Allan Amundson, Oregon’s senior tailback/kick return specialist, sat down with the Emerald as he prepares for his final regular season game.
The San Rafael, Calif., native is third in the Pacific-10 Conference in kickoff returns at 22.4 yards, and he has 31 rushes for 149 yards and one touchdown as a backup running back. He has also caught three passes for 48 yards for the Ducks (7-4 overall, 3-4 Pac-10).
For his career, Amundson has 114 rushes for 490 yards (a 4.3-yard average) and four touchdowns. He ranks second on Oregon’s career kick return list with 67 returns and 1,561 yards.
Amundson, who has a team-best 4.53-second 40-yard dash, also participated on the Oregon track team last spring.
Q) What’s your most memorable Civil War?
Unfortunately, my most memorable one is the one we lost two years ago in Corvallis. It was tough because all of the Beaver fans came out of the closet, and then there were Beaver flags everywhere, and that was tough to see. And you just have to live with that until the next Civil War. You can’t just shake it off because you’re reminded of it every time you see one of those flags.
Q) How do you want to end your
Oregon career?
Right now, I just want to get in there and play and play well. I’ve had some opportunities, but they haven’t really worked out. To get in there and do great would be awesome.
Q) Describe what’s its been like for you here the last couple years.
It’s been a little difficult, but I still have fun. It seems like every year there’s been at least one awesome running back in front of me. That’s not easy to handle, but I’d still rather have them on our team as opposed to some other team. Winning is more important than the number of carries that I get. It’s fun to watch them. I have nothing against them; I love them to death. Of course I’d like to play as much as I can, but I’ve had some people in front of me that are better. I’ve accepted it, and it pushes me to try that much harder.
Q) What is your role on this team?
With some of the younger guys that haven’t had a lot of experience, sometimes they come to me with questions, and I’ve been here for four years and I usually know the answer. I just try to help out as much as I can. I don’t get that many reps, so I have to do as much as I can with every one. It seems like a lot of pressure sometimes because it’s often a a third-down situation when I get in there, and it may not go that great. There’s some pressure, but I’m willing to work hard all week, all year, four years… whatever, I’m ready for it. This being the last senior game, of course I want to play. I don’t know how many reps I’ll get, but I want as many as I can get.
Q) You interned at the Springfield Police Department last year. What did you gain from that experience?
I was pretty sure I wanted to be a police officer, but I didn’t have any idea what a being a police officer was like. The internship allowed me to learn what it was really like. All I knew about being a police officer was from television and the media. The internship sealed the deal. I can’t wait. It’s awesome. It’s everything I hoped and imagined it would be. At some point, I’m going to end up a
police officer.
Q) Who’s faster, you or Samie Parker?
I’d say Samie. I have the fastest recorded time. I guess it was a good day on the new turf and Samie wasn’t there that day. I’ve faced him in track, and 100 meters is a little long for me, but even in 50
meters indoors he can get me. He’s blazing.
Q) Are you going to run track again this year?
I’m thinking about it. I still have to talk to (conditioning coach Jim Radcliffe) about it. I don’t like track that much. I like the meets, but practices are real tough. I remember getting dizzy after one drill and almost getting sick last year. It was terrible. But I love the relay, the team aspect of it. I don’t like the 100, I get too nervous. It’s a precision sport, and if you do it right, it feels so good.
Q) Do you golf?
Yeah, I took a golf class this summer. My girlfriend, Katie Cunningham, is on the golf team. I haven’t played her yet, and I don’t want to. I’m pretty good, but she’s too good. It would be embarrassing (laughs). I love golf. It’s frustrating, but it’s a lot of fun.
Q) Your ideal foursome?
It would be fun to play with some of the greats, but I wouldn’t want them to see me play. If I had to pick, I’d say (quarterback) Jason Fife, we did some golfing this summer, (fullback) Matt Floberg, my girlfriend and maybe throw Tiger Woods in there, too. I need to learn from someone.
Q) What are you going to miss most about being a Duck?
The stadium, the crowd, and just playing at Autzen. Everything. I don’t know if I’ll miss practice that much, but everything else. It’s been awesome. It’s weird how fast it flies. Four years seems like a long time, but it’s gone by like that (snaps his fingers). In a flash. It’s been challenging, but it’s been the most fun four years of my life.