Move over Ickey Shuffle, here comes the Ricky Plunge
Chius Metz
Move over l)eion
Sanders, there's a new
master of celebration in
town and his name is Ricky
"Don't call me Ickey” Whittle.
Much to the chagrin of head
coach Rich Brooks. Whittle
capped off his 67-yard first
quarter touchdown in true Hol
lywood fashion, busting a
380-degree twirl and gracefully
tripping into the end zone from
the one-yard line, earning him
an ESPN highlight, a 15-yard
penalty and more than an earful
of Rich Brooks' extreme disap
proval of the act.
Ladies and gentleman the lit
igants for the case of “To Plunge
or Not to Plunge" are now enter
ing the courtroom.
(Insert the People's Court
theme here.)
The Plaintiff: Oregon head
football coach Richard L.
Brooks, 53.
Background: Earned B.S. in
physical education at Oregon
State University in 1963 and
master's in education in 1964 at
lJ.su. in his 18th year ns Oregon
head coach Favorite band Guns
n Rosas Favorite soda Frexca
Complaint: The plaintiff
claims that the defendant, Ore
gon junior running hai k Kit kv
Whittle, employed poor judg
ment. succumbing to the pres
sure of 41.000 screaming !)u< k
faithful fans and excessively cel
ebrating. leading to u 15-yard
penalty Brooks is suing for too
laps around Autz.en Stadium
(Insert theme again.)
The Defendant: Running back
Ricky I Whittle. 22
Background: A native of Fres
no. Calif . and a mainstay in
Oregon's offense. Whittle has
been brilliant at times scoring
many touchdowns for the yel
low and green Favorite poem
Roses are red. violets are blue, if
Stanford thinks they yvill win.
they don't have a clue Favorite
Song Rose Colored Glasses
Past history Second-time
offender of "Ricky Plunge " First
offense: Spring game 1<>'(2
Defense: Just wanted to give
the home* onnng fans a little bit
extra for their entertainment
dollar. Temptation of KSPN
plays of the week spot just to
good to be true.
Key Fvidence: Believes
Brooks didn't oven see the
plunge
The Testimony:
Brooks: "That is uncalled for
and it could be a mistake that
could cost you the game."
Whittle: "It was just a one
time thing."
Jtrooks “Ricky assured me
that he will not do that again.'*
Whittle "It will never happen
again. It's |usl real tempting,
esptx tally w hen you catch heat
from the defensive players that
don't get to do things ns much.
They want you to take the
chance while they sit hm k and
watch."
Brooks “If he does (do it
again), he's going to he in deep
trouble ”
Brooks "It's totally lines
|leviable "
The Verdict: l (state your
name here) find the defendant
Ku.ky I Whittle guilty of ux< es
sive celebration in the heat of
battle Ha is tharefore sentemad
to 99 laps around Autzen Stadi
um. with a reduction of f>7 laps
for yards already served
Reaction: 'Extra running ( an
only help me.' Whittle said
This will conclude this
week's case Tune in again, and
remember if someone celebrates
excessively in your football sta
dium. don't take the law into
your own hands Take them to
court
Chris Metz is the sports editor
for the Emerald
MU (Hit SMIMJ1I Ht m«a<:
Ricky Whittle caught tha attention of college football fan a during Sat
urday's game, especially the attention of head coach Rich Brooks.
VICTORY
Continued from Page 1A
rediscovered some offense today too We
finally faced a defense that wasn't Ari
zona, Washington State or Washington."
Brooks said.
The usual role of the conservative
offense that relies on the defense to keep
the wins coming was reversed on Satur
day. with quarterback Danny O'Noil con
tinuing to improve not only his physical
game, but more importantly, his mental
game.
“Our offensive team playod an out
standing game," defensive coordinator
Nick Aliotti said after the game. “They
carried our little rears to victory "
With nil the recent media attention and
national rankings, the Ducks felt they had
to come out and prove their worth, so to
speak. Something that could have been a
distraction, especially for such a young
team, turned out to be lust another in the
growing list of motivating factors that has
spun this improbable web of dreams for a
team picked to snooze its way to the bot
tom bunk of the Pac-10 Conference.
"The good news is, after getting a little
notoriety last week, we didn't go in the
tank," Brooks said. "We stepped up and
got the win we needed before we went on
the road."
"We know what's at the end of the rain
bow," Oregon offensive tackle Steve
//
The bottom line is our
defense made plays when
they had to. I’m really happy we
kind of rediscovered some
offense Unlay too. We finally
faced a defense that wasn't
Arizona. Washington State or
Washington.
- RICH BROOKS
Oregon head coacti
-//
Hardin said “It's hard to do with ail the
outside pressures we're Kettmx. but it's
better than laiing 2-fi."
Thu Ducks moved up to No. 15 in this
week's Associated I’ress poll and No. 11
in the CNN/DSA Today poll. I'he Ducks
haven’t l*n>n ranked this high since DHS4
when they were 7th in the nation and
(huy have truly gained national notoriety
after their four-game homo stand that has
taken the conference by storm.
"Now we’re in a position to make it
even more interesting for everybody In
the league,” Brooks said.
As for having to take their magic show
on the road. Brooks has his reservations.
”1 don't want to go," Brooks said. ”1
want to stuyliomu."
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