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.
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