Mike Crisp Emerald
Sirmon shows Nevada the running skills that helped make him a prep quarterback.
Peter Sirmon
Continued from Page 6B
to linebackers coach to make
room for Nick Aliotti’s return.
Sirmon has teamed with fellow
starting linebackers Dietrich
Moore and Matt Smith to anchor
the defense and form one of the
best linebacker units in at least
the conference.
“They’re awesome together,”
Foster said. “They’re all three
great ‘backers. And we’re gonna
put 'em all three up for all-league
because they’re really the main
stay of the defense.”
Sirmon, Moore and Smith all
agreed that they have progressed
as a unit to the point that any one
of them knows where the other
two will be and what they are
thinking on a given play. That
kind of comfort zone has allowed
the trio to combine for 143 tack
les, more than 29 percent of the
Oregon defense’s total.
“Right now, it’s just smooth,
and we just get a look from each
other in certain situations and
know what we’re doing,” Sirmon
said. “I don’t think there’s one
Peter Sirmon
Year: Senior
Position: Inside linebacker
Height/Weight: 6-2,245
Hometown: Walla Walla, Wash.
Notable: Oregon’s leading tackier and seventh in Pac
10 with 62 total, almost nine per game... paced confer
ence in tackles as sophomore in 1997... missed most
of last season with torn pectoralis muscle... played
quarterback and safety as a prep.
standout that can do anything bet
ter than the other two. So in that
regard, there’s not someone [op
posing offenses] can key on.”
Both Moore and Smith, how
ever, conceded that Sirmon has a
lot to do with their success.
“The sense that he’s all over
the place makes everybody else
feel comfortable,” Moore said.
“He makes the rest of us better
just having him out there.”
Smith, second on the team
with 54 tackles, acknowledged
Sirmon’s all-around abilities.
“Pete’s invaluable,” Smith
said. “He’s everything you want
in a ‘backer — strong, fast, smart.
He knows the whole defense.”
So maybe it’s the bond that Sir
mon has formed with his fellow
linebackers that has him smiling
these days.
But more than likely, it’s prob
ably Sirmon’s newfound per
spective that has him relishing
his final days as Duck.
“There’s more to life than just
one aspect of it,” Sirmon said.
“Right now,.it’s football, and
eventually it’ll be something
else.”
Until then, expect Sirmon to
continue making life anything
but good for opposing offenses.
Gateway Mall
541-741-2444
Downtown • 541-686-4653
252 Lawrence Street
No other discounts can be used with these otters. No cash substitutions. Must be at least 18 years old. or 12 with parent, incentives may be ottered (or enrolling in other memberships. Babysitting
available for a nominal fee. Facilities and amenities may vary per location. Not all dubs open 24 hours every day. Promotion available at participating 24 Hour Fitness locations only.
Buy Factory
Direct
s""' Jf AMERICAN
MATTRESS
MANUFACTURING
/ y<Y/r srt/;/t* «s cash. \o (loa n payment on approved credit.
RE-BUILT MATTRESS SETS
Price includes mattress and box springs:
Full & Twin Size Sets....$79
Queen Size Sets.$119
King Size Sets...$179
NEW INNER SPRING SETS
Price includes mattress and box springs:
• TWIN Size, Reg $259.SALE price $139
• FULL Size, Reg $319.SALE price $159
• QUEEN Size, Reg $419... SALE price $189
• KING Size, Reg $1,100 SALE price $389
Bring in this ad for FREE DELIVERY
Financing Available
Mon - Fri 9-8
Saturday 9-6
Sunday 11-5
_ , 4075 W. 11th
H 343-2690
iSecrrefGarc/en
A Bed & Breakfast Inn
007201
Ten delightful garden-theme ropms await you.
1910 University Street, Eugene, Oregon 97403
541-484-6755 • fax: 541-431-1699 • 1-888-484-6755 Toll free
www. secretgardenbbinn .com