The billboard’s message was loud and big: “We’re back.”
The 100-foot billboard, featuring Oregon’s Keenan Howry, was another New York promotion for the Oregon football program.
The billboard featuring Howry’s likeness was dropped this week so Onterrio Smith could get a share of the limelight.
But as his poster comes down, Howry is sending a new message: He’s back.
Battling nagging injuries throughout August practices and the first month of the season, Howry has once again emerged as the Ducks’ potent offensive threat.
While his picture stood tall for two months in Manhattan, the senior wide receiver had just three catches in the first two games this season, well below his career average of nearly four catches per game.
“It just took opportunity and time to make some catches. That’s all I can ask for,” said Howry, who, like all the receivers, had to adjust to first-year starting quarterback Jason Fife.
Now healthy for Pacific-10 Conference play, Howry has again looked like the best receiver in school history, which his numbers should prove by the end of the season.
Two weeks ago in Arizona, Howry nabbed his first touchdown of the season. Against UCLA last week, he returned a punt 79 yards for a score and took a Fife pass 74 yards for a fourth-quarter touchdown.
“I’ve said all along that Keenan will show up and make plays,” Oregon head coach Mike Bellotti said. “He’s as dangerous catching the football as he is on a punt return. He’s a complete football player.”
With a catch against Arizona State this week, Howry will tie the Pac-10 record for most consecutive games with a reception. He has had a reception in every game he’s played except his first in 1999 (a game the Ducks lost at Michigan State), a streak that extends 41 games and includes 36 Oregon wins.
“I’m not just going to go out and try to do that. If (the record) happens, it happens,” said Howry, who also leads the conference with 13.7 yards per punt return.
Against Arizona State last year, Howry racked up nine receptions for 126 yards and four touchdowns. He needs 15 catches and 570 yards to become Oregon’s all-time leading receiver in each of those categories.
But the 5-foot-10, 170-pound Los Alamitos, Calif., native said he cares little about records right now.
He just wants people to know he’s back.