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About Oregon daily emerald. (Eugene, Or.) 1920-2012 | View Entire Issue (Oct. 28, 1994)
■ SPORTS EXTRA FOOTBALL “Weregoing to battle like hell to not let them run the ball cm us. ” — Nick Aliotti ^•CKAri SM*OU«/fm*a*J The defensive unit of the Ducks has been a pleasant surprise this season after a shaky 1993 campaign. Mark Me Tyre Oregon Ointy l ermi&a The Ducks are on a roll and looking toward a possible Rose Bowl bid They have positioned themselves as contenders in the conference largely due to the play of their “Gang Green" defense. The Oregon defense has been the cornerstone to the Ducks' turnaround this season. I.ast week, Gang Green took the explosive big-plav power out of Heisinan Trophy candidate Napoleon Kaufman, holding him lo lot yards of total rush ing. (if) yards below his average. Prior to last week, the defense shutdown USC's running back Shawn Walters and Iowa's one two punch combination of run ning back Ryan Terry and fullback Kent Kali! One year ago. the Ducks' defense was the team's worst nightmare. Last season, the Ducks' traveled to Berkeley looking to upset the 15th ranked California Bears. Hold ing a 30-point lead, the defense handed the game right back to the Bears to lost) by one point. Later in the season against Arizona, the Wildcats' coaching staff replaced injured quarter back Dan White with tailback Chuck Levy Levy and the Wild cats threw only one pass I'm proud of the defense. We’ve got so many young play ers stepping up their play. I’m in awe. — Silila Malcpeai Ntosrudli.' (incomplete) but carried the ball HO times in their unusual option formation. The Wildcats carried for 389 yards and a 31-10 victo ry. This season the defense has made a complete 180-degree turnaround, once again creating excitement and putting fans back in the stands. “The biggest key for us right now has been our players' atti tude." defensive coordinator Nick Aliotti said. "They've given tremendous effort They paid the price after the season in winter conditioning and it's just an attitude of confidence and just playing ns one." The defensive unit is playing right along with the elite defens es of the Pat 10. After a stun ning performance last week. Oregon's rush defense improved Turn to DEFENSE. Page 3B Wheaton showcases talents in dramatic fashion Chris Met* It list'd to tie thm freshmen didn’l plav in the Par-10. A league dominated hv upper classmen that had been seasoned their first couple of seasons on the college level was the norm Freshmen sensations went rare at best hist don't let Oregon redshirt freshman Kenin Wheaton know how things are sop posed to be. Although lie s not a starter on the Ore gon defense. Wheaton has made the most of his playing time this season with an undeniable flair for the dramatic "tie never teases to amaze me." ()rt*gon tailhai k Kit kv Whittle said moments after Wheaton’s 97-yard interception return for a touchdown in last week's upset over Washington. "I just look him in the eyes and say 'Hey. vie need a big play.' and he savs All right I'll get it.' And he goes out there and does it " Wheaton lias tieen named the defensive player of the week in the Par.-10 twice this season, both times lieing instrumental in upsets over USC and Washington. Wheaton's play has not only benefited the Ducks as a team, hut has affected eat li player individually as well. ' People should know that from now on Kenny Wheaton is here to stayOregon tight end Josh Wilcox said. ''(He's) prob ably the best redshirt freshman we've had in a long time I'm glad he's on my team, you know The interception against the Huskies couldn't have come at a better time as the Lie had made more foot ball plays in his time on the field than I think any other player I’ve ever been around in my 18 years here as head coach — Rich Brook* C hvJ awh Dui ks wore bai ked up against their own goal line, seemingly a play or two away from a heart breaking loss But for Wheaton, it's all just part of his |ob. "1 watch a lot of film," Wheaton said "I'm out there and if 1 see a set I've seen on film. 1 live on the edge, so I just gam bled, and the gamble paid off this time." Fallout from the game-clinching Inter ception for a touchdown is still causing quite a commotion Reruns of the infamous trot down the field are a constant reminder of a player and a team that defied the odds and beat the powerful Washington Huskies “As soon as 1 saw that he had control of the ball, I knew that we had won or that it would take a miracle for us not to win," Oregon defensive coordinator Nick Aliot ti said. "I don't even know if 1 saw him go all the way. I saw him < alch it and run up the sidelines 1 just figured 'Hey great job' and I’m happy as hell, and i! was just gravy." Oregon head coach Rich Brooks has teen Wheaton's big plays continue to mount this season and hus repeatedly praised Wheaton am) his big-time play ability "He has made more football plays in his time on the field than 1 think any other player I've over been around in my 1H years here ns head coach," Brooks said. Despite his role as primarily a reserve player that comes in mostly in nickel sit uations. Wheaton is sixth on the team in tackles (33) and tied for first in intercep tions with three for 157 yards in returns To begin the season, a depleted tailback position forced the versatile Wheaton to add one more line to his increasing resume as he took on some rushing duties, scor ing a touchdown in the Ducks' first game of the season. But when it comes time to issue praise, Wheaton credits his fellow teammates for allowing him the chance to step up big ''! owe a lot to my defensive lineman for putting pressure on the quarterback," Wheaton said. “If it wasn't for them. I wouldn’t lx* able to make the defensive plays that I make." In high school Wheaton, a native of Phoenix, Ariz., was named to the 5A all state squad and all-Arizona team for all classes by the Arizona Republic for top honors Wheaton, who likes the smaller town and college environment of Eugene, admits that he would hove liked to play closer to homo for one of the Arizona schools but has no regrets about coming to Oregon. "I fell like Oregon was the place.” Wheaton said. “The record was not as good. but I felt that they were coining up and would be better as the years progress " Wheaton doesn't fool any more pressure facing one of the schools that balked at the versatile player, but instead looks at the game as a chance to show people from his home state the brand of football that he is capable of playing at Oregon. “This Saturday's going to tie a little more than just a big game." Wheaton said. < it ing that ho would have liked to have pos sibly attended Arizona The Oregon secondary is one of the strongt*st ureas of the Ducks' team this year, and Wheaton knows that the role he plays is just part of the overall effectiveness of the highly talented defensive backs. In addition. Wheaton believes that everyone on the back wall of the Duc ks is capable of going out and making big plays at any time. "We have so many good corners here," Wheaton said. "It's at a point to where coach Aliotti can just go down the line and just point out a guy. and I know he can go out and do the same things as the starters." As for his spectacular flair for the dra matic . Wheaton warns that it's fust his job and not to worry about any new-found overconfidence that could come from his thrilling plays suc h as last weekend's inter rapt ion. "1 try not to dwell on what I did." the humble Wheaton said.
