game day: september 3, 2010
DESCRIPTION
Game Day for Oregon game against the University of New MexicoTRANSCRIPT
FRIday, septembeR 3, 2010
Vs.UnIVeRsIty oF oRegon UnIVeRsIty oF neW meXICo
Game DayOregOn Daily emeralD daIlyemeRald.Com
IVaR Vong | photo editor
Vol. 112, IssUe 11
Thomas Takes The helm of oregon’s offensepage 3
game pReVIeWdespite wildly disparate 2009
seasons, ducks and Lobos give
sophomores starting quarterback
positions in season opener
page 2
neW meXICo notesYoung Lobos squad relying on
linebacker Carmen Messina to
anchor their defense while trying to
rebound from 1-11 2009 season
page 6
oRegon notesWinners selected in heated position
battles at kicker, linebacker, cornerback;
offensive linemen Kaiser, Asper
switch roles on right side
page 6
» CheCK out dAiLYeMerALd.CoM for reAL-tiMe updAtes froM the gAMe
2 OregOn Daily emeralD FriDay, September 3, 2010
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the oregon daily emerald tracked down junior-college- transfer tight end brandon Williams after practice this week to discuss things outside the oregon playbook — from the recruiting process to the kitchen.
OregOn Daily emeralD: When did you first get to eugene?
BranDOn Williams: i came out on an official visit for the arizona State game, and i moved here officially Jan. 2.
ODe: What was the recruiting process like coming out of junior college?
BW: it was very different. Out of high school i didn’t take too many visits or anything, had a few offers and stuff like that, and this was my only visit, so it was pretty exciting.
ODe: Was Coach Kelly pretty involved in the process?
BW: Somewhat, yeah. before i took my official, i didn’t talk to him too much. i talked to like Coach Frost and Coach Osborne and stuff like that. then after i came on my visit, he came and made a trip out and stuff like that and talked with my mom.
ODe: What are your first impressions of eugene?
BW: it’s great. i love it. i like how
everybody’s real laid back and show a lot of hospitality to the students and athletes.
ODe: So what have some of the guys told you about playing in autzen Stadium?
BW: i’ve been hearing a lot of great things. you know, it’s pretty amazing. great experience that i’m looking forward to.
ODe: you close with any of the guys on the team in particular?
BW: i’m pretty much close with all the guys. We’re all like a big family, you know. We hang out a lot.
ODe: you live with any of those guys?
BW: yeah, i live with ryan Clanton. ODe: How’s that?BW: Oh it’s pretty good. We’re both from
the same situation coming from a junior college. it was pretty good because we got to go through the same things together.
ODe: Who does the cooking between you two?
BW: me, of course!ODe: Oh yeah, what’s your specialty?BW: i’d have to say chicken alfredo.
— lUCas ClaRk
lUCas ClaRk | sports editor
nine months after their first rose bowl appearance in 15 years, the no. 11 Oregon Ducks look ready to begin defending their pac-10 Conference title. First up is the new mexico lobos.
Saturday’s matchup marks the first-ever meeting between the two programs, which sit at two very different ends of the college
game forecasTForecast: 76 degrees. sunny with clear skies.
aT a glanceWho: No. 11 oregon ducks vs. New Mexico Lobos
What: the 2010 season opener
When: 12:30 p.m. on Comcast sportsNet
Where: Autzen stadium
the No. 11 oregon ducks host Mountain West Conference opponent New Mexico in the 2010 season opener. redshir t sophomore running back Kenjon Barner will shoulder the majority of the carries with last season’s leading rusher, LaMichael James, sidelined from action as he serves a one-game suspension. sophomore quarterback darron thomas will make his f irst collegiate start for the ducks.
CAtChiNg up With »BranDon WIllIams
gAMe preVieW
Ducks, lobos face off to open 2010oregon trying for two straight pac-10 championships; New Mexico seeks multiple wins
turN to pReVIeW | pAge 8
IVaR Vong | photo editor
oregon junior college transfer Brandon Williams has worked his way into the No. 2 tight end position since arriving in eugene in January. his powerful build and soft hands offer yet another explosive threat to an already-potent offense.
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RobeRt HUsseman sports reporter
After practice on Friday, Aug. 27, Oregon head coach Chip Kelly and offensive coordinator Mark Helfrich called them in.
Darron Thomas and Nate Costa entered the office separately, with the two coaches outlining their ultimate decision.
