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_———— SPORTS EDITOR: JEFF SMITH Smittside@aol.com
Harrington invaluable in Holiday Bowl win
Oregon’s Joey
Harrington
leaves the
Civil War
behind in
leading
Oregon to
the bowl win
t
By Scott Pesznecker
Oregon Daily Emerald
SAN DIEGO — Joey Harrington has
played from behind many times since
taking the reins of Oregon’s offense
midway through the 1999 season.
There was that last-second pass to re
ceiver Marshaun Tucker that beat Ari
zona State last season, followed by the
dramatic rematch, a double-overtime
thriller at Sun Devil Stadium this season.
The junior quarterback also led the
Ducks to an overtime win against Wash
ington State in the frozen Palouse, not
to mention fourth-quarter comebacks
against Southern California and Califor
nia.
But through all the close games of the
last two seasons, Harrington’s greatest
comeback happened at the Culligan
Holiday Bowl Dec. 29 in San Diego.
Down 21-14 heading into the second
half after surrendering 21 unanswered
points to Texas, Oregon passed, darted
and dashed its way back into the lead.
The Duck defense held up in the final
minutes, and Oregon walked away a
winner.
It was Harrington’s energy that
sparked the offense, which, in a nation
ally televised ESPN game, seemed one
step ahead of the Longhorns for most of
the night.
It was Harrington who caught a pass
from receiver Keenan Howry, then fell
into the end zone for the touchdown. In
the fourth quarter, it was Harrington
who ran nine yards for the touchdown
to give the Ducks a 28-21 lead. In all, he
completed 19 of 30 passes for 273 yards
and two touchdowns.
“Joey stepped it up big. He made
some great throws, great catches, great
runs — he did it all for us today,”
Howry said. “I said he had the hat trick
after he ran in the touchdown. He did it
all for us.”
And when the clock ran out, and Ore
gon players celebrated on the field as
they never have before, it was Harring
ton who accepted the honor of offensive
player of the game.
C C Joey stepped it up big. He
made some great throws,
great catches, great runs - he
did it all for us today.
Keenan Howry
Oregon receiver
Harrington — who threw five inter
ceptions and gave up a fumble in a
crushing loss to Oregon State at the end
of the season — came back, improving
his starting record to 14-2.
Unlike when he shouldered the
blame for the Civil War loss, Harrington
was quick to spread credit for beating
traditionally powerful Texas.
“It shows the character of this team,”
he said after the game, standing on the
field as fireworks exploded above Qual
comm Stadium. “Week in and week out,
we were behind, we were struggling, we
were hurting and then we came back and
we came up with wins. That’s the sign of
great character on our team.
Turn to Harrington, page 10
Craig Mitchelldyer for the Emerald
Oregon quarterback Joey Harrington runs into the end zone for a Holiday Bowl touchdown.
Special senior class ends its career on a high note
WM M I *L. ' '"HP'.I; j ...
Emerald
Oregon offensive tackle Lee Gundy battled the flu as well as Texas.
r\
* *** *
.- HAKUNA
' MATATA
JEFF SMITH
SAN DIEGO — The Oregon seniors on the field during
the Holiday Bowl had no time to prepare themselves
for the end.
The hard-working group of 22 seniors had to stay
focused right down to the precious final seconds of its battle
with Texas Dec. 29.
So when Texas quarterback Chris Simms’ desperation
heave fell incomplete in the end zone, the clock finally
showed 0:00 and the scoreboard read 35-30 in Oregon’s fa
vor, it all came out.
The emotion. The smiles. The hugs. The yells. And, of
course, the tears.
“I’m loving all my teammates right now!” senior defen
sive end Jason Nikolao exclaimed as television-camera
lights competed with the sky’s display of the fireworks after
the game.
The end of the game marked an end of an era. Head coach
Mike Bellotti has always mentioned how special a class this
was to him, and with good reason.
This senior group boasts the best four-year record in Ore
gon history at 34-14, which is the most wins by any Pacific
10 Conference school in that time.
Of the 22 seniors, there are 11 players who have been ac
tive for the school’s four straight bowl appearances (Las Ve
gas, Aloha, Sun and Holiday.)
Among them are defensive stalwarts Saul Patu and Niko
lao, who have seen action in all four bowls.
The two have been the Batman and Robin of the Oregon
defense this season.
They command your attention both on and off the field,
and when they speak, you listen. That’s just the way it is.
“I’m extremely proud of everyone who played on this
team, from the scout team on up,” Patu said. “And especial
ly all of the guys on defense. We’re like a body. If one person
Turn to Smith, page 12
Oregon defensive end Jason Nikoiao had plenty to recall after the game.