■ 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.