“We were honest. That’s what we’ve tried to do all through this, just keep those guys abreast of where we are,” said Helfrich, who doubles as the Ducks’ quarterbacks coach. “As we approach a game week, we need to hone things in.”
Thomas, a redshirt sophomore from Houston, and Costa, a fifth-year senior from Hilmar, Calif., were informed of their fate.
Kelly then left Eugene for a function in Portland; the rest of the team would find out with the first snap of Saturday’s practice. So too would the media, whom Kelly led to believe that Saturday would mark the announcement.
“We felt it was very important to inform those two guys first, then come out on the field and practice,” Helfrich said.
At 5:34 p.m. that evening, the athletic department’s official Twitter account for publicly released information linked to a press release, saying simply, “Thomas Named Ducks Quarterback.”
Word spread like wildfire through local media channels, the general public and the football players themselves.
“Somebody texted me and told me,” said running back LaMichael James, whose first chance at working with Thomas will come September 11 at Tennessee. “One of my friends told me, ‘Hey, Darron’s the quarterback.’ I was like, ‘Really?’”
Thomas did his repetitions with the first team in Saturday’s practice to confirm beyond all possible doubt. Costa worked with the second team.
The practice was Oregon’s first of the “game week,” with scout team members donning red jerseys and lining up in expected formations.
“Darron had a good practice, and Nate had a good practice,” Helfrich said. “That tells a lot
about how you and your teammates handle it. They both did great, and the team ended up doing really well.”
So what swung the coaches in favor of Thomas over Costa?
“One of the things with both those guys, it was a body of work through the spring, through preseason camp,” Kelly said. “We sat down with the staff, had a long discussion about it, and we just feel for where we are offensively and what we’re going to do that he’s the best choice.
“You only can pick one. If I could pick two, I would’ve picked two. And it’s a tough thing because I care so much about Nate. I know what Nate means to this program, but you can’t play two quarterbacks.”
Thomas said he received “a lot of support from the guys, just saying ‘get ready, let’s go, step it on.’”
“I’m just thankful to be here and to be in this position,” he said. “But it’s just the beginning. I haven’t did nothing yet; this is just one fall camp. Now it’s on to games and leading the team through games.”
And what of Costa? The fifth-year senior fought back
roster
Quarterback contest ends with thomas named starter
redshirt sophomore wrested role from senior Nate Costa
turN to tHomas | pAge 6
patRICk malee sports reporter
arizona at Toledo(5 p.m. Friday on eSpn)the 2010 Wildcats season
begins in Ohio as they face off with toledo. Junior quarterback nick Foles will pick up where he left off last season, taking the reins for his first full season as a starter. the returners are ready for a fresh start after the Wildcats embarrass-ment in last December’s Holiday bowl. that game will be best remembered as the first shutout in Holiday bowl history, with nebraska winning 33-0. luckily
for Foles and the rest of nine returning offensive starters, toledo is no defensive juggernaut. the rockets struggled on defense last year, giving up 37.7 points per game en route to a 5-7 record. Sophomore austin Dantin earned the starting quarterback job for the rockets after starting three games last season, throwing for four touchdowns and 962 yards. toledo led the mid-american Conference in total offense last season.
Key stat: toledo has yet to record a win in four total appearances against pac-10 teams.
Ucla at kansas state
(12:30 p.m. Saturday on abC)rick neuheisel and the UCla
bruins may be in a position to
surprise this season. after a rocky start, UCla won four of its last five games in 2009, including a 30-21 win in the eaglebank bowl over temple. though just five starters return on defense, the unit should be strong under the leadership of junior safety rahim moore and senior linebacker akeem ayers. both have been listed as players to watch, both for national awards and the nFl Draft. the starting quarterback situation is less certain, with neuheisel set to choose between sophomores Kevin prince and richard brehaut just before game time. For Kansas State, senior Carson Coffman has earned the starting job at quarter-back. returning in the backfield is senior Daniel thomas, a star
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ucks
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35.9points per game allowed by the New Mexico defense in 2009,
ranking last in the Mountain West Conference and 113th in the nation
36.1points per game scored by the oregon offense, ranking No. 1
in the pac-10
41sacks allowed by the Lobo offense
in 2009, most in the Mountain West Conference
36sacks recorded by oregon defense
in 2009, most in the pac-10
6.0Yards per carry averaged in 2009 by running back Kenjon Barner, who
will start in place of LaMichael James
0Number of times oregon and New Mexico have faced off
2Margin of victory in New
Mexico’s sole 2009 victory, against Colorado state
162Number of tackles recorded
by junior Lobo linebacker Carmen Messina last season,
leading the nation
one of the few bright spots in an disappointing rose Bowl last season was a play by running back Kenjon Barner, who shredded ohio state’s defense for 227 all-purpose yards.
