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About Oregon daily emerald. (Eugene, Or.) 1920-2012 | View Entire Issue (Oct. 27, 1995)
FOOTBALL OREGON VS ARIZONA STATE Leg injury keeps Belden on sidelines ■ INJURY: The kicker’s pulled leg muscle has become a nagging injury that may even threaten his season By Trovor Koarnoy Sport* fcMvt i-ast wmit. it appeared a* if the Oregon footludl team was on the verge of returning one of its molt frequently used offensive weapons from last year in sophomore punter and plat e kicker Matt Bidden But as it has turned out. Bidden remains sidelined with a pulled muscle in his right leg and the Ducks continue to rely on two freshman to hold down the kicking duties BELDEN iHHCten was slated to return to tho loam as tho placokickar last week against Wash ington Statu anil suited up for tho game, hut after exponent itig disc omfort in p r » g a tti o warmups. he was limited to watching the game from the side lines. "It was frustrating, but I knew ami my coaches knew that it would be host if I didn't |duv." Hidden said of last week's game "It is always tough (to sit out) when you would rather Int play ing. It has been tough to deal with just from the standpoint of not playing." Bolden has been out since he pulled the muscle in the Ducks’ first game of the season against Utah The muscle pull, once thought to only threaten Hidden’s availability for a cou pie of games, has turned into a n,,KK>ng injury for Hidden and a reoccurring problem for the turngod up Ducks as they enter a critical stretch of games starting this week against Arizona State. "When we first started this deal." Hidden said of the reha bilitation pm ass,1 we (bought i would be buck for I he Cal game." Hu! Bidden wasn't back for the (California game two weeks •go. and It doesn't look like he will bn back this week, either Despite a pain-free prat tree on Monday. Belden is listed as doubtful for Saturday's game "It is kind of a game-time decision depending on what it feels like." Belden said, adding that he had experienced sore ness in hi* leg during Tuesday's prat tit <* Having played only five downs this year, in which he had one 39-vard punt and one Reid goal. Belden would prolwi bly be eligible to use this season ns a redshirt year. but. he said, he would muc h rather return, especially since the Ducks have become contenders to retain their conference championship. "This is a big week for rne," Belden said. "This is where I do think we start the stretch run and I really want to be a part of it It is getting more frustrating as the season winds down." In place of Belden. the Docks have used true freshman Joshua Smith as a place kit.ker anil red shirt freshman Josh Bidwell as punter And ns of late, the Ducks have handed the kickoff duties over to redshirt freshman Matt Brewer The Ducks have made the most of the new kicking squad, developing several trick play* — including a successful on-side kic k attempt — and a pooch kick strategy in order to solidify their special teams unit. "I think they have done a pret ty good job." said Belden, who has helped ease the transition for the new kickers. "It is a kind of revolving door with us As a group, we have done a really good job of helping each other I c an use my experience from last year to help Josh and Josh out 1 guess ! have kind of taken on a role of a coach, but they are the ones who go out and do it." i-as! year as a true freshman, the native of Glendale. Ariz , hud some big shoes to fill, as for mer Duck and current San Fran cisco 4‘let Tommy Thompson — _ . EMC RAI D Sophomor# kicker Matt Baldan pulled a muscle In hi* right lag In tha first gam* of tha saaaon against Utah and has baan out of action avar tinea. who twice led thu Ducks in scor ing and ranks among the top five Ducks in career scoring (157 points), field goals made (55) and field goal percentage (.672) — had just graduated. But Belden proved to be a consistent and dependable member of the Rose Bowl bound Oregon squad. His team-high 76 points last season ranks ninth among Oregon's all-time single season leading scorers. His three field goals in thu Ducks’ upset win over DSC last year earned Beiden the honor of Pacific-10 Conference Special Teams Play er of the Week, as did his two field goal, seven PAT perfor mance against Stanford. "1 like my role,” Bolden said. 'It is a role where no one knows who you are unless you screw up or make a big kick I thrive on it. I like having that responsibility." Beiden also averaged 39 H yards-per-punt last season, and made 13 field goals in 23 attempts, good for a 5fS5 field goal percentage. After having a season like that, being limited to the side lines has been all the more tough for Bolden. But Belden said, when he does come back, he will be ready to show that lust year was no fluke. "It has been tough," Belden said "It has been really frustrat ing I was really looking forward to this season. I felt I was in a position to do a lot better this season "But when I come back, l will just do it all over again.” Lunch Dinner Catering CREATIVE A distinctive CUISINE / 19TH& AGATE ■ 683 6661 MARVBV ^ANDERSON'S k^BPORTIlUa OOOOS SALEM • ALBANY • CORVALLIS • EUGENE oki oeason is nere.= Are you prepared? FUU ACCESSORIES. RENTALS ft COMPLETE SKI SHOP SNOW BOARDS ROSSlGNCX K-2 BURTON SKIS ROSSlGNCX. SOLOMON K 2 DYNASIAR BOOTS NOROtCA l ANTS SOIOMON CIQIH1NO NOPTHFACf COIUM61A RtPCURl MIN HARDWF Aft ' ° u can't always get what you want But if you try sometimes You just might find You get what you need Halloween’s Happening You Are Invited... £ FALL OPEN HOUSE Oct. 31 e*€4tfi*c jkmmfmin mmmmmffmrmts Serving the University since 1922 Eugene’s Flower Home THE UNIVERSITY FI.ORIST 610 E. 1Jlh at faltcrst*! • 4J45-3655 _ Owners are U of O alumni
