for you. Team first, team second, team third. But honestly, what’s he really trying to do?
“I’m just trying to go out there and establish something for myself; trying to break the mold, just to be a little different than everybody else,” he said.
And, indeed, Howry is a little different.
Generously listed at 5 feet 10 inches, 170 pounds, Howry has been doing things right from day one. Undersized in many respects, the Los Alamitos, Calif., native relies on hard work and perfection to get by. While others have blazing speed, height and agility on their side, Howry has routine. Howry has practice.
Had, anyway.
After battling a nagging shoulder injury last year, Howry had surgery during the offseason. The decision forced him to miss all of the team’s spring practices.
Then, on day No. 2 of fall practice, Howry was again in pain. This time, though, it was his knee.
“I just woke up, and it was bothering me,” he said. “It scared me a little bit because … the doctors and trainers had no idea what it was. I mean, you just wake up and it hurts, hurts to kind of walk downstairs. So you’re really just out there with open eyes like, ‘Oh, I don’t really know what’s going on.’”
The injury kept Howry out of practice for two weeks. He wasn’t able to work. Wasn’t able to get hit. Wasn’t able to play football. And that, more than anything else, has taken it’s toll.
“Healthwise, I’m 100 percent,” Howry said. “But on-the-field-wise, I still think I’ve got just a little bit more to go.
“Hopefully it gets back to where I can go out there and perform at the level that I’m used to.”
Through the first three games of the season, Howry had just six receptions for 80 yards and no touchdowns. In fact, the four-year starter has almost become forgotten.
With Heisman Trophy candidate Onterrio Smith in the backfield, more than half of the snaps don’t leave the ground.
With new quarterback Jason Fife at the helm, traditions have changed, too. No longer is it the familiar connection of Joey Harrington to Howry. Since the spring scrimmage this past season, it’s become clear that Fife has an eye for emerging junior Samie Parker.
And even the offensive game plan, which Howry said is more uptempo under first-year coordinator Andy Ludwig, has changed.
All of which, whether Howry will admit it or not, probably have contributed to his declining production.
With a lofty goal of 1,000 receiving yards this year, Howry now seems content just to work his way back into the system.
“In our offense, it’s just one of those things where sometimes we’re going to be running the ball and sometimes we’re just going to be throwing the ball,” he said. “You just got to be patient with everything. I mean, (the records) might happen. (They) might not. I just got to go out there and have a lot of patience. What ever is going to happen is going to happen.”
But Howry doesn’t seem worried. All the wide out needs is a big game, and he’s had plenty.
Howry’s racked up six 100-yard games in his career, a mark just three contests short of a club record. He’s had giant games, too. Last year, Howry had 126 yards and a Pacific-10 Conference-record four touchdowns against Arizona State.
Howry said things haven’t changed that much this year. He still gets plays called for him and notes that he’s always an option on passing downs. He’s had success. Right now, though, it’s Parker’s turn. As Howry said, “Everybody’s going to have their certain plays. Everybody’s going to have their certain games.”
But Howry’s been the go-to guy for quite a while now. Sometimes, though, being a leader means adapting. If necessary, he’s ready to do that. He’s not going to complain, even if he is at a loss for words.
“Over the course of three years, I’ve really done well being the primary (receiver),” Howry said. “And now, it’s just that, you know, one of those things — things just happen.
“Everybody’s going to know who all three of us (receivers) are by the end of the year,” he continues. “That’s just the way we go out and do it. All three of us aren’t going to do well unless all three of us do well. It’s just one of those things where we have to be patient and wait our turn. We all know that every now and then, every game, it could be somebody different.”
Pretty selfless, really. But considering Oregon finished No. 2 in the country this past year and hopes to improve this year, now’s not the time to throw a monkey wrench in the system.
And as much as Howry’s grown as a receiver, he’s relied on consistency to get him through his playing days.
“Just being carefree, open, not letting a lot of things affect me, just staying patient,” Howry said, listing his attributes that have remained the same over his career. “Those are the things that have gotten me this far.”
So it isn’t surprising that Howry will continue in the same fashion he always has, quietly going about his work. He’s had his hand in the pot for long enough to know that, at least on this team, things look the bleakest before things look the brightest.
Through Idaho, Oregon’s 2002 campaign started 3-0. Since Howry began playing in Eugene, the Ducks have gone 33-6. The team i
s doing well, and despite his slow start this year, football still brings a smile to his face.
“I’m as happy as I can be,” Howry said. “I mean, given the opportunities that I’ve had, I think I’ve made the most out of all of them. I’m not one of the guys that go out there and say, ‘I need the ball. I need the ball.’
“I mean, I can only go up from here.”
Up, and if things start to go his way this season, all the way to the top of the record books.