(ikll) PROFILK
McClellan gets his chance to star for Oregon
By Ashley Conklin
Emerald Sports Editor
For the first three years of his
career. Michael McClellan's
name was hardly one that
jumped out when football fans
talked about Oregon.
Back in 1986. McClellan's
first year in the program, he
couldn't even practice with the
team because of Proposition 48
regulations. The following year
he rodshirted and in the next
two years his one highlight was
a 45-yard kickoff return against
Long Beach State last year.
But after watching some of
his close friends like Derek
Loville and Chris Oldham make
big plays for the Ducks. Mc
Clellan is finally getting his
chance and is now the one
making the big plays.
"It was frustrating at first."
McClellan said. "Chris Old
ham, my former roommate, and
I were both Prop 48 and we
talked about it a lot. whether
we would be at the same level
after losing a year.
"But it worked out and I got
things turned around and start
ed doing quite well in school.”
McClellan has made big
strides in both school and foot
ball. taking over as Oregon's
starting flanker after Tony
Hargain went down with a sea
son-ending injury in the Idaho
game, and picking up a degree*
in communications last year
and preparing tu complete one
in education at the end of this
term
"Michael has tremendous de
termination and a purpose in
life." wide receivers coach
John Ramsdell said. "He wants
to make something for himself.
Some guys can't see past to
morrow but Michael is working
for the future "
just as in school. McClellan
has always had the ability to be
successful playing football at
the Pacific* 10 Conference level;
it was just a matter of time be
fore everything came together.
With the likes of ].). Birden,
Sam Archer, Rod Green, Terry
Obee and Hargain ahead of
him. there was little room for
McClellan when he first came
to Oregon.
"We had a lot of great receiv
ers ahead of him and Michael
had a lot to learn." Ramsdell
said. "It wasn't that he didn't
have the ability."
Perhaps the most telling
thing about McClellan is that
he stayed with football at Ore
gon — and in school —■ when a
lot of other people would have
given up football or both.
That he stuck with both foot
ball and school "says a lot
about Michael," Ramsdell said
"It wasn't easy and it was
tough for him "
"That he dealt with it. and
became more determined and
worked harder," Ramsdell add
ed, "showed that he was pre
pared when his time came. He
could have moped around and
then wouldn't have been ready
when ho was thrown into a
game."
McClellan finally got his
chance last spring when he
went from being the Ducks'
fifth wide receiver during the
1989 season to third after a
great spring.
With the Oregon offense fre
quently using three and four
wide receiver sets. McClellan
knew he had a chance to finally
contribute and made the most
of that chance.
"I knew they would need an
other receiver and need some
body in case somebody went
down with an injury just like
what you've seen happen to
Tony Hargain," McClellan
said. "I was confident I could
help the team and worked out
hard all summer with my best
PWo lif Smb PihIub
Wide receiver Michael McClellan has surprised Duck fans by
going from the bench to a starring role with the offense and
special teams.
friend, number B4, Scott Bry
an.”
McClellan and Bryan, a re
serve redshirt freshman split
end, both are from California,
but stayed in Eugene over the
summer to prepare for this sea
son.
"We worked out faithfully
and played catch as much as
we could," McClellan said.
"We watched as much football
as we could so we could learn
as much as possible."
The hard work was evident
in Oregon's opener with San
Diego State when McClellan fi
nally got to show off his good
moves, elusiveness and speed
in the open field.
Spelling Hargain and starting
split end )oe Keitzug, as well as
playing with them in multiple
wide receiver sets. McClellan
caught five passes for 58 yards
and showed some promise on
special teams, almost breaking
one kickoff return for a touch
down.
The following week —
against Idaho — he returned a
kickoff 89 yards for a touch
down and also had a 29-yard
punt return to set up another
score. For his efforts he was
named Pac-10 special teams
player of the week, and the
memory of his First Duck touch
down always brings a smile to
his face.
"It felt like someone just lift
ed a ton of bricks from my
shoulders," he said. "It felt
good to score but I think a lot of
the credit should go to the guys
who didn’t get a lot of credit
and those are the guys on the
wedge, mainly the front five,
that made it happen."
McClellan followed that up
with another outstanding game
at Arizona last week where he
caught seven passes for 112
yards, and Coach Rich Brooks
likes the explosiveness McClel
lan has show'n by ranking sixth
nationally in kickoff return av
erage (.12.4 yards per game) and
all-purpose yards (160.7 per
game).
"McClellan was obviously a
key factor even before
Hargain’s injury," Brooks said,
"but now he becomes even
more important.”
"Michael had a great game at
Arizona," he said. "He’s got
big play capabilities. He has
quickness and speed. He’s
done a tremendous job not only
receiving the ball but returning
kickoffs and punts."
A performance few football
fans would have expected from
McClellan before this season.
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