Now, as LaMichael James serves his one-game suspension, Barner will finally have the opportunity to spin his wheels in the starting lineup.
Looming on the other side, however, will be standout linebacker Carmen Messina. the junior led the nation with 162 tackles last year and will likely be keyed on Barner for much of the game. the anchor of an otherwise-shaky defense, Messina will be relied upon heavily to keep an explosive oregon running game at bay.
As the Buckeyes learned last January, this is easier said than done. And yet, Messina has another favorable asset on his side. A native of Addison, ill., he led Addison trail high school with more than 3,000 career yards as the team’s running back. standing 6’2” and weighing in at 236 pounds, he also runs the 40-yard dash at a respectable 4.76 clip.
though surely not as speedy as Barner, Messina is no deadweight, and few players are more dangerous than a power linebacker with the instincts of a running back.
the matchup between Barner and Messina should be fascinating, and could have a substantial impact upon the outcome of the game.
BY theNuMBers
sTarTIng lIneUps
oRegonneW meXICooffense
Wr: d.J. davis
Lt: Bo thran
Lg: Carson York
C: Jordan holmes
rg: C.e. Kaiser
rt: Mark Asper
te: david paulson
Wr: Lavasier tuinei
Wr: Jeff Maehl
QB: darron thomas
rB: Kenjon Barner
offense
Wr: Chris hernandez
Lt: Byron Bell
Lg: Karlin givens
C: dillon farrell
rg: Mike Cannon
rt: Maurice Mears
te: Lucas reed
Wr: Bryant Williams
Wr: ty Kirk
QB: B.r. holbrook
rB: demond dennis
Defense
de: terrell turner
dt: Brandon Bair
dt: Zac Clark
de: Kenny rowe
oLB: Josh Kaddu
MLB: Casey Matthews
oLB: spencer paysinger
CB: Anthony gildon
fs: John Boyett
roV: eddie pleasant
CB: talmadge Jackson iii
Defense
de: Johnathan rainey
dt: peter gardner
dt: ugo uzodinma
de: Jaymar Latchison
oLB: spencer Merritt
MLB: Carmen Messina
oLB: Joe stoner
CB: Anthony hooks
ss: Bubba forrest
ss: freddy Young
CB: deshawn Mills
specIal Teams
pK: eric solis
Ko: eric solis
p: Jackson rice
Kr: Kenjon Barner
pr: Kenjon Barner
Ls: drew howell
hLd: Nate Costa
specIal Teams
pK: James Aho
Ko: garrett hentrup
p: Ben skaer
Kr: Bryant Williams
pr: ty Kirk
Ls: evan Jacobsen
hLd: Ben skaer
kenJon baRneR (24)ruNNiNgBACK
CaRmen messIna (58)LiNeBACKer
BArNer photo BY IVaR Vong | photo editorMess iNA photo CoURtesy oF JUnFU Han | dAiLY LoBo
septembeR4 vs. New Mexico, 12:30 p.m.
11 at tennessee, 4 p.m.
18 vs. portland state, 3:15 p.m.
25 at Arizona state, 7:30 p.m.
oCtobeR2 vs. stanford, 8:15 p.m.
9 at Washington state, tBA
21 vs. uCLA, 6 p.m.
30 at usC, 5 p.m.
noVembeR6 vs. Washington, tBA
13 at California, tBA
26 vs. Arizona, 4 p.m.
deCembeR4 at oregon state, tBA
2010 Uo scheDUle
septembeR4 at oregon, 12:30 p.m.
11 vs. texas tech, 5 p.m.
18 vs. utah, 5 p.m.
25 at uNLV, 7 p.m.
oCtobeR2 vs. utep, 3 p.m.
9 at New Mexico state, 5 p.m.
23 vs. san diego state, 7 p.m.
30 at Colorado state, 3 p.m.
noVembeR6 vs. Wyoming, 3 p.m.
13 at Air force, 3 p.m.
20 at BYu, 3 p.m.
27 vs. texas Christian, 1 p.m.
