Remember those 1933 Oregon Ducks?
Not many do.
But at 12:30 p.m. on Saturday, in front of a regional ABC television audience and a charged-up Homecoming crowd at Autzen Stadium, the 2001 Oregon Ducks have a chance to match their predecessors of 68 years with the best start ever.
Should Oregon beat visiting Stanford, it would improve to 7-0 and go down in history with that ’33 squad, along with the Ducks from 1930, as the only Oregon teams to win their first seven games.
That’s a long 68 years. Among some of those futile Oregon teams between now and then was the 1978 version that opened its season at 0-7. And the 1974 team that won two of its first three before losing its final eight games. And, who could forget the 1950 Ducks and their 1-9 dismal showing.
But history can be mind-boggling at times and all this year’s Ducks, ranked fifth in the nation, care to think about is the Stanford Cardinal and the challenges they present.
“They’re probably the most balanced team we’ve seen this year and maybe the most talented team so far,” Oregon head coach Mike Bellotti said. “We’ve got our hands full.”
It appears Stanford head coach Tyrone Willingham goes by the same school of thought, as he also played the balance card when discussing his impressions of the Ducks.
“Oregon has a heck of a football team,” Willingham said. “They are very good, very explosive offensively and probably the most balanced team we have faced this year.”
This game has presented a unique challenge for both teams aside from the usual Xs and Os. A key element to a team’s preparation in the week leading up to a game is to analyze the previous meeting with the team from the year before.
This week, Stanford (3-1 overall, 2-1 Pacific-10 Conference) and Oregon (6-0, 3-0) can’t do that since the two schools haven’t faced each other since 1998 because of league scheduling.
“It makes it a little bit tougher,” Oregon tight end Justin Peelle said. “Like last week, going into Cal, I knew that their outside linebacker would be good because I remembered how hard he played last year. So it’s tougher in that sense to get a feel for Stanford, but it just means you have to prepare a little more and watch more film.”
Oregon senior fullback Josh Line remembers being on the sidelines for Oregon’s 63-28 victory over Stanford at Autzen Stadium in 1998. He recalls watching quarterback Akili Smith pass for 357 yards and four touchdowns and admiring tailback Reuben Droughns as he rushed for 214 yards and three touchdowns.
But Line didn’t step foot onto the field that day. He was only a freshman, and says it’s a different feeling getting ready for a Pac-10 team he hasn’t faced before.
“Aside from a few guys, none of us have played against Stanford,” Line said. “I think this is going to be a really good test for us, probably the best test of the season so far.”
The Ducks will face a Cardinal team that is coming off a 45-39 loss at home to Washington State. Stanford, with the help of quarterback Randy Fasani and running back Brian Allen, is out to avenge its only loss of the season and attempt to put the first dent in the Oregon loss column in the process.
Along with the motivation of playing a team ranked in the top-10 comes the incentive of ending the nation’s longest current home-winning streak, which Oregon owns with 23 straight wins at Autzen Stadium.
Stanford will need to limit its turnovers to give itself a chance to win, as that’s been the area that the Ducks have taken advantage of most. Oregon leads the Pac-10 and is currently tied for second in the country in turnover margin with plus-14.
“The number one thing is eliminating mistakes,” Willingham said. “You have to make fewer mistakes than your opponent and not make critical mistakes that turn into points. If we do make a mistake, then someone has to step up and rectify that mistake.”
As for the Ducks, they know the hard part of their season has arrived. After three straight road games and three straight lopsided victories over the likes of Utah State, Arizona and California, the Cardinal should prepare them for what lies ahead:
Stanford at home; No. 19 Washington State on the road; Arizona State at home; No. 4 UCLA on the road; and, three weeks of nothingness later, Oregon State at home.
“We’re having fun, but you have to stay focused,” Line said. “To be honest with you, from now on, it’s all uphill. We haven’t really played anybody that poses a legitimate challenge to us. Stanford is the first of many.
“It’s all business now. The best is yet to come.”