"The best laid plans of Ducks and men oft tend to go awry.”
It seems like so long ago now, but really was only three weeks, when the Ducks dispatched an undefeated Arizona State team and assured itself of at least a Rose Bowl berth as long as they took care of business against their remaining three hopelessly outmatched opponents.
But even then cracks were appearing.
Everyone knew Dennis Dixon had been hurt against ASU, but how badly was kept secret. Given that Dixon both wanted to risk playing and was cleared by team doctors, head coach Mike Bellotti has been ripped and defended for allowing Dixon to play against Arizona rather than prepping Brady Leaf to lead the offense over the long week of preparation. It was a risk that seemed to pay off when Dixon scampered for a score after one of his signature ball fakes on fourth-and-three and seemed to have the Ducks on the verge of running away with the game when the newly reinstated Jones dropped a pass in the end zone that led to a Wildcat interception and eventual touchdown.
But Dixon and Jonathon Stewart were still available, and with them how could Oregon be outscored by anyone? Then the infamous play, and the once vilified but now beloved Dixon suffered a collegiate career ending injury. In came the quarterback that last season some fans were screaming for, but none now trust, Brady Leaf. He lacked chemistry with his inconsistent receivers, and then sprained his ankle. Arizona finished the job in a game that may end up saving Mike Stoops' job.
With a hobbled then incapacitated Leaf and a turf toe slowed Stewart, Oregon made enough mistakes to lose to UCLA in Los Angeles despite the Bruins own struggles against a seemingly improved Ducks defense, and the final rude awakening to the dream season came.
Now a frustrated, emotionally drained Ducks team must take on a similarly banged up, but recently more successful arch rival. Oregon State has not won in Eugene since 1993, but if ever there was a time to break the streak, now is it. If Oregon’s receivers can build any kind of chemistry with the backup quarterbacks and stop dropping potential big play balls, the Ducks might score just enough for a fired up home crowd to cheer on the defense to beat the Beavers and earn a trip to the Sun Bowl. If they flounder in the face of the Beavers ferocious defense, a return trip to Vegas and possible rematch with BYU, who humiliated the Ducks a year ago, is in the offing.
There is no denying the dream is over. But that means it is time to wake up and take care of business. If Leaf and Stewart can recover in time for a bowl and the receivers (go-to man Jaison Williams in particular) develop some consistency, Oregon’s seniors can still go out on a high note. This will not be a season for the ages, but if the Ducks can reach deep enough, it could still be a season to remember. Or it could end up being the season every fan wants desperately to forget.
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10 months ago
From the top to the bottom so fast... It's a tough way to end the year. I was shocked to see them shut out by UCLA. We'll see if the Ducks can rally against the Beavers. It'll be tough - Oregon State knows this is a huge opportunity.
10 months ago
Yeah, so Dixon has a bum leg; but that doesn't mean that he can't still win the Davey O'Brien award. I sure would like to see him win it.
10 months ago
From the highest high to the lowest low...I love our Ducks but I fear the worst on Saturday. Being shutout by a team that could't even beat the worst Norte Dame team in a century was humiliating. But loosing to Oregon State - At Autzen - would be worse!
Our defence is the best I've seen in the 12 years I've been watching the ducks. I don't think they get enough praise for the hard games they have won! How I prayed that Patrick Chung would snag a pass from UCLA and run it back for a score and give us a chance! Well done boys holding them to 16 we wouldn't have been #2 with out you, Dennis is good, but our defence is great!
I have high hopes for the future with our freshmen quarterbacks and receivers (I'm a huge Pflugrad Pfan) but fear that these young guns are just not ready to beat the beavers. Please prove me wrong guys! GO DUCKS!
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