2010 Unm scheDUle
2009 neW mexIco reTUrnIng leaDers
2009 oregon reTUrnIng leaDers
players To WaTch4 OregOn Daily emeralD FriDay, September 3, 2010
lUcas clark spoRts edItoR
anDy DrUkareV
spoRts RepoRteR
roBerT hUsseman
spoRts RepoRteR
paTrIck malee spoRts RepoRteR
Week 1
emerald sports writers predict the winners
of this week’s games
pIck The pac
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RUsHIng att yds aVg td longL. James 230 1546 6.7 14 60
K. Barner 61 378 6.0 3 48
passIng Cmp att pCt yds tdN. Costa 20 33 60.6 197 1
ReCeIVIng Cat yds aVg td longJ. Maehl 53 696 13.1 6 73
L. tuinei 24 217 9.0 - 37
d.J. davis 23 233 10.1 2 23
deFensIVe tkl ast Int tFl/yds saCksJ. Boyett 62 28 3 2.0-6 -
s. paysinger 45 36 - 8.0-16 1.5-3
C. Matthews 40 41 1 4.5-25 3.0-22
J. Lewis 54 24 2 4.5-20 2.0-12
e. pleasant 37 17 1 8.0-29 4.5-20
RUsHIng att yds aVg td longd. dennis 78 454 5.5 3 62
J. Wright 50 320 5.8 2 84
passIng Cmp att pCt yds tdB.r. holbrook 19 34 55.9 170 1
ReCeIVIng Cat yds aVg td longt. Kirk 36 427 11.9 2 59
V. James 35 398 11.4 3 45
d. Jones 35 369 10.5 3 31
deFensIVe tkl ast Int tFl/yds saCksC. Messina 80 82 1 8.0-50 3.0-32
f. solomon 53 32 1 0.5-1 -
t. hardaway 37 38 - 6.5-15 -
f. Beca 37 29 1 1.0-2 -
J. rainey 30 22 - 15.5-117 9.5-93
6 OregOn Daily emeralD FriDay, September 3, 2010
Jesse Davis 04.03.09
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lUCas ClaRk | sports editor
as the new mexico lobos prepare to enter autzen Stadium for the first time in program history this Saturday, second-year head coach mike locksley will have his hands full with an eager Duck faithful itching for a new year in Oregon football.
the lobos finished their 2009 campaign with a 1-11 record overall, while their lone win, a 29-27 defeat of Colorado State, didn’t surface until late november.
Starting the 2010 season, new mexico features an influx of new blood throughout the program, with 31 underclassmen on the 55-man depth chart. the program has a 2-21 all-time record facing nationally ranked opponents on the road.
“they’re a very athletic team,” Oregon linebacker Spencer paysinger said. “they have a big offensive line; you know, some of them are returning.
“they have a fresh quarterback coming in, so hopefully we can use that to our advantage.”
that quarterback, sophomore b.r. Holbrook, will be making his first career start for new mexico after seeing limited action during his redshirt freshman year in 2009. Similar to the Ducks’ quarterback competition between Darron thomas and nate Costa, Holbrook was not named the starter until the conclusion of fall camp.
Holbrook will head a lobo attack in its second year as a no-huddle spread offense, which locksley implemented when he arrived in 2009. the new-look offense showed mixed results, however, as new mexico was outscored 431-196 on the season. they averaged just 16.3 points per game, while giving up more than 35.
“anything can happen, you know what i mean,” Oregon junior rover eddie pleasant said. “We’ve got to go out and look at it as any game. if it was Ohio State, if it was USC, they play college
football just like we do — i’m sure they’re going to be ready too.”
Defensively, the lobos will show a 4-3 front, with one of the nation’s top linebackers anchoring the unit. Junior Carmen messina — named to the bronko nagurski trophy watch list for the nation’s best defensive player — returns from a stellar sophomore campaign. in 2009, messina paced new mexico as the leading tackler in the country, accumulating 162 total stops, 68 more than his second-leading teammate, Clint mcpeek, who tallied 94 takedowns.
messina, an honorable m e n t i o n a l l - a m e r i c a n selection, averaged 13.5 tackles per game in 2009, including a stint of eight straight games in which he recorded just fewer than 15 tackles per outing. the 6-foot-2, 236-pounder has the speed (4.76 in the 40-yard dash) and athletic ability (33.5-inch vertical jump) to contain some of the nation’s top offensive weapons.
this offseason, the lobos were able to ink one of the highest rated recruits the program has ever seen, tying down four-star defensive lineman prospect Calvin Smith. Smith, a two-time first team 6a all-state selection in Florida, turned down
a slew of scholarship offers from the nation’s traditional powers to play for new mexico.
