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About Oregon daily emerald. (Eugene, Or.) 1920-2012 | View Entire Issue (Sept. 21, 1987)
Continued from Pay 9D when he became coach to employ an option attack on of fense. reasoning that his chances of wresting a pro-type prospect from the pass-happy California schools were slim In 1979 Reggie Ogtnirn burst on the scene and made it seem like a very wise move. Ogtmrn guided the Ducks to their first back-to-back winning seasons in lti years. |M>sting a f>-5 mark in 1979 and a fi-3-2 record in 19R0. It was the (rest of times for Oregon football, but brooks was still frustrated in his efforts to turn the corner. 1 KITES AM) OTHER DELIGHTS ♦dual CONTROL STUNT KITES ♦flags ♦wind CHIMES ♦other WIND-RELATED ITEMS 344-KITE KITKS \M> OTIH.K DELIGHTS 1U K. 5th Kuiivnr That frustration was perhaps best indicated when the Ducks hosted USC on Oct. IB. Two ap parent touchdowns were disallowed by the officials, who gave the- Troians a controversial touchdown ruling, and Oregon was forced to settle for a 7-7 tie. "We still should have beaten them." lirooks said as he tap ped on the telephone receiver. Still, the Ducks were ft-2-2, and only a road vic tory over Arizona Stale stood between Oregon and postseason play. The subsequent 42-37 defeat was particularly disappointing to lirooks Those teams were, according to brooks, “the best l‘ve had in terms of balance between of fense and defense. It was a fun two years because we were competitive.” Perhaps it was the pressure to retain that competitiveness that Ic’d to the problems that surfac ed in 1‘tHl, when the Duc ks found themselves on NCAA probation and ineligible for imstseasun play A range of violations from players using WATS telephone lines to the discovery of a slush fund resulted in Oregon losing five scholarships for five years and being meligble for television or bowl games for three. "I don't know if you ever per- - sonally get over something like that," he said, his fingers again moving towards the telephone. “The step from being a 2-0 program to becalming a 500 one Is diffic ult, and the next step is even tougher,” lirooks noted. "We had built the program up to a c ertain level and then got whacked We fell tack down and just now are getting tack to where we were in '79 and '80 as a viable foottall team." In retrospect, the punishment levied against Oregon seems harsh to Brooks, particularly in light of recent revelations at Southern Methodist University and other national powers. The impai t was immediate, as the thicks skidded to marks of 2-9 and 2-8-1 in 1981 and 1982. respectively. In 198:i change seemed in order, and Brooks brought in Bob Toledo to coach the quarterbacks in the new pro set. One of the players who benefited from the change was a lightly recruited freshman quarterback named f’.hris Miller, who started the last two games that season after Mike Jorgenson sufferer! a broken leg. Miller "was inconsistent, which you expocl from a young quarterback. But the talent was there, and the level of ability could he seen, lie Just had to put it together, and obviously be did.” Brooks said. With Miller at the helm, and a supporting cast that included NFL products Tony Cherry and taw Barnes, the Ducks found an offense But they gave up points as quickly as they scored them, beginning a trend which con tinues to this day. After a 4-8-1 record in 198.1. the Ducks jumped out quickly in 1984. winning their first four games. After giving up 50 and 44 points to Washington State and Arizona State, respectively, Oregon wound up just 0-5. A number of factors con Jewish Students who observe Rosh Hashanah will be allowed to register for fall term at an alternative time. Please come today to the J.S.U. desk (Suite 5 EMU) or Koinonia Center (14th & Kincaid) for alter native registration procedure and time. *Vm just a dumb old coach who will pro bably get fired and die a coach. I have no plans to do anything but coach. ’ — Rich Brooks tributed to the Ducks defensive demise. Brooks believes. In juries. recruiting gambles that didn't pan out. and a change in offensive philosophy around the Pac-10 all had an effect. “The level of talent dropped just a little bit at the same time the other teams in the league opened up their offenses." Brooks recalled. "Southern Cal and Washington used to line up and pound you. but you could hold on and match up with quickness. When they opened up it put more pressure on our defense Then you're thin and if you get hurt you really have to scramble." Brooks said. That scramble continues. Miller has moved on. leaving back-to-back 5-6 seasons in his wake. Brooks looks forward to the day when the schedule does no! include two nonconference games a year with national powerhouses but makes no ex cuses. saying if Oregon wants to he a good team it has to win those games. "We’re playing too many of what I call 'athletic director games.' They are lucrative. They help pay the bills. They don't help you win games or go to bowls." The Oregon mentor denies aspirations to move off the sidelines to an athletic director ship or another administrative position. "I'm just a dumb old coach who will probably get fired and die a coach. I have no plans to do anything but coach." Defense Continued from Page 9D ed a lineman for a linebacker. “We ll have more speed and more mobility. The disadvan tage ia going to be having one less big guy on the line." Going into the Ducks fall camp, the throe starting defen sive linemen are expec ted to be Matt Brock and l)evin Fitz Patrick on the ends, and Putzier at nose tackle, with Chris Izmpold as Putzier's backup Brooks said that Putzier may see time at one of the end spots. Senior Tom Talbot and sophomore Mark Kearns arc; SUMMER COMPUTER SALE! \4uUGt sss Ika naouM 5699 LEADING EDGE* Model “D" WYSE286 High Pertomunc# AT “r *1975 Authorized Soles WYSE • Toshiba • Amiga • Delta • ond Service Leading Edge • Novell • Panasonic Delta VlltaM Mall (NaittoEITaritos) 342-1298 staled to start at the two inside linebacker slots, with juniors Scott Kozak and Mike Blakey on the outside. Brooks is also high on linebacker Scott Whitney, who played at Ventura Community College in California. "The key players will be the three down linemen — I’utzier, Brock, and FitzPatrick. And hopefully we'll have David Cusano back," Brooks said Cusano is recovering from knee surgery What Study-Crazed Students Say About Onsen ©risen HOURLY MOT 1U4 Rf HIM CaN 345-9044 for reservations. I 1660 Gordon Avo.. Eugono
