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About Oregon daily emerald. (Eugene, Or.) 1920-2012 | View Entire Issue (April 30, 1999)
Friday April 30,1999 ©regonSKCmeralUf Best Bet NBA Basketball Utah vs. Houston 5 pm, TNT v Ducks aim for successful finale 8&muw A. J. Feeley (7) and Joey Harrington (3) continue their duel for starting quarterback Saturday. NickMedleyZEmemld 1 he Oregon Jootball team concludes spring practice tvith a 1 p.m. scrimmage Saturday By Mirjam Swanson Oregon Daily Emerald It’s showtime for the Oregon football team and its auditioning quarterbacks. The Ducks are intent on impressing their fans at the spring intrasquad game — called a “dress rehearsal” by head coach Mike Bel lotti — Saturday at 1 p.m. at Autzen Stadi um. “I’m looking forward to it,” junior quar terback A.J. Feeley said. “It’s been a while since I played in front of a crowd. Hopeful ly, I can put up some big numbers and showcase what I’ve got.” Attention will certainly be focused on both Feeley and his fellow quarterback, sophomore Joey Harrington, in a game that culminates the monthlong spring football practice season, giving each quarterback an other chance to exhibit his skills. Last season, they were both onlookers as Akili Smith led the Ducks to an 8-4 record. Next fall, either Feeley or Harrington will have the opportunity to try to fill Smith’s shoes. It’s surely going to be# daunting task for two players who have thrown 11 passes be tween them. “As far as following in Akili’s footsteps, there’s a lot of expectations,” Feeley said. “But I try to look at the positive of it. Hope fully, I can get my game to the next level as he did.” The duo’s inexperience was evident in spring practices so far. In the first two intrasquad games, the offense sputtered. Neither Feeley nor Harrington could find a way to take control as both struggled against defensive coordinator Nick Aliotti’s aggressive defense. But last weekend, in the first full-contact scrimmage of the spring, the quarterbacks found their footing. Helped by improved play from the offensive line, Harrington went five-for-seven with 72 yards and one touchdown, while Feeley passed for 81 yards on a six-for-12 performance. “Both of them have improved dramatical ly,” Bellotti said. “Maybe the most dramatic improvement that I saw this spring hap pened in one day. It came when they knew Turn to FOOTBALL, Page 12A Oregon Invitational 1 WHAT: The Oregon Invitational WHO: The and women's Saturday WHERE: Hayward Reid Oregon senior Micah Davis’main goal Saturday in the Ore gon Invitational is to earn an automatic NCAA bid in the steeplechase. Nick Medley/Emerald Home, sweet Hayward The men’s track and field team returns to Hayward Field for the Oregon Invitational By Allison Ross Oregon Daily Emerald This weekend is the beginning of the end for the men’s track and field team. After most of the team took last week end off from the Drake Relays, many of Oregon’s top athletes will compete at the Oregon Invitational on Saturday at Hay ward Field. Eugene — commonly known as Track town, U.S.A., to fans — has hosted just two meets so far this season, but Saturday is the first of three home meets that con clude the regular season. A wide variety of competition will be on hand, including athletes from 30 col leges, 30 clubs and 48 unattached entries. In all, more than 900 athletes are expect ed to compete. Oregon distance runners lead the com petition, with NCAA qualifiers in every event — All-Americans Micah Davis (steeplechase), Steve Fein (5,000 meters) and Matthew Davis (10,000). Both the steeplechase and the 5,000 are expected to be strong events. Fein leads Turn to MEN, Page 8A Scott liamett/b.meraki " For people who went to Mt. SAC and Drake, it will be great to be home. For the people who didn’t go to Drake... it will be great to compete. ” Tom Heinonen UO head coach Karina Elstrom may use a 13-foot, 6-inch pole as opposed to her regular 13-foot pole in an attempt to set a new personal record Saturday. UO women seek NCAAs Good weather and a home crowd could fuel the women’s track and field team By Scott Pesznecker Oregon Daily Emerald As the dates of the NCAA and Pacific 10 Conference Championships draw clos er, the Oregon women’s track and field team is beginning to feel the pressure. Only three meets remain on the Ducks’ schedule. Each event counts — and the team knows it. With this in mind, what better place than Tracktown, U.S.A., to chase NCAA qualifying marks? The Ducks will finish out the final three meets of the season at home, start ing tonight with the first round of the Ore gon Invitational at Hayward Field. Com petition resumes Saturday from 10:15 a.m. to 2:05 p.m., then from 3:40 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. Head coach Tom Heinonen is confi dent that a break in the weather and an energetic home crowd could give the Ducks the opportunity to notch some of the season’s best marks. “This is a really important time for us to have the Oregon Invitational, where there will be well-balanced competition Turn to WOMEN, Page 8A
