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About Oregon daily emerald. (Eugene, Or.) 1920-2012 | View Entire Issue (Nov. 17, 2000)
Where they’ll go, nobody knows ■ Oregon’s postseason bowl picture will remain out of focus until after Saturday’s Civil War By Scott Pesznecker Oregon Daily Emerald Despite being undefeated in the Pacific-10 Conference, despite los ing just once to then-No. 5 Wiscon sin on the road, despite earning a best-ever No. 5 ranking and de spite being the front-runner in the race for the Rose Bowl all season long, Oregon could find itself in Hawaii on Christmas. Say what? Really, it could happen. If the situation arose in which Wisconsin was invited to the Sun Bowl, chances are that the bowl commissioners wouldn’t want an other Badgers vs. Ducks matchup. Their reasoning would be that be sides Oregon and Wisconsin al ready playing each other once this year, the two teams will meet in Eugene next season. So, it would be down the ladder to one of the Hawaii bowls. “I don’t even know how you can even talk about all the madness that flows with these ballgames,” receiver Marshaun Tucker said. “One thing we know is we’re try ing to go to the Rose Bowl, so we’re trying to go this weekend and win it. And not just for that, but it’s for bragging rights.” And nothing but Oregon State stands between Oregon and Pasadena. The Ducks are the only Pac-10 football team that can go to the Rose Bowl without needing help from another team. Which is why it seems so pecu liar that the Ducks could slide as far as Honolulu. “If you pay attention to that, where’s it going to get you?” Tuck er said. “We have to really stay fo cused and know that we have a job to do this weekend.” “I did just find out that some one’s picking us to go the Sun Bowl this game,” tight end Justin Peelle said. “It doesn’t really mat ter - we’re shooting for the Rose Bowl. “Christmas in Hawaii wouldn’t be that bad, anyway.” Oregon’s postseason destination, if it loses to Oregon State, is fuzzy at best. If almost every team in the top-six of the Bowl Champi onships Series rankings loses this weekend, the Ducks could go to the Orange Bowl, although the r odds of that happening now are about a million-to-one. The Holiday Bowl isn't com pletely out of the picture, but pret ty darn close. If Washington went to the Rose Bowl and Oregon State received a BCS bid to the Fiesta Bowl, then the Ducks would plav in San Diego. However, the Beavers, even if more deserving, would probably be overlooked for Virginia Tech. Then there’s the Sun Bowl situ ation, which could lead to the Hawaii scenario. So, where the Ducks will go, nobody knows — unless they beat the Beavers, and then it’s straight to the Rose Bowl. “All the things that are riding on this game makes it that much more exciting,” linebacker Michael Cal lier said. “Some people talk about the pressure and all that, but I think it’s all positive pressure. It’s a big game for the state of Oregon. I don’t think this game has ever been so important.” But according to Las Vegas gam blers, beating Oregon State will be easier said than done. The Ducks are the contest’s four-point under dogs on the betting lines. “We are underdogs,” Callier said. “Before we started winning, we were always underdogs. I don’t mind that at all. Business as usual.” Another fun tid-bit to top a week of craziness: Washington, which Oregon beat Sept. 30, could go to the Orange Bowl if Oregon beats Oregon State and if Oklahoma los es to Kansas State in the Big 12 title game. And, of course, the Huskies must beat the Cougars. Considering the Cougars’ Pac-10 reputation and the way that Kansas State beat Nebraska last Saturday, perhaps Washington really could go to the national championship. Which would be even more com ical, because just a couple weeks ago, Oregon seemed to be in the Pac-lO’s drivers’ seat in that race, too. So much hype and so many pre dictions, but the Ducks seem poised under the national spotlight, just as they have all season long. “We’re handling it pretty well,” Peelle said. “We’re having fun with it a little bit, but we know we’ve got a job to do. We’ve got things we want to accomplish and we can’t let this affect us at all. It’s fun for the state, and it’s fun for both programs, all this media attention, but that stuff doesn’t matter. What matters is what happens on Saturday.” 1 010724 £°°o & Sp,*it# L°«tr)fclub 3 O^ene G^ClALS f541)484 6963 Hungry Duck Where ^ Duck, , Fans Flock together Ride the Duck Bus to all men’s Pac-10 home basketball games from the HUNGRY DUCK B o wlRe ser vations .com November Special *Pay $50 now to ensure that you have a hotel room when your team is invited to a bowl game this year. We have a limited number of rooms for every bowl game so it is not necessary to know which bowl game your team will attend. " This special rate is limited to 25 rooms per football team. A complete list of hotels and room rates is available on our website. Please visit our website: www.BowlReservations.com or Call us (561) 388-8866 for details. • a other “Civil War” Fans: To 0ur —N" TO an exciting, safe WEINV ISd “CIVIL” CIVIL WAR! , 18th football contest between the ■m »«• s«—■» »“ “ Oregon State and University that will go down in bistory • tW ;n oerson at Reser Stadium in We hope you will join us, whethe P d be a fantastic contest —b,t,oi«. mi ■ . ,0„lld ,our p»M> ' . —»—* ” ■ * sports event for everyone. ana ^ and don’t'drive*under "f^ttotams-don't be part of any . Leave the physical'™ wi„ provide the compet.t.on-they brawling or fisticuffs. Th P V lawful audience; you as an enthusiastic but or er y feUow fans—as hosts thisiyea y . Respect the ^ we,comrng to Beavers and Ducks S Sr- gracious hosts i play or any we ask yout in miking this a rlmembeV. Go Ducks and Beavers! Go Finally, enjoy the game.» Beavers and Ducks! 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