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About Oregon daily emerald. (Eugene, Or.) 1920-2012 | View Entire Issue (Nov. 4, 1994)
■ SPORTS EXTRA FOOTBALL Chris Metz OroOan f.imfy Inx-'aM At the beginning of the sea son, you would have find to search long and fiord to even find Patrick Johnson's name on the Oregon offensive depth chart Dameron Ri< ketts’ name is easy enough to find, hut the thought of him being one of the go to guys in the Oregon offense probably wouldn’t lie the first thought to cross your mind Hut os the Ducks march into their most important trio of games in the Iasi two de< odes, youthful players like Ricketts and Johnson will tie depended on to do the job regardless of their age or experience level But that's the wav this combi nation likes It "I don't have time to think about it." Johnson said about the pressure of playing with the slakes mi reasmg eai h week 'I didn't even think I was going to end up playing I didn't have a duo,” Johnson is a true freshman and had only one year of previ ous football exponent e coming into this season But with a career-ending injury to Kory Murphy in the Hawaii game and Crist in Me I-emore's absence due to injury. Johnson lias moved into tlie starting role at the flanker position While having made typical freshman mistakes, he tias been instrumental in the Ducks' coine-from-behind victories over Washington and Arizona — converting quarterlinck Danny O'Neil's clutch passes, especially on third down. "When he does make a mis take. he just frounces liai k," Ore gon head coach Rich Brooks said i ressure doesn't really matter if you have enough motiva tion to go out and do it. It’s not as hard as I thought it was going to be — Patrick Johnson I 'r'Jvrtm fUvkrt Johnson's greatest asset is his speed In high school, h* led the nation Inst spring in the ion meter (.10 ilt) and the 200 ineter ( 20 7) events in track Ills appeal to college football programs was intensified by his all-around athleticism, being named to the Toronto Wh s Tri hone's list of the Western 100 senior prospects as an all around athlete Johnson .laughs at the sit na tion that he is in at Oregon His drive to keep improving his game and winning football games makes what could be a pressure c ooker of a situation for the young man that just turned 1H years old into nothing more than a logical extension of Ins desire to suci wed. "Pressure doesn't really mat ter if you have enough motiva tion to go out and do it." Johnson said "It's not as hard as I thought it was going to be," Much like Johnson. Ku ketts. a sophomore from Culver City, Cali!., saw playing time as a red shirt freshman, converting on two touchdowns in last season's win over Arizona State His role MKXAfl SH»NfXEHEm<**id Freshman receiver Pat Johnson has unexpectedly emerged as a vital part of the Oregon offense. as a mam target for O'Neil is not ns surprising ns that of Johnson, hut considering the fact that he wasn’t a starter at the )>eginnmg of the season, his team-leading receptions is shocking. Ricketts is another Oregon receiver that has had little expo rience catching the hall He played quarterback most of his prep career. Ricketts accounted for 2,-t‘tl yards of total offense for Ins playoff-bound squad his senior year Despite lus success in high school, Ricketts is unfamiliar to being on a winning team and sees the opportunity that the Ducks have in front of them this year all the more special. "I’ve never been in this posi tion before," Ricketts said. "My whole life I've been on a losing team, so this is a first." Seeing this smiling duo walk ing down the street, it's hard to imagine the intensity they pro duce on the field, but no one Turn to RECEIVERS, Page 7B Life’s a whole new ballgame for Murphy RLE PHOTO Kory Murphy has begun restructuring his world from football games to the game of life after suffering a career ending spinal injury. 2B Orogoo Dairy Em&akj Oregon Football Friday November 4 1994 Trevor Kearney Otvcn Oatly fw*! Junior Kory Murphy sustained a career-ending injury. He will never step onto tho field to play football again But despite losing foot!mil. Murphy is far from feting out of the game Murphy, who has a small opening in his spinal column that was traumatized in the Sept. 10 game against Hawaii, has been forced to take to the sidelines, and, with the absence of football, concentrate more on his academic canter However. Murphy has had to balance his academics with the pain brought on from losing the opportunity to play the game that he loves. "Obviously it hurts, but every person in the world has to assume their role.” Murphy said. "You have to take that role and do the (rest you possibly can. Things have happened to me that are unfortu nate. but I'm very blessed. I'm willing to take on the role as best 1 possibly c an, whether that role is cheerleading, just being a citizen or helping the young guys out. "1 was really fortunate that 1 wasn't in that bad of academic trouble that I couldn't fall back (on it). Now I realize that at any time a man's career could go. The only thing that they can't take away from me is what I've already learned That's probably the most important." The junior sociology major came into the year with a 3.2? grade point average, and that was when he had to address football and classes at the same time. "Before. I had to balance (academics and football) because 1 was here for two reasons They brought me here to not only succeed academically but to suc ceed athletically, so I did have two prior ities that kind of ranked the same. Now things have changed and 1 have to put my priorities into perspective." Murphy has used his spinal condition not only to try to help the team work hard, but also to keep the season, and life, tn perspective He has gained a unique outlook on life that he is trying to use as an example to show people, and himself, how precious life really is "1 think that the main thing that I want ed to get across to them was to work as hard as you can during every play, whether in practice, whether in the weight room, whether in games on Sat urdays." Murphy said. "That was my main foc us (It) was, okay this happened to me, but that doesn't mean it can’t hap pen to you.' “I wanted them to understand ... that you can’t take a down off and you never know when your season is going to end or your career is going to end. But one thing that you can )>e sure of is that, if it does end, w hen you look bac k you can say that you played as hard as you can. And 1 can truly say that.” Murphy s teammates have been equal ly helpful in his recovery. While in Hawaii, quarterback Danny O'Neil's family stayed with Murphy Turn to MURPHY. Page 7B
