PROFILE
Tate brings depth at tight end
By Erick Studenicka
Emerald Sports Reporter
Young Oregon players like
Danny O'Neil and Rickey VVhil
lie were expected to contribute
from the outset of the season
Other young players have
emerged from near obscurity to
make some surprising contribu
tions to the now possibly bowl
(round Oregon football team
One of the most surprising of
the contributors has been
sophomore tight end Willy Tate
After catching only two passes
all of last season, Tate has 1 fi
receptions in his last six games
and is one of the team leaders
with his Iti (I yards-per-reeep
lion average
Tate received his chance to
play when senior Vince Kerry
injured his ribs early in the sea
son Kerry has since recuperated
and remains the starting tight
end. hut because of Tate's strong
showing while filling in for
Kerry, the two now play on an
alternating series basis
Despite everyone's desire for
playing time. Tate says tin- tight
ends on the team remain close
friends.
"I'd hate to be the t:oa< h who
had to determine playing time,”
d ate said. "Vince is a great play
er, and so is O.B Babbs, for that
matter.
"We're really a close-knit
group. We re a special group,
not really receivers, but not real
ly linemen either. You could
say we're a group in limbo,"
Tate said.
Tate sai<l that he receives the
same amount of satisfaction
from a good block as he does
from a pass reception.
"1 had a good block which
opened up a path for Rickey
Whittle to go 80 yards against
Cal," Tate said. "Blocking on a
run like that feels as good as any
reception.”
On the occasions when Tate
misses a block, he's likely to
Sake some heat from his room
mate, quarterback O'Neil.
"One game I allowed a sack
PK>tr> try M-.f**; f^#*JI**
Willy Tate hat played a big role In turning Oregon a teason around
on Danny, and after I went to
watch some game films, I came
hack and my room was all
mossed up. He can give me .1
hard time sometimes,'' Tate said
while laughing
Tate had ample opportunity
to hlork during his h,gh si hoot
career, as his team, kilk drove,
Calif . ran about ?K) percent of
the time Tate also played split
’ end and linebacker as he led Elk
drove to an 11-1 record his
senior year
Tate was recruited heavily by
Oregon and UdLA. hut tie said
tie feels no extra cynotinn for
Saturday's game against the
Bruins.
"UCLA has the great athletes
and is well respected, but .1 ft•• r
one trip down to visit the cam
pus, I couldn't picture myself
going to si hool there For my
own college experience. (Jregort
was the perfect place to go. '
Tate said
late said that lies father.
Richard, helped develop his
fi- thiill tah ut from a s >King age
"My dad was the ultimate
football dad He would drag me
outside to play i etch at night. 1
still probably catch passes pist
from muscle memory 1 devel
oped playing catch with him."
Tate said
d ate's father has now bei mne
the ultimate Duck football fan,
driving up and down the West
(loast to see his son play foot
ball
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