During the recruiting process, locksley understood Smith would be the headliner of his first recruiting class at new mexico, and he felt he couldn’t have picked a better young man for the job.
“i said, ‘Calvin, how are you going to justify coming to new mexico to all the negative people?’ He said, ‘Coach, i’m a leader, not a follower,’” locksley said during his national signing day press conference. “to me, those are the type of kids that you’re going to win with. it speaks volumes about his character, his family and the way he’s been brought up.”
Smith was a U.S. army all-american bowl nominee after posting 50 tackles, eight sacks, and scoring three defensive touchdowns during his senior season. He will likely see consistent action on the interior alongside junior defensive end Johnathan rainey. rainey was one of the most productive defensive linemen in the conference last season, recording 9.5 sacks and 15.5 tackles for loss. [email protected]
RobeRt HUsseman sports reporter
because senior placekicker rob beard is suspended for no. 11 Oregon’s season opener against new mexico, the Ducks have named a freshman to the starting spot.
“i talked to Coach (tom) Osborne after practice (on Friday),” true freshman kicker alejandro maldonado said. “He said that he decided that he wants to redshirt me.”
that leaves the job of kickoffs, extra points and field goals to walk-on freshman eric Solis. the 5-foot-10, 182-pounder from Sherman Oaks, Calif., is the only left-footed kicker on the team.
maldonado, who verbally committed to Washington before signing with the Ducks, will back up Solis along with punter Jackson rice in case of emergency.
b e a r d ’ s s u s p e n s i o n stems from a guilty plea to a misdemeanor charge of physical harassment, after a Jan. 24 street fight that left him in critical condition. the sophomore from Fullerton, Calif., would have to undergo facial reconstructive surgery. Former Oregon kicker mike bowlin was also involved in the fight and pled guilty to one count of harassment; he left the
team in February.cornerback
Junior anthony gildon, who started three games for the Ducks last season, was tabbed to start opposite senior cor-nerback talmadge Jackson iii against the lobos.
“i don’t think there ever was a decision for us,” Oregon secondary coach John neal said. “anthony’s been the starter since the rose bowl.”
Sophomore Scott grady and senior Chad peppars were listed as the second string, with redshirt freshman avery patterson and sophomore
Cliff Harris the third-string cornerbacks. neal made no commitment to the depth chart, saying he plans to play all his cornerbacks as often as he can.
“the other two are twos also. it’s not a two-three position,” he said. “it’s a two-slash-two position until i know who’s going to step up in a game situation.”outside linebackerin a position battle that
often resulted in highlight reels for spectators, Josh Kaddu held off redshirt freshman boseko
Lobos had one win, negative-235 point differential in 2009
NeW MexiCo Notes oregoN Notes
Solis, Kaddu, gildon win starting position battles
Downtrodden new mexico recovering from dismal year
JaCk HUnteR | photogr Apher
oregon offensive lineman Mark Asper blocks Arizona state defensive tackle saia falahola on Nov. 14, 2009. Asper has flipped positions with duck lineman C.e. Kaiser and will be the starting right tackle this saturday.
CoURtesy oF keRR adams | dAiLY LoBo
New Mexico sophomore quarterback B.r. holbrook will make his f irst collegiate start against the ducks on saturday. Appearing in five games last season, holbrook completed 19 passes for 170 yards and one touchdown.
turN to oRegon | pAge 8
rob Beard expected to regain kicking role after suspension ends
physically and mentally from three devastating knee injuries. His leadership and presence on the team, many figured, would be valuable for a starting quarterback.
“Nate took it the way I would anticipate Nate to take it. Nate’s awesome,” Kelly said. “I’m sure he’s disappointed, and it’s gotta be tough when you’re told you’re not going to be the guy right now.”
Costa admitted to reporters after Saturday’s practice that he was “a little bit disappointed.”
“I feel pretty confident in Darron’s abilities to lead this team, and I’m going to follow
him,” Costa said. “He had a better fall camp, when you look at it. That’s why he won the competition.”
The oft-acknowledged elephant on the field is the prospect of quarterback injury. Costa, who said he expects quite a bit of playing time, knows this all too well. If not for a knee injury suffered in 2008 fall camp, Duck fans would have never known about Jeremiah Masoli, or deeply missed him.
