ESPN preview to highlight Oregon-UCLA game
■The Ducks prepare to host a
television network; officials
hope for a large turnout
despite early start time
By Jeff Smith
Oregon Daily Emerald
ESPN prides itself on its in-depth
research.
The supreme sports television
network has a huge contingent of
staff that extensively keeps tabs on
all major college sports teams.
But it freely admits that it by
passed a certain school as a poten
tial destination during its presea
son planning for the hit weekly
“College GameDay” preview show.
“We scouted a lot of different
schools before the season that were
possible sites for our show,” said
ESPN spokesman Mac Nwulu, re
garding the show that travels
around each week to the site of the
biggest college football game of that
weekend. “But nobody thought
we’d be at Oregon so we didn’t
scout them. Although there were
definitely some people who
thought that we should.”
Rightfully so, it turns out, as
ESPN has chosen Eugene as its des
tination for “GameDay,” with the
Oregon - No. 6 UCLA clash as its
headliner.
“We feel that with the Pac-10
performing as it has, we wanted to
showcase them and really, this is
the best game in the country this
weekend,” Nwulu said. “UCLA has
beaten two number three ranked
teams in a row and Oregon played
Wisconsin very tough down to the
end.
“This game has national champi
onship implications.”
“College GameDay” is anchored
by Lee Corso, Chris Fowler and
Kirk Herbstreit. The three were at
the site of the Florida - Tennessee
tilt on Sept. 16 and the Nebraska
Notre Dame game on Sept. 9.
Saturday’s contest will mark the
first time ever that the show has tel
(( We are extremely
excited to be the first
college in the Northwest to
host ESPN.
Bill Moos,
Oregon athletic
director
evised from the Northwest and
only the second time that it’s ever
been on the West Coast. Coinciden
tally, the last time the show ven
tured out west was when it chose to
have its GameDay crew in Los An
geles two seasons ago for UCLA’s
wild 41-38 overtime win over the
Ducks.
Oregon officials are well aware
of how huge an opportunity this is
to gain national exposure and hope
that the community responds ac
cordingly.
“We are extremely excited to be
the first college in the Northwest to
host ESPN,” Oregon athletic direc
tor Bill Moos said. “1 encourage all
of our students, fans and alumni to
join me Saturday morning and take
part in what will be a great national
showcase for the University of Ore
gon and the Pacific-10 Confer
ence.”
The preview show will be broad
casted live from 8 a.m. to 9 a.m.
outside of Autzen Stadium on Sat
urday morning. According to Ore
gon media services, the outdoor set
will be located on the far practice
field in the corner, just outside of
Papb Field, furthest away from
Autzen.
The site was chosen to give as
much grass between the set and the
stadium, in order to fully capture
the view of the Moshofsky and
Casanova Centers, the stadium, as
well as the Coburg Hills in the
background.
The parking lots to Autzen Stadi
um will be opened at 7 a.m. and
pre-game festivities will take place
at 8 a.m. inside the Moshofsky Cen
ter. Also at 8 a.m., there will be an
interactive display in the Moshof
sky Center that will be put on by
Tostitos, the official sponsor of
“College GameDay.”
“I think it’s very exciting to have
ESPN coming to Eugene,” Oregon
Turn to Broadcast, page 14
San Jose State has all the makings for a colossal Trojan upset
■ Ninth-ranked USC looks to
better its 2-0 record against
the dangerous Spartans
By Robbie McCallum
Oregon Daily Emerald
While Southern California en
joys its first appearance in the As
sociated Press Top 10 poll, it must
watch out for dark horse San }ose
State. On paper, it’s all Trojans —
ninth-ranked USC sports a 2-0
record against the 2-1 Spartans.
But San Jose State has every
thing in the making for an upset.
Following a 49-13 season-open
ing loss against top-ranked Nebras
ka, San Jose State rebounded with
a 40-27 upset over cross-town rival
Stanford. The Spartans fine tuned
their offense last weekend with a
47-7 demolition of Southern Utah.
Leading the San Jose State attack
is tailback Deonce Whiteaker. The
senior is averag
ing 182.7 yards
per game.
Countering for
the Trojans is
sophomore Sul
tan McCullough,
younger brother
of former Oregon
tailback Saladin McCullough. The
tailback is 22nd in the nation in
yards per game with 109.5. In wins
over Penn State and Colorado, Me
Cullough led the Trojans in rush
ing and receiving.
USC coach Paul Hackett was
cautious yet optimistic in a press
conference Wednesday.
San Jose State “played at Ne
braska and Stanford so they’re pre
pared to play on the road,” he said
in a released statement. “They
have the combination of a quarter
back who can throw well in that
three and four receiver offense,
and a great running back to hand it
off to. That means we’ll have to be
well prepared for the game.”
“We face a tremendous oppo
nent this week, but our players are
improving and starting to learn the
system,” Spartans coach Dave
Baldwin said. “At this point, I like
what I see. I like the camaraderie
and attitude of this team.”
At this point, Hike
what I see. I like the
camaraderie and attitude
of this team.
Dave Baldwin,
San Jose coach
Also helping the USC cause is
sophomore quarterback Carson
Palmer, who threw for 275 yards
with 83.3 percent accuracy against
Colorado last weekend. Palmer re
turns to the Trojan lineup after an
injury sustained against Oregon
sidelined him last season.
Southern California place kicker
David Newbury earned Pacific-10
Conference special teams Player of
the Week honors after kicking the
game-winning field goal last week
against the Buffaloes.
The Trojans currently hold the
longest winning streak in the Pac
10 at five games dating back to last
season.
Southern California is hosting
the 500th game ever played at the
Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum.
Appearing at
Scandal’s
2222 Centennial Blvd.
343-4734
September
28 & 29 at 9:00
VIP $25, general
admission $20.
Credit card orders are
nonrefundable
For information or to
purchase tickets, please
call toll free
1-888-799-CHIP
or log on at
www.chippendales.com
Experience the
magic of the
Original
Chippendales!