- Oregon Daily Emerald Sports
Pellum ready for homecoming
By Steve Mims
O*gon D&fy t'm*rak1
While much of the talk about tins Saturday's
Oregon-Califomia game has revolved around for
mer Oregon defensive coordinator Denny Schuler
facing his old squad, the Ducks have a coach play
ing an identical role.
When Schuler left Eugene in February to take
the offensive coordinator position at California, the
Ducks replaced him with linebacker coach Nick
Aliotti. Oregon head coach Rich Brooks respond
ed by filling Aliotti's spot with Don Pellum. a key
member of California's football program the past
few years.
Pellum had an assortment of roles during his
three years at Berkeley involving recruiting and
student servicos. Pellum played a big part in each
of the past three recruiting classes for California,
but says he does not plan to let his professional
role this weekend interfere with personal relation
ships.
"Cal was great to me." Pellum said. "I loved it.
But when I talk to the kids there now, we rarely
talk about football but instead discuss school, girl
friends, etc.”
Pellum said that while Schuler and Aliotti wilt
play big parts in determining the outcome of the
game Saturday, it is important to remember the
players are the most important part
"There has been a lot of talk this weak about
how Schuler and Allioti will fare against each oth
er." Pellum said. "But in reality, it is the kids who
will be playing. Denny and Nick won t be suiting
up. it is the kids who have to show up and play."
Pellum played outside linebacker for Oregon
from 19H2-H4 before moving into the recruiting
department for the school. This week, his job will
be to help find a way to stop Cal's powerful offense
which has averaged 44 points per contest this sea
son.
Although the Golden Bears present the stiffest
test so far this vear for the Oregon defense. Pellum
says he does not plan to change anything before
Saturday's game.
“We are going to do basically the same things we
have all year," Pellum said, "the thing we need to
do is play low and read their formations. We must
play fundamental defense and watch the ball,
instead of watching what the other players on
defense are doing. VVe have to believe in the
defense and trust each player to be where they
should be. rather than run in and let the quarter
back run around us."
California's offense has improved greatly during
its second year under head coac h Keith Gilbertson,
who replaced Bruce Snyder prior to last year Pel
lum said the players are becoming more comfort
able in the system and the results prove it.
"As a unit, the offense is better because they
have had one year to got together under Gilbert
son's system." Pellum said, "bast year was a com
pletely different system for the players, but now
they have had a year and another spring to grasp
and understand it '
The leader of Cal s offense has been junior quar
terback Dave Barr, who ranks fourth in the country
in quarterback efficiency and has completed fifi
percent of his passes for 9A2 yards and nine touch
downs. The biggest improvement for Barr this year
has been avoiding interceptions, Barr has thrown
75 straight passes without an interception after
throwing 15 interceptions last year
"Barr was really good last year." Pellum
said."But he's even better in his second year in the
system Reading defenses is where he has really
excelled and his arm is as good as anyone's lie's a
pretty darned good quarterback "
Brooks hacked up Pellum's claim that the Gold
en Bears' offense is getting stronger as it becomes
accustomed to Gilbertson's schemes
"Cal is obviously playing well on offense."
Brooks said. "They are a very balanced unit. I
don’t think they are doing many things different
from a year ago, they are just doing them bettur.
Their quarterback is smooth and knows how to
avoid pressure."
Pellum said that while he is familiar with Cal's
system, he does not think he can give the Ducks
any hidden secrets to help them in Saturday s
game.
"There are a lot of misconceptions about bow
much I know." Pellum said "I was around them
the past few years, but haven't been this year A
kid who does not play well one year may mature
and become a key player the next year. '
BACH-TO-SCHOOL $AVIMGS!
Featuring the Palomar
. Full Chromoly Frame & Fork • Shimano Exage Componets
• Brahama Bars Standard • Araya CV-7 Rims
• Stainless Steel Spokes
A. *
Hurry In For the
Best Selection!
Limited to
Stock-on-Hand
I
Hurry! Sale
Ends
10-15-93
ONLY 4 BLOCKS FROM CAMPUS!
446 East 13th Avenue, Eugene (Next to the Bijou) • 343-5362
University of W i s c o n s i n • P I a I t f v i 11 f
mIf you Kj\* built t antes m iVuv,
your wtvl need %x Jx kul
/ Aar a uthff* they mKouU be
Hour put IV foundations under them "
• D»n4 IVoroni
J
Learn Your Way Around The World
• Study abroad in txxtdoa, Fngland or Seville, Spain,
for a summer, for a semester or for a full academic yrar
• C'ourws in librral arts and international bwinnt
• Fluency in a foreign language not required
• Home-stays with meats
• f ield trips
• Financial aid applies (except lor summer ««■»)
IVogram Costs:
• I-or tuition. 100m, board ami (icld tups per semester
• In lamdtm. I ngland
S4.225 (or Wisconsin rcsidcmW*.475 lor mm rcsulenls
• In Seville. Spain
S4,72‘> lor Wisconsin rrsKlems/S4.*>7'> lor non residents
Application deadlines
• Apnl I (or summer session
• April W> for (all semestei
• October 711 b* spring semester
For a program description and an applts alum, rail loll lire
I-800-342-1725
mit***1
t.hh.hoc.ht««
lOWgl
o»C<SM?oS
59*