■ 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.
I 1 FREE SODA
‘I00 OFF
>2°° OFF
I PLUS 10< OFF 011 ANY small pizza any large or medium pizza
■ ANY SLICE
PLUS 2 FREE LARGE DRINKS
§ Sys New York Pizza *1211 Aider on campus • 686-9598
LI 1:30-Midnight Mon.-Sat. 3:30-Midnight Sun.
■■ ■■ ■■■■■■■■ ■ COUPON GOOD THROUGH NOVEMBER 7. 199-11 ■■■■■■■■■■■■ 1
•or you should Hite my
Is.
$«i ciihi5s nm
$249,00
SmesWKW Price 851
SSI Twr.llRI* MM Presets
7.S Halt X 4 Mpct. Pftilp MT
$329.00
SmesMteM Price $3H
ssi-aiMf
MfH+MH Presets
28 Watt X 4 Power
PmapOit
Fan Betid»8le Ftce
iDUCumCise
SB*V C0I-5270 • HH-R1CB PlflVEH
$379.00
Sygiesled Retail Price $430.
SSIfl-EX Tuner
18FH+B8H Presels
30 HaTt X 4 High Power
Dual Preamp Oul
Optional Mired and Mireless remote
Full Detachable Face
with Cam) Case
OPEN MON fHi
SAT 10 5 30 SUN 12 5
CAR STEREO CtOSCO SUNDAY • M4 9M7
042 0UVE STREET • FREE PAAJONQ