There is, of course, more to the depth chart than what lies on the surface. Oregon’s No. 3 quarterback this fall will be Bryan Bennett, a true freshman from Encino, Calif., who wowed spectators and earned praise from coaches for his fall camp performance.
“I feel like it went pretty good. It’s just a lot of hard work and, you know, picking up this playbook to kind of be comfortable with what we’re doing,” Bennett said. “That’s all going to come with time and I’m getting to feel a little more comfortable as the days come.”
Bennett, looking at times like the best quarterback on the Ducks’ roster, has a better feel for the college game after watching an intense, month-long competition for the starting spot.
“You know, I thought either one of those guys were capable of getting it done,” he said. “I’m excited for Darron, hoping he goes in there and does well, which I think he will.”RHUsseman @daIlyemeRald.Com
tHomasfroM pAge 3
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employment193 Internships
Lead nature walks for k-5 grade students at Mt. Pisgah Arboretum. Flexible hours. Great Experience! Orientation: Sept 7, 6-8:30pm, Morse Ranch Park, 595 Crest Drive, Eugene. 541-747-1504, [email protected], www.MountPisgahArbore-tum.org
205 Help WantedBARTENDING! Up to $300/day. No experience necessary. Training available. 800-965-6520 x118
Environmental Education work-study position at Mount Pisgah Arboretum, 7 miles from UO. Assist with school field trip program. 12-15 hours. Flex-ible. 541-747-1504, [email protected], www.MountPisgahArboretum.org. Send cover & resume.
ADULT CHEWERS NEEDED FOR RESEARCH
Daily tobacco chewers & snuff us-ers can receive $100 for two visits to Oregon Research Institute in Eu-gene. This is not a quitting study. The Novel Smokeless Tobacco Study is funded by the National Cancer Insti-tute. Call Julia at (541) 434-1545 or 1(800) 903 5449.
Administrative AssistantNow hiring for fall term. Friendly and professional demeanor. Computer savvy – spreadsheet skills a plus. Comfortable with basic math and able to check own work. Two posi-tions - must be available to work a 2.5 hour shift either morning or af-ternoon every Mon-Fri when school is in session. Must be a UO student, work study preferred. Pick up ap-plication at 300 EMU or download online at dailyemerald.com. EOE Committed to a culturally diverse workplace.
events312 Community Events
Amazon Community Center has a new pre-school called Mr Jim’s Ex-ploratorium. Starting September 13 our pre-school will focus on art and nature to develop the whole child. Come see our beautiful mural and meet artist/educator Jim Robinson. Open house Thursday September 9 5-7pm at 2700 Hilyard, Bldg B. 541-682-5373.
rentals/real estate210 Houses for Rent
1942 Emerald. 4+ bedrooms, 2 bath. Near Campus. 4 off-street parking spaces. $1,800. No pets. 915-3101.
220 Apartments UnfurnishedStudio near Eugene Library. 1057 Charnelton. Newly remodeled, park-ing, no pets. $415/mo. w/s/g paid. Avail now. 541-514-2259.
rentals/real estate230 Rooms
Quiet ,responsible male to share small 3/1 furnished home in Spring-field / Thurston area with male pro-fessional. Unfurnished bedroom to rent for 500 inclusive. Near Main St. busline. WIFI, W/D.Call TIM at 541-324-1884 or respond to [email protected].
235 Duplexes for Rent3 bedroom duplex with 1 and 1/2 baths. Living area, dining, kitchen and lots of storage. Enclosed ga-rage. Large lot on bus line and con-nects to LCC and EMX to U of O. Invest, don’t flush your rent money ! Great tax advantages and 1/2 the duplex pays 1/2 the mortgage ! A no brainer ! Call 541-510-1966 for details
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255 Housing WantedCozy 3-bedroom, Close to UO. New windows, bamboo flooring. 1500.00 1st, last & dep. No pets. 2560 Kin-caid St. 541-342-5354.
253 Boarding Houses2 large bedrooms available in the Odd Fellows Lodge, located in Oakridge, Oregon. Looking for re-spectul, eco-green folks wanting to contribute to the well-being of the place. On bus line to Eugene. $350.00 per month, pet’s negoitable. Please contact, Debora at 541-782-5825 or [email protected]
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running back who gathered 1,265 yards and 11 touchdowns in 2009.
