2008 Woodie Awards
Can the Ducks win despite injuries?
Bryce Summers
Issue date: 11/30/07 Section: Big Red Sports
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This year, college football analysts have been spun around so many times that it is hard to tell which way is up. Pre-season predictions are notorious for their inaccuracy in the best of cases, and this season is no exception. In all the insanity that has been this season, of all the 'best' teams in the nation that have been knocked off their pedestals and all the teams that have had the privilege of being the former number two team in the country, not many can hold a candle to the roller-coaster ride that has been the Oregon Ducks' season.
After one of the Ducks' most promising first halves in recent history, the season has taken a frightening downturn. Not many weeks ago, things looked better than ever: the Ducks were the number two team in the country, and were a single win away from number one. The big East Coast schools had all fallen to weaker rivals, and all that stood in their way were the mewling 4-6 Arizona Wildcats.
Dennis Dixon was his usual amazingly explosive self and the offense looked to be picking apart the Wildcats' defense. Then, late in the first quarter, the national title hopes of the Ducks crumpled when Dixon planted wrong in the turf and sunk to the ground untouched. When all was said and done, Dixon was out for the season. The University of Oregon, though unable to recover the day's game, repositioned to stand behind backup Brady Leaf.
Oregon fell to number seven. The offense's potential was far downstream from where it was before, but far from inept, having Jonathan Stewart in the running back slot. As fate would have it, Oregon's woes were not to be over. Late in the first quarter against shaky UCLA, backup quarterback Brady Leaf suffered a nasty roll of his ankle and would not return. Suddenly, the Ducks were on the field with the fourth-string quarterback, Cody Kempt, at the helm. Running back Stewart had a sore toe and was not showing form as the PAC-10's leading rusher, so there wasn't much that the offense could do. Kempt was even given a break in favor of Justin Roper - the fifth-string quarterback. By the end, the Ducks' defense had played quite a game, but the offense was barely able to move the ball at all.
The question of how this season will be looked back on remains. Will it be the one that could have been, or will it be a solid effort despite harrowing predicament? Rivalry is in the air, and the ever-dangerous Oregon State Beavers are licking their chops at the thought of Duck stew. But despite incredibly crucial losses of game and personnel, the Ducks still have the skeleton of a top-ten team. Both their young quarterbacks got in some irreplaceable game experience last week. Stewart has a healed toe and he will be challenged by the best run defense in the country. From where I'm sitting, the game rests heavily on the shoulders of a young quarterback. Which one? Tune in and find out.•
After one of the Ducks' most promising first halves in recent history, the season has taken a frightening downturn. Not many weeks ago, things looked better than ever: the Ducks were the number two team in the country, and were a single win away from number one. The big East Coast schools had all fallen to weaker rivals, and all that stood in their way were the mewling 4-6 Arizona Wildcats.
Dennis Dixon was his usual amazingly explosive self and the offense looked to be picking apart the Wildcats' defense. Then, late in the first quarter, the national title hopes of the Ducks crumpled when Dixon planted wrong in the turf and sunk to the ground untouched. When all was said and done, Dixon was out for the season. The University of Oregon, though unable to recover the day's game, repositioned to stand behind backup Brady Leaf.
Oregon fell to number seven. The offense's potential was far downstream from where it was before, but far from inept, having Jonathan Stewart in the running back slot. As fate would have it, Oregon's woes were not to be over. Late in the first quarter against shaky UCLA, backup quarterback Brady Leaf suffered a nasty roll of his ankle and would not return. Suddenly, the Ducks were on the field with the fourth-string quarterback, Cody Kempt, at the helm. Running back Stewart had a sore toe and was not showing form as the PAC-10's leading rusher, so there wasn't much that the offense could do. Kempt was even given a break in favor of Justin Roper - the fifth-string quarterback. By the end, the Ducks' defense had played quite a game, but the offense was barely able to move the ball at all.
The question of how this season will be looked back on remains. Will it be the one that could have been, or will it be a solid effort despite harrowing predicament? Rivalry is in the air, and the ever-dangerous Oregon State Beavers are licking their chops at the thought of Duck stew. But despite incredibly crucial losses of game and personnel, the Ducks still have the skeleton of a top-ten team. Both their young quarterbacks got in some irreplaceable game experience last week. Stewart has a healed toe and he will be challenged by the best run defense in the country. From where I'm sitting, the game rests heavily on the shoulders of a young quarterback. Which one? Tune in and find out.•
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