Out of the shadow
After waiting behind
Chad Hutchinson for two
seasons, Todd Husak
tries to lead the Cardinal
By Allison Ross
Oregon Daily Emerald
Perhaps Todd Husak and the
young Stanford Cardinal team
have no idea what they are about
to experience. They have posted a
1-2 record thus far, but they have
yet to travel outside the comforts
of their beloved Stanford Stadium.
Their first stop: Autzen Stadi
um, a place where Oregon has
scored 106 points this year and al
lowed only 17.
Husak has never been to Oregon
and neither have most of his team
mates. He is the leader of a team in
which just five starters return on
offense and a mere three on de
fense. Husak has only been the
starting quarterback since the be
ginning of this season.
“This will be a good chance for
us,” Husak said. “I’ve never been
to Oregon, and I know a lot of the
young guys have never been ei
ther. It will be a good test for us as
far as the noise and the whole at
mosphere of Oregon. ”
Husak, who was second string
to quarterback Chad Hutchinson
for the past two years, doesn’t
seem to mind leading a young
team. Nor does he mind following
in the footsteps of someone like
Hutchinson, who threw for 365
yards against Oregon in 1996.
“I ve learned a lot from playing
behind Chad,” Husak said. “I nev
er got a chance to play with the
older guys that he worked with. I
think it’s a different team than two
years ago and last year. Some of
these guys playing never knew
Chad and never played with him,
so it’s helpful in that regard. ”
This season Husak is out of the
shadows with the help of his play
ers, who aren’t comparing him to
the past. Rather, they’re looking to
him to guide them in a Pacific-10
Conference race in which five of
the 10 teams are ranked in the top
25.
However, it has not been an
easy transformation.
Despite having to wait patiently
as Hutchinson led Stanford to a
Sun Bowl appearance in 1996 and
a 5-6 record in 1997, Husak had to
compete for the starting job last
spring against sophomore hope
fuls Joe Borchard and Randy
Fasani. It wasn’t until the week be
fore Stanford’s season opener with
San Jose State that head coach Ty
rone Willingham announced
Husak as the starter.
“Todd’s ability to throw the ball
deep we thought was better than
our other two quarterbacks,” Will
ingham said. “He does an excel
lent job with mechanics and run
ning our football team.”
Two years of being associated
with the Pac-10 and playing be
hind Hutchinson give Husak an
insight that Borchard and Fasani
may not have. But if there is one
thing he knows, it’s that if he does
COURTESY PHOTO
Todd Husak is finally starting after tiro seasons on the bench.
n’t execute, they will be waiting
for the chance.
“In practice I think it’s healthy
to have a great player behind you
— it helps you play better,” Husak
said. “Looking back, I probably
didn’t do that as well as 1 could
have in my first year with Chad, as
far as pushing him. I know I al
ways push myself harder when I
know there’s someone in line. ”
With that in mind, Husak will
travel to Eugene, a place that will
be swarming with people who
have been hungrily waiting for a
win against Stanford, which has
won six of the last seven bouts be
tween the two teams.
“So far Oregon has done a great
job offensively, and last week they
did a great job defensively,” Husak
said. “I think we just need to go in
and focus on ourselves and our
own game plan and not worry
about the noise, but just play foot
ball.”
Last week, San Jose State came
to Oregon and opened the game
with two consecutive false start
penalties due to the crowd noise,
and that wasn’t even a conference
game. Blocking the noise could be
the toughest part of the game for
Husak.
If there is one thing Husak and
his team have going for them, it’s
that when Oregon is picked to win
with a large spread, it seems to
play as if it, rather than its oppo
nent, is underdog. Oregon is
picked to win Saturday by 18
points, which doesn’t give Stan
ford much credit.
Oregon head coach Mike Bellot
ti doesn’t take Husak lightly, and
he doesn’t think the Ducks have it
easy now that Hutchinson is out of
the picture.
“Todd Husak has stepped in
very well and replaced Chad
Hutchinson. In fact, I think he’s
probably a better quarterback
since he’s more mobile, accurate
and sees the field very well,” he
said.
Aside from traveling for the first
time and adjusting to a leadership
role, Husak feels that if his team
can focus on the task at hand it can
do anything, including beat Ore
gon.
“In the first two games, we beat
ourselves more than the defense
caused us to,” Husak said. “I think
if we can eliminate the penalties
and stick to our game plan then we
can do anything we want. ”
This is the beginning of a season
that Husak has waited two years
for, and he says he is relishing the
chance to lead a Pac-10 team.
“It feels good to get the start; it’s
what I’ve always wanted,” Husak
said. “It felt good to have a door
open for me to walk into. There’s a
little more pressure when you’re
the starter, but I accept that.
I think pressure pushes me to
play better.”
004336
PIANO
for any occasion • long or short term
J&K Marketing
Eugene
485-1999
out of town: 1-800-304-1999
SCREEN PRINTING
EMBROIDERY
TRI 3NGLE
I
GRAPHICS
Experienced Artists ■ Sample Showroom
344-7288
You may have to take your
’shirt off...but you won’t lose it!
“Kuraya’s has caught on. Twice in a row it has
earned mention in Northwest Best Places"
-Bob Welch, 1/23/91 Restaurant
Review, Register Guard
M3 RAYA S
*—t&clL
Lunch Mon-Sat 11 am-2:30 pm
Dinner Mon-Thurs 5-9 pm, Fri-Sat 5-10 pm
Sun 4:30-9 pm
1410 Mohawk-Springfield 746-2951
Take a Break
& Check ^
Us Out!
EXOTIC • EROTIC
TOYS
BODYWEAR
GIFTS • VIDEO
It doesn 't have
to be dirty
to be good.
1166 South A « Springfield • 726-6969 • Open 24 Hours (Almost)
A Whole Lot A’ Pi
y
t.7„/4,7nAt.fc,7i<**««_
579 E. Broadway • 686-1166
Medium Single Topping Pizza
Offer expire*: 19/31/98
Please mention coupon when ordering One coupon per
party per order at participating Pizza Hut* locations. Not
valid with any other special offer or coupon Valid on Dine
in. Carry-out or Delivery Delivery charges may apply
©1998 Pizza Hut, Inc 1/9W cash redemption value
$6"
additional
toppings
$1 each
004054
Offer expires: 12/31/98
Please mention coupon when or den ns One coupon per
party per order at participate Pizza Hut* locations Not
valid with any other special offer or coupon Valid on Dine
in, Carry-out or Delivery Delivery charges may apply
©1998 Pizza Hut, Inc 1/201 cash redemption value
$099
J'
Still
not valid on
stuffed crust pizza
L0,000 Daily
Circulation
Pick up an Emerald at 93
campus & community locations.