Key stat: the bruins have won their last five season-opening games. Uc Davis at california
(1 p.m. Saturday) after ending the 2009 season
with two disappointing losses, the golden bears return to action at home against the aggies. perennial Heisman candidate Jahvid best may be gone, but head coach Jeff tedford appears to have found an able replacement in junior Shane Vereen. replacing an injured best in the team’s final four games in 2009, the explosive tailback averaged 141.5 yards per game and scored six touchdowns. With the backfield all to himself this year, the sky appears to be the limit for Vereen. also returning for his senior year is quarterback Kevin riley. UC Davis, meanwhile, is coming off a 6-5 season under veteran head coach bob biggs.
Key stat: Of California’s eight wins against UC Davis, six have been shutouts.
sacramento state at stanford
(3:30 p.m. Saturday) though unranked to start the
season, many have picked the Cardinal as a dark horse candidate for the pac-10 title. Star running back toby gerhart may now be playing with brett Favre in the nFl, but redshirt sophomore quarterback andrew luck and
head coach Jim Harbaugh remain a source of genuine optimism around palo alto. after passing for 2,575 yards last season and throwing just four interceptions, luck has even made it into the Heisman conversation, while Harbaugh is considered one of the better coaches in the nation. With gerhart gone, look for luck to take the reins of what should be an upstart team in the conference. meanwhile, senior mcleod bethel-thompson will start at quarterback for the Hornets. a UCla transfer, bethel-thompson will certainly face a challenge in his first ever season-opening start.
Key stat: Junior wide receiver Chris Owusu has averaged 29.3 yards returning kicks for his career, best in Stanford history.
Washington state at oklahoma state
(4 p.m. Saturday)after a 1-11 2009 season
that could only be described as dismal, the Cougars look for a fresh start in 2010. the road will not be easy, however, and Oklahoma State is certainly no pushover. Cougars sophomore Jeff tuel will start at quar-terback, looking to improve upon an uneven performance in 2009. the likely starter at running back will be senior James montgomery, who returns from an injury-plagued 2009. meanwhile, Oklahoma State begins what may be a tran-sition year after the departures of quarterback Zac robinson and wide receiver Dez bryant. Stepping in at quarterback will be 26-year-old junior brandon
Weeden, who will be expected to lead an offense that averaged 28.4 points per game last year.
Key stat: the Cougars were outscored by an average of 24.3 points in 2009.
Washington at Brigham young
(4 p.m. Saturday)all eyes will be on senior quar-
terback Jake locker, whom many analysts consider the top overall nFl Draft prospect in the class of 2011. in 2009, under the tutelage of first-year head coach Steve Sarkisian, locker threw for 2,800 yards and 21 touchdowns, while also rushing for 388 yards and sev-en scores. the Huskies compiled a 5-7 season, which included a stunning upset of then-no. 3 USC and a 42-10 whipping of then-no. 19 California to cap it off. On the Cougars’ side, junior riley nelson and freshman Jake Heaps will lead a two-headed attack at quarter-back, replacing standout max Hall.
Key stat: locker scored three times in his last meeting with byU in 2008, a 28-27 loss. no. 24 oregon state
at no. 6 TcU(4:45 p.m. Saturday on eSpn)in an otherwise mundane
opening weekend for the pac-10, this matchup stands out. beavers head coach mike riley made the bold decision to accept a week one face-off with a powerhouse Horned Frogs squad, a choice that could make or break Oregon State’s season. Without former quarterback Sean Canfield, both Jacquizz and James rodgers will be relied upon more heavily than ever. running back Jacquizz’s star was
officially born in 2009, when he rushed for 1,440 yards, totaled 78 receptions for another 522 yards, and scored 22 total touchdowns. Wide receiver James, meanwhile, led the beavers with 91 receptions in 2009 while also returning kickoffs and punts. promising sophomore ryan Katz takes over at quarterback, while dominant tackle Steven paea anchors the defense. Still, the Horned Frogs present a significant challenge with a defense that held opponents to just 12.8 points last season.
Key stat: the beavers find themselves in the preseason ap top 25 for the first time since 2001.
portland state at arizona state
(7 p.m. Saturday)a disappointing 2-7 pac-10
season now in its rearview mirror, arizona State looks for a fresh start against portland State. michigan transfer Steven threet earned the starting job at quarterback, beating out junior Samson Szakacsy and sophomore brock Osweiler. Soph-omore linebacker Vontaze burfict, meanwhile, looks to improve upon an impressive freshman season during which he earned pac-10 Defensive Freshman of the year honors. portland State enters 2010 looking for redemption as well, having finished 2009 with a 2-9 record. the defense is in particular need for improvement, having giv-en up 33.8 points per game in 2009.
