Oregon Football: The Ducks Last Stand

"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.