Oregon Ducks Football Campus Voice: Students Debate Jeremiah Masoli, Nate Costa

Did anyone else think the Oregon Ducks' win at UCLA last week was a bit strange?

That’s the vibe around campus these days, as the Ducks needed their defense and their special teams to win? What is going on?

Students this week seemed to be thanking our defense and special teams, rather than our supposed prolific offense.

Last Saturday’s game was a needed wake-up call to all Oregon students and fans. We are an extremely lucky bunch to be able to watch and root for such an incredible offensive juggernaut week in and week out.

Not many teams around the nation have the athletes, coaches, or ability to run an entertaining and effective offense that makes their fans jump joyously and cheer crazily as they pound the ball down the opponents' throats.

Obviously that offense was not on display last weekend during the UCLA game, and there are some easy answers that students have been pointing to.

For one, Masoli was not playing.

From what I have been gathering, students feel like Nate Costa did well.

Well, let me rephrase that. Nate Costa did everything he had to do not to lose the game, which, I guess, is good enough. But I don’t think we are looking at a future star quarterback for this Ducks team.

Rather, Costa will be able to fill a hole for one game, or one drive here and there until the starter can return.

This leads into the next thing that is on the minds of students and fans alike: Will Masoli be back for Washington? Or will Costa need to play again? Can Oregon win with Costa at Washington?

Based on the way Washington is storming back into Pac-10 contention after a zero-win season a year ago, it is fair to say that Oregon will need to be completely healthy in order to beat the Huskies in two weeks.

Those early season grumblings of students wanting Costa to start over Masoli have now ended.

The relics of month-old Facebook groups that called for Masoli’s head and wished for Costa to be the No. 1 quarterback can still be uncovered.

Students all over campus have now realized that Masoli is the key to the offense and is integral to the Ducks' success. Most only hope that the two weeks Masoli took off doesn’t mean a setback in production for the Washington showdown.

While the general feeling agrees that Masoli is needed, Oregon history tells us that a quality backup at quarterback may be very, very useful. Costa is a serviceable backup that could be crucial to Oregon’s season because of the uncertainty of Masoli’s knee injury.

Hopefully the Ducks can use this week off to get back to 100 percent and catch their breath a bit. I know I need it.