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About Oregon daily emerald. (Eugene, Or.) 1920-2012 | View Entire Issue (Oct. 28, 1994)
■ SPORTS EXTRA FOOTBALL DEFENSE Continued from Page 2B to third-host in the conference and 17th overall in the nation, allowing just 10fl.fi yards a game Oregon's passing efficien cy defense is ranked mm ond in the conference and 1‘ith in the nation. The captain of the defense, and team inspiration, is Silila Maiopeai Mnlejniai, lining up at the nose tackle position, doesn't lend his team in tackles, sat ks. fumble recoveries, pass deflec tions or interceptions, but he has proved to everybody that he is the man to count on when the big play is needed "No question about it — he is our spiritual and our emotional leader." Miotti said of Malu peai. "He is the guv that gets us going. He's a true warrior. He comes to practice everyday and gives you everything he's got. "Guys respect him. He plays hard, he's tough, he plays when he's hurt — he's just a winner He's the guy that we need in our defense.” Mnlepeai isn I sum whore his ability to be a leader or his tal ent on the field comes from. "It's just me." Mnlepeai said. "1 just look at everybody there ana iney re ready to play so they get me pumped. I guess within the team concept. I'm just more vocal than anybody." Mnlepeai is proud of being a part of Gang Green and feels that this defense has matured to the level of play that it needs to be at. “I'm proud of the defense." Mnlepeai said. "We've got so many young players stepping up their play. I'm at awe.” The turnaround that the defense has taken this year, according to Mnlepeai and mid dle linebacker Rich Ruhl. has come due to the intensity level that surrounds the Oregon prac tices. “Every time we come out here everybody's reminding each other that ’you got to strap it up. let’s prepare mentally, physical ly and get out there and try to execute,’ and then come Satur day. we take the final (step).” Malepeai suid. "I think a lot of it is just hard work out in practice and guys wanting to play well and putting a little bit of pride on the lute," Ruhl said, "We knew we had a good team, we just had to go out there and play like we had a little confidence " The level of intensity that has been produced at the Oregon practices paid off last week FOOTBALL SPORTS EDITOR: Chrte Met/ GRAPHICS EDfTOR: Jell Paslay PHOTOGRAPHY EDITOR: Michael Shindler REPORTERS: Kns Henry Trevor Kearney MarV McTyre GRAPWC ARTIST: Matt Garton COuRTf St PHOTO Linebacker Rich Ruhl has stepped up In 1994 to help anchor the Ducks’ defensive attack. Ruhl's 54 tackles Is third-best on the team this season. against the Huskies and was the biggest win for Malepeai in his four years of wearing a Ducks' uniform “For all of the years that I've been here we've lost.'' Malepeai said. "I finally got that victory over the Huskies.'' When Malepeai saw Kennv Wheaton sprinting down the sidelines he knew that was the game. '! was rushing and I got pulled down. ' Malepeai said. "When I turned up. I looked up, I just saw all yellow palms 1 peeped up again and I saw Kenny bolting down the sidelines and I knew that was game " Clang Green's next opponent, Arizona, just happens to own the second-best defense in the Pan to The Oregon defense would like nothing twtter than to show everybody that there are other defenses in the conference, anil the nation, besides those of Washington State and Arizona, according to Kuhl. "We held Wazzu to 75 yards and they held us to 74 yards through three quarters, so when we play teams with great defens es. we want to try to match their defenses to show that wo have a good defense oursolvos," Ktthl Mid. Gang Croon is not ox porting the Wildcats to try to run tho Iwll nearly ns much ns thnv did last season, now that Oregon's defense is stable Aliotti figures that the Wildcats w ill initially try to run the hall and rely on its defense, but he thinks that the inspired Oregon defense will be ready. " i bis is a different group and we're going to battle like hell to not let them run the ball on us," Aliotti said. Rl Z Z A FAT Mi HE & TAKE OUT COUPON SERVING DELICIOUS NEW YORK PIZZA - 7 DAYS A WEEK By the slice—Of by the whole pi«a Choice ot te% crust or deep dish Sicilian Something New - Italian Ices - Lemon & Strawberry I Come down or call up Sy*s and order these great specials. 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