Sports
Dennis Clay:
out of the shadow &
By Paul uanzer
Of the Emerald
He isn't an All-American.
While Oregon cornerback Steve Brown plays in the
spotlight of national recognition from Playboy
magazine, his counterpart Dennis Clay is doing his job
in the shadows
The 5-9, 175-pound senior cornerback has been
doing his job so quietly that the Emerald had trouble
finding a photo of him But he's been doing some job
After starting all four games this fall at cornerback.
Clay leads the team with interceptions at two and is
sixth on the team in tackles with 28
"The first game I didn't play that well,” said Clay of
his exploits this season "It seems like each game I'm
getting better I'm able to read stuff a lot better now I'm
more confident "
Clay started four games last season, and several
the year before But Saturday when the Ducks travel to
Los Angeles to challenge the USC Trojans at 1 30 p m ,
it will be a special start for the Los Angeles native
“I always like playing USC or UCLA.' said Clay
"My parents and a lot of friends will be there I am going
to try to go all out for them "
It won't be the first college appearance at the LA
Coliseum for Clay, who went home to play when the
Ducks upset UCLA two years ago And it won't be his
first start against the Trojans either He was a starter
when the Ducks and USC battled to a 7-7 draw in their
last clash two years ago at Autzen Stadium
That game was one of the highlights of Oregon
football while Clay has been here In 1980 they were on
their way to a 6-3-2 season Now they are on their way to
LA with an 0-4 mark The Trojans are 2-1 on the season,
with wins over Indiana and Oklahoma to counter a
season-opening loss at Florida
It's always frustrating to lose." said Clay of the
poor start of the season, which has seen the offense
sputter through the first three games while the defense
was coming up with tough efforts "But, you can't blame
it all on them. Last week we kind of let them down in a
way," said Clay in reference to last Saturday's Husky
comeback in Seattle
The only people Clay has let down this season have
been the opposing quarterbacks who try to keep the
ball away from Brown
"He has done real well this year," said Duck
defensive coordinator Andy Christoff of Clay With
Dennis, Steve Brown, and Wendell Cason we have
three real quality cornerbacks It makes a coach feel
Steve Brown. No 28. has been in the spotlight this season, as he was here when he returned a punt for a
touchdown against San Jose State, but Dennis Clay. No 10. hasn't been tar behind.
real secure hawing them back there
Not only is Clay a talented athlete, but he is
successful off the field as well He will graduate in June
with a degree in Sociology
‘ Besides being a heck of a football player, he is a
real fine individual," said Christoff
After graduation Clay plans to return to Los
Angeles, where his father is a county sheriff, to work
with parolled convicts
His first interception came against Fresno State,
and it came in the defense Clay finds toughest to play —
the goalline defense
Because you're all by yourself, you have to read
the receiver's eyes to determine when the ball is going
to get there," Clay said of the goalline defense. That is
exactly what he did in picking off Jeff Tedford s pass for
Stephone Paige in the corner of the end zone
"I saw him put his hands out I turned around and
the ball was there I just reached up and grabbed it, " he
said of the spectacular theft
A natural athlete. Clay used all of his 31-inch
vertical leap on the play Before coming to Oregon he
used that ability on the basketball court at Pierce Junior
College in California He played just one year of high
school football, but returned to the sport after his
freshman year at Pierce
As one of the smaller players on the field, Clay is not
enthusiastic about trying to stop the running game,
especially if a pulling guard is in the way
I just try to dodge those guys, stay out of the way
and wait for the ball carrier," he said
Clay has not gone totally unnoticed opposite
Brown He has talked to several pro scouts, and
received letters from pro teams, he said But he isn't
overly concerned with a pro football career. "If it
happens, it happens," he said
Playing opposite Brown is an advantage, according
to Clay. "I think it's kind of in my favor because they
might not challenge him, so I get to make more big
plays We sort of complement each other
Clay came up with another big play last weekend,
when he thwarted a Husky drive in the first quarter with
another timely interception
Although he probably won't join Brown on the
pages of Playboy, Clay has his sights set on making his
mark for Oregon this year
"At the start of the season I wanted to come up with
five interceptions this year, not break any coverages or
miss any tackles. And I hope for some kind of Pac-10
honor
"So far I think I'm on track."
If he keeps it up, he won't be tough to find anymore.
ANDERSON’S SHOE SALE
Puma Hi Top Leather
Reg. s5495
NOW $3995
Nike Lava
Dome
Reg. s4995
Converse Leather Low Top
Reg. s4295
NOW $2995
NOW s3995
Tiger Add Court
Reg. s2400
NOW $I295
Nike Woman’s Racquette
Reg. $3695 J^OW $3095
HARVEY FOX’S
sporting Goods
j, j
On Campus Location Only
Anderson’s in the basement ol the EMU
Hours 9.30 - 4:30 Monday through Friday
W