Image provided by: University of Oregon Libraries; Eugene, OR
About Oregon daily emerald. (Eugene, Or.) 1920-2012 | View Entire Issue (Oct. 16, 1992)
FOOTBALL Husky QBs try to adjust to James’ ‘starter’s shuffle’ By Don Peters Emerald Freelance Editor Don lames has one of those problems other coaches dream about The Washington football coach has two quarterbacks, troth NFL (iron calilter Each was the MVP in the Rose Bowl Both want to start. "They both want to do well, they troth want to play, and they both want to win." James said Decisions, decisions. Two years ago. there was no doubt who was Washington's quarterback. As a sophomore. Mark Brunell guided the Huskies to their first Pacific-10 Conference title in 10 years and was a star in Washington’s 4(i (4 Hose Bowl victory over Iowa But in the 1091 spring football drills, Brunell tore the anterior cruciate ligament in his right knee a brutal injury that ft maxi Brunei) to the sidelines until the third game of the season. Enter Billy Joe Holier! As a redshirt freshman, Hubert hail been Brunell’s little used backup during the 1000 season, throwing just six times in three regular season games But when Brunell went down. Holier! became the starting quarterback. What followed was a Husky dream season Behind Hubert, Washington went 12-0 and gar nered co-national champion honors with Miami Brunell was relegated to a backup roll, hut onlookers were curious to see how lames was going to deal with a successful Hobert and a healthy Brunei!. Hobert kept the starter's job corning out of spring drills, but lane’s said he would give Brunell substantial playing time It Irecame a pattern Hobert starling with Brunei! playing the second quarter Usually. Hobert came back in to finish the game So far, the plan has worked. Washington is 5-0 and No 1 in one poll, second to Miami in another. "We've done what we said we would do The backup would play the second quarter, and we would reevaluate at halftime," lames said "(We have) two quarterbacks who are very good, two quarterbacks who are very equal, all through practice and all through games " "It's difficult for (Hubert) and I sharing time," Brunell said "Two years ago, I was the starter I think I'm a better quarterback now." It's a situation ri|>e for turmoil A quarterback controversy can tear a learn apart. «s|>e<:ially if the participants begin to complain "Both players have lieen fine," lames said "The've got good atti tudes." Perhaps at game lime, but Hobor! complained to the press last week alrou! sharing the quar terback chums with Brunell Saturday against Oregon. Hobert will have the same prob lem, but ibis time it will be him watching as the other guy takes the opening snaps. Last week against California. Hotrert was ineffective against the Fil* photo Billy Joe Hob art It undeleted at a a tartar, Including thlt win latt yaar ovar Oregon In Samttla, but ha won I ba the tlrat Hutky quarterback on the field Saturday agaimt the Ducks (>>ldi'll Bears' defense, complet ing just three uf 12 passes for a paltry 3t> yards Washington, coming off a 1710 squeaker against l)SC, was tied at halftime 7-7 and in danger of blowing its Hi-game winning streak Hubert started the second half, but lames put Brunell in midway through the third quarter. The result was an eight-play. 64-yard touchdown drive that gave the Huskies a 14-7 lead. With Brunei! at the helm. Washington walked to a 35-16 victor)’. Brunell's stats in the Cal game weren’t spectacular (four of 11, H3 yards), but he did engineer a couple of scoring drives. Now. he'll gel the chance to show what he can do at the start of the game. "There’s pressure to get things going right off the hat.” Brunei! said. "(Hobert’s) felt that pres sure; now it’s my turn." And Hobert, who has never lost a college game in which he started, will have to watch and Turn to BRUNELL, Page 5B Tha laat Mm* Oragon pi ay ad m No. 1 taam at Autnn Stadium waa thla IM loaa to USC In 1972 whan Dan Fouta (11) waa tha Duck quartarback. No. 1 aoesn t come to Autzen onen The Oregon football program has not had much luck during the last 30 years against top ranked schools It's been nearly 20 years since the last time a first-ranked football team visited Autzen Stadi um. so this weekend will be an anniversary, of sorts But being a 17-point underdog to No. l Washington could make for less than a happy celebration for Duck fans. Washington is ranked first in one poll and second to Miami in another. The game, which brings the Huskies to Eugene for the first time since 1988. will also be the first time that 16-year head coach Rich Brooks will lead his team onto the Autzen field against the "best” team in the country. The 1972 national champion IJSC Trojans were the last top-ranked team to visit Autzen, coming during coach Dick Enright’s first year as head of the Ducks. In an Oct. 28. 1972, game that featured Ore gnn greats Dan Pouts, Kuss Francis and Stave Donnelly, the Ducks still came up short, losing 18-0 at their five-year-old field. Ironically, it was former Duck assistant John McKay who led USC to three national champi onships in one decade. Earlier that year. Oregon was unfortunate enough to visit then-No.l Oklahoma, leaving the state with a stinging 68-3 loss. The first-ranked Cornhuskers of Nebraska also beat the visiting Ducks 34-7 in 1971. Oregon has met the Huskies twice in the last 10 years when they were ranked No. 1. In 1982. Oregon led first-ranked Washington 21-17 in the fourth quarter at Husky Stadium, but Oregon eventually succumbed to its rival, 35-21. Two years later, the Ducks fell at Seattle to a No. 1 Washington team in another tight contest. That 17-10 loss was the last time Oregon squared off against the nation's top school. Ducks vs. Huskies: full-fledged rivalry? By Dave Charbonneau Emerald Sports Editor Forget the Civil War. Oregon's game Saturday against No. Cranked Washington is the game for the Ducks this season^A-viclory over the Huskies would go down as one of the greatest wins in Oregon football history. Year after year, the Ducks' biggest game of the year is not the sea son-closing Boredom Bowl against Oregon State; it is the Washing ton game Oregon fans anticipate the matchup with the Huskies for weeks every season. Although the result is usually n<*gative for the Ducks, the same fans prepare for the game with the same excitement the fol lowing year. Washington is Oregon's true rival. During his 16 years with Oregon. Len Casanova, the Ducks' head coach from 1951 to 1966. won 82 games. Only three of those came against Washington. "It’s always been a big rivalry since I've been here,” Casanova said. "It’s kind of like an interstate championship.” Chuck Lehman, a senior at Washington and avid follower of the Huskies, said the Oregon-Washington game is near the top of the list of important games for Husky fans. "As far as Pac-10 rivalries go," he said, "it ranks right up there with the Washington State game lor us." But many other fans at Washington, as well as at Oregon, feel that the "rivalry" tag may not fit the game For Washington, a win over Oregon on Saturday will be nothing more than clearing another obstacle disguised as a Pacific-10 Con ference "challenger”, as the Huskies continue their charge for a nation al championship. Is this "rivalry" a rivalry in the true sense of the word — both teams teams stilting their sights on winning that one. all-important game — or is it a game that Oregon has built up as a rivalry out of despera tion? The Ducks desperately want to beat the Huskies this year, and every year. The Ducks desperately want to be mentioned in the same breath with Washington when it comes to the Pac-10. The Ducks desperately want to be able to compete with Washing ton for the top recruits in the Northwest. The only desperation for the Huskies — if it can be called that — is not losing ... to anyone. Oregon has lost 52 of the 85 meetings between the two, including only three victories in its last 17 games against the Huskies. Turn tn RIVAI RV Pane 3R
