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About Oregon daily emerald. (Eugene, Or.) 1920-2012 | View Entire Issue (Sept. 21, 1992)
VOLLEYBALL Continued from Page 12B "LaKoina is in groat shape and has been playing well. Thai will bo a real big help for us," he said. Competing for playing time at the hitler posi tions will be junior Nicole Hedberg, sophomore Angce Henderson and freshman Emily Coleman. Freshman Amy McNoel was also expected to compete for time at the position, hut a knee in jury may force her to have surgery. Freshman Knrissa White and walk-on freshmen Kim Mullen and Kelly Sunada round out the team. The Ducks will havo their home opener Friday against California nr»d will face Stanford on Satur day at McArthur Court. *•***> 6» M* PMMi Head volleyball coach Garry Gregory embark* on hi* tavanth aaaaona* head coach ot the Ducka. DUCKS Continued from Page 10B weren't playing well; if they play average again this year, they will watch Instead of play." The Ducks lost standout tight end Jeff Thomason to gradua tion but have many contenders for the job lining up. Six-foot-4, 240-pound senior Vince Ferry, best known for his game-win ning catch against UCLA two years ago. is the starter fol lowed by sophomore Willy Tate and senior O.B. Babbs. Orogon's offensive line should be improved this year with the maturation of young players and the addition of three junior college transfers. Senior tackles Matt Martin (6-6, 265) and David Collins worth (6-4, 285) both started games last year but arc being pushed hard by 285-pound ju nior colloge transfer Justin Starck and 6-7. 300 poundsophomoro Steve Har din. Loft guard Jon Tatlnrsall (6-4, 260) started all olovon games last year and Is an offensive co ca plain, but 64, 265 poundjunior college transfer Mike DIFonzo has also played well In tho fall. Dan Mitchell will start at right guard Center is the most mysterious position for the Ducks as junior Tom Curran, freshman Eric Koid and 310-pound sopho more Heath Howlington have all been vying for tho spot. "Our depth on the offensive line is fur superior to last year," Brooks said "Starck und DIFonzo are good new players Hardin, Howlington. Mitchell. Tatorsall and Martin are all ex porionced. We have tho ingredi ents of a good offensive line.” Oregon's offense averaged less than two touchdowns per game lost season, a mark that must be improved if thu Ducks ire to win this year, but Brooks believes injuries were the main reason for the lack of scoring. "We sm.tod Iasi season with many of the people we huve now and wo were a good offen sive team," Brooks said. “We started well last year und it all went south fast. We think we've improved but a good team must prove It.” Oregon's defense suffered a major blow before fall practice oven began when safoty Eric Castle was diagnosed with acute mononucleosis He is ex pected to miss at least the first four games. Tho loss is a major one for tho Ducks and for Cas tle, who is a potential All American and NFL draft pick. "When I found out I was an gry and frustrated. I couldn't believe it," Castle said. "The doctors say I'll miss about the first four games, but I'll just take it week-by-week.” Oregon does have the depth to stay competitive without Castle because they will movo sophomore Chad Cota from strong safety to free safety and insert senior Paul Rodriguez at strong safety, the position he started at for the first five games of 1991. "We are losing more than tal ont," Brooks said. "Eric is a leader, captain and a key part of our secondary. He Is an out standing playor but we must go on without him.” The Ducks' cornorbacks are talented, but vory young and inexperienced. Sophomore Herman O'Borry and freshman Alex Molden are the top candi dates for the starting Job and se nior Devon Hosoy returns after rodshirting 1991 The strongest and deepest part of Oregon's defense may be at linebacker, where three players who started at least flvo games last year return. Junior Ernest Jones returns at right outside linobucker, where ho started five games lust year before suffering a knee injury Inside linebacker Joe Harwell, who load the Ducks with 100 tackles last your, returns to add experience to the corps. Har well started 10 games last year and 34 in his caroor. Junior John Taumoepeau will start at the other inside linebacker spot with red shirt freshmen Jeremy Asher and Rich Ruhl ready in case of injury. Defensive end Jeff Cummins returns after redshirting 1991 with a foot injury, and the co captain will bo looked upon for strong play and leadership "We will be more aggressive this year," Cummins said "The game plan is for more stunting and morn froodom inside lo create — more freedom all to gether." Junior Kotneo Bandlson will start at loft end with Silila Mulopeu! sot at nose guard Depth at these positions will be provided by Junior Dory Wil liams. sophomores D.J Cabrera and Mark Slymen and rodshlrt freshmen Troy Dailey and Mitch Slegner. Injuries forced the Ducks to start eight differ ent players on the defensive line last year but this season there is greater depth at the po sition. Due lo the graduation of Ore gon's third all-time leading scorer Grog McCollum, the kicking game will be handled solely by junior Tommy Thompson who punted and kicked off for the Ducks last year. Thompson, an honorable mention all-conference choice lust year, averaged 37.‘J yards per punt lust year, but more im pressive was that his 7t punts were returned for only 70 yards. Ho will be challenged for the placukicking job by Paul Bur ton. a true freshman from Sun set High School in Beaverton, who kicked a 57-yard field goal us a senior. Although Thomp son has never placnkicked for Oregon, Brooks fuels he will do u fine jot). "Both kicking )oi>s are Tom my's to lose," Brooks said. 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