After three weeks of writing about the Duck's losses, it's a great relief to write about the victory over USF in the Sun Bowl. As much as the fans suffered from the unexpected highs and even deeper lows, it was the players that earned my sympathy. Playing hard all year long and still finding a way to win with all the injuries, they fall victim to the loss of Dennis Dixon to lose the last three. Seeing signs of life in the Civil War was encouraging and with another three weeks to prepare the 5th string quarterback Justin Roper, the Ducks came out energized and with purpose.
Additionally, the time was well used allowing Jonathan Stewart to rest his turf toe. Seemingly innocuous by name, it is a debilitating injury and had hampered Oregon's leading ground gainer for much of the latter part of the season. But on New Year's Eve, with the line leading the way, JS sets a Sun Bowl record with 253 yards.
The game opened with way too many flags by a crew that seemed to belong on a different field. While there were penalties to be sure, this crew called anything and everything, warranted or not, slowing down the pace of play and denying each team the opportunity to find its rhythm, a Sun Bowl record for penalties was set. All in the first half! Once the refs figured out that this was not a MAC game, but a game with the big boys, Oregon takes it to USF and pounds them in the second half, stretching the halftime lead of 18-14 to the 56-21 final margin.
Oregon's defense came to play and earned a few of those flags with an over exuberence that was perhaps understandable given they had carried the Ducks are far as they could, playing at a high level over the last three games yet came up empty. Now that they had an offense to back them up, they were not going to squander the opportunity to shut the door on USF.
Hats off to them and glad to see that Patrick Chung's injury was nothing more serious than a vicious, unintended leg whip from a teammate. The secondary lulled USF QB Matt Grothe into a false sense of security and moved in for the picks in the second half. Meanwhile the front seven filled the gaps and locked up a USF running game to the point of non-existence on New Year's Eve.
As the USF players and coaches attested, this Oregon team was bigger, stronger and faster than any team they played, and that included their victory over WVU. While Steve Slaton is an outstanding back, his very slight advantage in quickness over JS does, in no way, offset the 40 pounds deficit his frame carries. The USF players found that out first hand.
The offensive line really opened some huge holes for JS and protected Justin Roper who had a chance to show off his good decision making by throwing the ball away when there was nothing available. More impressive is his arm, which, like Dennis Dixon's, shows a whippiness that has the ball explode off his hand. That he overthrew some open receivers is understandable and something he can improve upon. He has shown an ability to throw on the roll out without having to set his feet and if he can develop the accuracy he currently lacks, this young man could be an outstanding Pac 10 quarterback.
This was a great year for Duck football despite the letdowns with the injuries. The team displayed their willingness to do the things they needed to win. They exhibited resolve when things got rough, as well as the faith in their teammates that they could turn it around at the end of the season.
These young men gave us a great ride and offered the hope that next year, if not to the absolute top of college football, at the very least, a solid, competitive Top-20 team. And who knows, with the way things went this year, the possibility always exists that things can break your way and if it happens the possibility of a Top-10 season isn't to be discounted. Go Ducks!
