Image provided by: University of Oregon Libraries; Eugene, OR
About Oregon daily emerald. (Eugene, Or.) 1920-2012 | View Entire Issue (Dec. 4, 2000)
Pac-10 to nation: The Pac is back ■ The Pacific-10 Confer ence is out to prove that they’re no patsies in this year’s bowl schedule By Robbie McCallum Oregon Daily Emerald Pathetic-10. The term was coined in reference to Pacific-10 Conference football af ter a dismal 1999 season. Now, all of that has changed. The conference has three teams in the top eight of the Associated Press poll — more than any other confer ence in the nation — two teams in Bowl Championship Series bowl games and a whole lot more re spect. Rose Bowl No. 4 Washington (10-1,7-1) vs. No. 14 Purdue (8-3,6-2) ©0W4 For the first time in four years, a Pac-10 team will march into Pasadena as the favorite. For years, the Big-10 has had the upper hand in the Rose Bowl. Big-10 schools have hn Amt won seven of the last eight Rose Bowls, includ ing four straight titles. Washington is hoping to end all of that against Purdue on Jan. 1, 2001. The game will be marked by a quarterbacks duel between the Huskies’ Marques Tuiasosopo and the Boilermakers’ Drew Brees. Tuiasosopo and crew are heavy favorites, ranked fourth in the na tion with a seven game win streak dating back to September. Purdue won the Big-10 championship de spite two conference losses to Penn State and Michigan State. Wins over co-champions Michigan and Northwestern gave Purdue the nod. Washington had to deal with a three-way tie of its own out West. The Huskies broke away from co champions Oregon and Oregon State with a 3-0 non-conference record and a tougher schedule. The Huskies have big wins against No. 2 Miami and No. 5 Ore gon State. Purdue plays in the Rose Bowl for the first time since 1966. Fiesta Bowl No. 5 Oregon State (10-1,7-1) vs. No. 11 Notre Dame (9-2) The respect that the Pac-10 has earned this season was made evi dent when the Bowl Champi onship Series selected Ore gon State for the Tostitos Fiesta Bowl over Virginia Tech. The selection marked the first time that a Pac-10 school had been selected to a major BCS bowl outside of the Rose Bowl. The Beavers and the rest of the conference will have a chance to earn more respect against No. 10 Notre Dame. The Fiesta Bowl will feature the ultimate battle between a tradi tional football powerhouse and an upstart Cinderella team. Notre Dame, which has one of the most hallowed and revered programs in college football history, is led by freshmen sensation Matt LoVec chio at quarterback. The Beavers counter with a powerful offense led by quarter back Jonathan Smith and tailback Ken Simonton. Sun Bowl UCLA (6-5,3-5) vs. Wisconsin (7-4,4-4) The 2000 Sun Bowl will be a battle of two “what could have been” teams. After strong 3-0 starts to the season, both Wiscon sin and UCLA hit adversity in con ference play. Both teams were contenders to win their respective conference ti tles until the Badgers and Bruins both racked up losses to confer ence contenders. Consecutive losses to North western, Michigan and Ohio State put Wisconsin out of the Big-10 chase. UCLA’s season was equally disappointing with losses to con ference leaders Oregon, Oregon State and Washington. The Bruins’ postseason hopes were put in jeopardy with a 38-35 loss to cross-town rival Southern Califor nia. Now both teams have dusted themselves off and head to El Paso, Texas, for a chance to end their respective seasons on a high"' note. UCLA’s Freddie Mitchell has broken school and conference re ceiving records on his way to All American honors. The Badgers counter with explosive tailback Michael Bennett, who led the Big 10 in rushing with 1,672 yards and an average of 159.8 a game. Championship continued from page 6B had nothing to do with it. The facts were fed in during the sea son and it came out ranking us second. We will accept that. I'm