Football
continued from page 7 A
18. Had the Ducks won either of
those two games they would have
been headed to Pasadena instead
of the Washington Huskies.
But what characterized this
team more than anything was its
ability to put the past behind it and
always look ahead.
Obviously, the loss to Oregon
State was deflating and propelled
the Beavers to a Fiesta Bowl
blowout win against Notre Dame.
The Ducks, though, knew they
couldn’t turn back the clock and
chose to dedicate themselves
throughout the month of Decem
ber for their Holiday Bowl show
down with Texas.
“After that Oregon State game, it
hurt losing, but you always knew
you’d have another game,” senior
linebacker Garrett Sabol said.
It was that type of attitude that
helped the Ducks win so many
memorable games this season. For
example, down by 14 with 3:30 to
go in regulation at Arizona State.
Impossible? Not for the 2000
Ducks. Oregon proceeded to score
twice and win in overtime with a
ridiculous final score of 56-55.
Time and time again, the Ducks
did what they had to do to get the
win. Oregon gave Washington its
only defeat, sent USC lower than it
already was and provided an early
knockout blow to Arizona. The
Ducks also took care of Washing
ton State and California while hav
ing huge bulls-eye marks on their
chests as the league front-runner.
Now, the challenge is to contin
ue to look forward and try to build
on this success, despite losing 22
valuable seniors.
“Well, we have the luxury of
having a lot of our offensive peo
ple come back,” head coach Mike
Bellotti said. “Defensively, we
have some holes to fill. We were
able to reload very effectively from
last year, and hopefully, we can do
that again.”
The appetite for those associat
ed with the Oregon football team is
continually swelling.
There once was a time in which
an above-.500 record was seen as a
success, but the 1994 Rose Bowl
season ruined that.
Then, there was a time in which
simply reaching a bowl game was
viewed as a significant accom
plishment, but victories in the Las
Vegas, Sun and Holiday bowls
have diminished that concept.
And now, after the first 10-win
season in Oregon history, those
connected with the Ducks are
speaking of much loftier goals.
They speak of not only capturing
sole possession of the Pac-10 but
also of playing for the national
championship.
“Our goal will be to play for it all
next year,” junior cornerback
Steve Smith said. “We’ll shoot for
it and see what happens. It’s going
to be exciting to see if we can do
better than we did this year.”
Oregon had six wins in ’96, sev
en in ’97, eight in ’98, nine in ’99,
and, for the first time, 10 in 2000.
For the Ducks to continue their
corresponding improvement and
capture a special 11th win, a lot
must happen between now and
Sept. 1, the day Wisconsin visits
Eugene to open the season.
But, as many have learned from
watching Oregon during the past
two seasons, no climb is insur
mountable.
Craig Mitchelldyer for the Emerald
Oregon junior cornerback Steve Smith leaps backward and makes an athletic and crucial interception on the one-yard line off a
pass from Texas quarterback Chris Simms. Smith is a key returnee on defense and is excited and confident toward next season.
2000 Football Season
Sept. 2 Oregon-36 Nevada-7
The Oregon defense only gives up 103
yards, the least amount since 1962.
Sept. 9 Oregon-23 Wisconsin-27
Missed chances plague the Ducks, as
they fall on the road to the then-No. 5
Badgers.
Sept. 16 Oregon-42 Idaho-13
Joey Harrington throws four TD’S, as
Oregon tunes up for the Pac-10.
Sept. 23 Oregon-29 UCIA-10
Oregon's defense holds UCLA to mi
nus-nine rushing yards, and upsets
the then-sixth-ranked Bruins.
Sept. 30 Oregon-23 Washington-16
Maurice Morris rushes for 152 yards
to help give the Ducks the early edge
in the race for the roses.
Oct. 14 Oregon-28 USC-17
Oregon proves it can win on the road
as Harrington throws fora career
high 382 yards and four TD’s.
Oct. 21 Oregon-14 Arizona-10
The Ducks take sole-possession of
first-place with a defensive-oriented
Homecoming victory.
Oct. 28 Oregon-56 Arizona State-55
20T
In the most absurd and incredible
game of the year, Oregon rallies from
behind to upend the Sun Devils in a
classic desert duel.
Nov. 4 Oregon-27 Washington State
24 OT
Josh Frankel nails an overtime field
goal and Jed Boice blocks the
Cougars’ attempt to win a nailbiter in
the Palouse.
Nov. 11 Oregon-25 Caiifomia-17
Harrington leads Oregon again, as he
throws for a TD and runs in for two
more to set the stage for the Civil War.
Nov. 18 Oregon-13 Oregon State-23
In the 104th and most significant Civil
War, the Ducks give up six turnovers
to end their Rose Bowl dreams.
Dec. 29 Oregon-35 Texas-30
The Ducks finish the season strong in
the Holiday Bowl with their 10th win
in arguably the most entertaining
bowl game of the season.
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