Key stat: though arizona State and portland State have never met, Sun Devil head coach Dennis erickson is undefeated (4-0) against the Vikings. [email protected]
paC-10froM pAge 3
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lokombo for the final starting linebacker spot. Kaddu, a junior from Vacaville, Calif., who recorded 21 tackles in seven games before a foot injury ended his season, joins Casey matthews and Spencer paysinger in the middle of the defense.
“Kaddu has a little more experience. He was playing really
well last year until he went down with that injury,” linebackers coach Don pellum said. “i think bo was probably one of the most impressive guys on our defense through fall camp. i think that’s a very healthy, good competition for us.”
Senior bryson littlejohn, initially considered for the outside linebacker slot, will instead back up matthews at middle linebacker. Sophomore mi-chael Clay is listed as the backup
to paysinger.“i think our depth is pretty
good,” pellum said. “i don’t think we have a whole lot of guys, but i think the guys we have know the scheme, know the system.”
offensive line
the Oregon offensive line returns all five of its starters (63 of 65 possible starts) and many of its backups, but offensive line coach Steve greatwood made an adjustment with the hope of
improved results.Senior C.e. Kaiser and junior
mark asper will start at right guard and right tackle, respective-ly, against new mexico. Kaiser started 12 of 13 games at right tackle in 2009, while asper started 12 of 13 games at right guard.
Kaiser is seen as the more physically explosive blocker in the running game, while the 6-foot-7 asper’s mobility is important in pass [email protected]
pReVIeWfroM pAge 2
football spectrum. Oregon, coming off another
10-win season, returns 17 starters from last year’s rose bowl team.
“One thing i love about this football team is the depth we have right now,” second-year Oregon head coach Chip Kelly said.
new mexico is looking to build off its 1-11 finish a year ago, but the lobos are projected to finish last in the mountain West Conference this season.
both Oregon and new mexico endured the challenge of naming a new starting quarterback this offseason, with a pair of sophomores getting the nod.
For Oregon, the lanky Darron thomas will get his first starting bid at the offensive helm, while b.r. Holbrook receives his first starting job for the lobos.
“you know, i think it’s a good thing for our team,” junior tight end David paulson said. “you know, the coaches decided (thomas) was the best fit for our team for us to be successful, and i trust our coaches made the right decision. i think he’ll do great.”
in addition to thomas, a trio of other Duck players captured their first collegiate starts: junior defensive end terrell turner, senior defensive tackle Zac Clark and freshman kicker eric Solis. it’s expected, however, for sophomore rob beard, currently serving a one-game suspension alongside star running back lamichael James, to reclaim the starting kicker spot when the Ducks travel to tennessee next week.
in place of James, the pac-10 Freshman of the year last season, fellow redshirt sophomore Kenjon barner will get his first opportunity as the Ducks’ no. 1 running back.
On monday, barner was named to the paul Hornung award watch list for the most versatile player in college football. His mark of 1,553 all-purpose yards ranked eighth in the conference last season,
while also setting the Oregon single-season record for kickoff return yardage with 1,020.
new mexico gave up 5,024 yards of total offense last fall, putting even more pressure on the lobo offense. the unit did feature the nation’s leading tackler in junior Carmen messina with 162, but the lobos experienced relatively little success on that side of the ball in 2009.
For both teams, however, Saturday couldn’t come soon enough.
“i’m tired of going against our offense,” senior linebacker Spenser paysinger said. “Our offense is one of the most complicated in the country. So when we can finally start toning it down and start focusing on new mexico, it’s a good day.”
With James out of the lineup and true freshman bryan bennett surpassing redshirt freshman Daryle Hawkins as the Ducks’ no. 3 quarterback on the depth chart, new mexico will look to contain Hawkins as a triple threat.
“Daryle’s going to play everyone,” Kelly said. “He’s learning how to play running back — he’s still learning how to play receiver — but he’s a dynamic guy with the ball in his hands ... we need to get him on the field because of what he can do for us.”
Hawkins has seen time with the first and second teams in practice and will likely spend some time at the slot receiver position on game day. He still considers himself a quarterback at heart, but he admitted he’s willing to do whatever he can to help the team.
“yeah, i mean, to get on the field it ’s great experience.” Hawkins said. “i’m happy. it’s my redshirt freshman year, it’s been a whole year off since i really got to be on the field in a live situation, so i’m excited.”[email protected]
mIke locksleyUnm Head CoaCH