not turning it down.” Head to head, the Sooners and Seminoles are matched to the tooth. At quarterback, Florida State’s Chris Weinke and Oklahoma’s Josh Heupel both have thrown for over 3,000 yards with less than 14 inter ceptions. Each team has a strong receiving corps, each with three receivers who average more than 14 yards per reception. The Seminoles’ Mar vin Minnis recorded 1,340 yards on 63 catches this season for 11 touchdowns while the Sooners’ Curtis Fagan scored seven touch downs this season while receiving 14.8 yards per game. Both teams prefer the pass but both have rushers who have ran for more than 800 yards this sea son and are deep in the backfield. On the other side of the field, both teams have at least two play ers with more than 100 tackles and three with more than two in terceptions. There is nothing lost on special teams, where Oklahoma and Florida State both have excellent kicking and returning teams. Both teams cruised through their non-conference schedules, and recorded convincing double digit wins against top-10 rivals Florida, Nebraska and Kansas State. The comparisons go beyond the 2000 season as well. Florida State, which is considered by many as the team of the ’90s, nev er finished lower than fourth in the national polls through the past decade and never won fewer than 10 games in a season. Likewise, Oklahoma dominat ed the ’80s and won a national championship to go along with 100-plus victories in the decade. While this year’s national championship game shapes up to be a close, evenly matched one, it may not decide the 2001 champi on. If the Sooners triumph, they are the national champs. If Flori da State wins and Miami beats Florida in the Sugar Bowl, then the Hurricanes would have a le gitimate case for the No. 1 spot. In any case, the BCS will find a na tional champion. &&$t” «tsf We Bake. We Deliver Springfield, Duck’s Village, Chase Village Santa Clara/River Road and University commons 461-PAPA (7272) 746-PAPA (7272) South Eugene and U of 0 1 484-PAPA (7272) Pick 3 LARGE PIZZA WITH UP TO 3 TOPPINGS [MfCiSI] [expires 12/31/00 | Not valid with any other offer or special. Limited delivery area. COMPLETE MEAL DEAL LARGE TWO-TOPPING PIZZA, One order of breadsticks, and a 2-liter of Coca-Cola only CEI'ES ^Not valid with any other offer or special. Limited delivery area. expires 12/31/00 $1093 eliveryarea. 4S& 009695 SPRINGFIELD (You know the Gateway Mall? We're right in the parking lot.) 3018 Gateway Street. Home grown in Oregon-also in Salem, Medford and Gresham 'Heated outdoor patio now available" ^Goodwrench Servicz'fflud your next Lube Service is On Most GM Vehicles SERVICE WHILE YOU WAIT • Lube, oil & filter • Vehicle Inpections • Tires Rotated • Wheel Pack • 39 Point Safety Inspection • Transmission Fluid & Service • Wiper Inspection & Replacement • Differential Service • Radiator Inspection Service • Lighting System Check & Bulb Replacement • Goodwrench Service • dose to campus » can leave your car there when in class 0 hit us at Lunch time... we ’re that quick! LIFETIME GUARANTEE" on parts and labor. Plus competitive up-front pricing and courtesy Transportation. We’ll give you more than just an OIL CHANGE Includes up to 5 quarts of GM Goodwrench Motor oil, a new AC Delco Oil Filter, Chassis lube and ten-point maintenance check, all in 29 minutes or less! Restrictions may apply to some vehicles. Q OoodMmnd* aide htxTjfa The 'TTtU means better. originally $24.95! NO COUPON NEEDED! Everyday low price. licles. '* See us for guarantee details ROMANIA Chevrolet 'See dealer tor details. 2020 Franklin Blvd., Eugene • 465-3588 • Open Mon-Fri 7:30-5:30 Cooler ^ou could junp in your car after the game but where’s the fun In that? <****» fm goosoiis with pool, food, drink & full lottery services. We guarantee store fun than traffic gridlock. 20% OFF FOOD w™ SPORTS TICKET Oh yeah, being 21 is good, too.
