Oregon daily emerald., August 30, 2002, Image 1

Mississippi Stale vs. Oregon
0-0
Here We
The 2002 football season has arrived, and Onterrio Smith leads the Ducks into their Rac-10 title
defense, a defense that will include eight home games in the newly-renovated Autzen Stadium
Peter Hockaday
Sports Editor
Gall Corey Chambers the muse of the
2002 Oregon football team. The fortune
teller with the crystal ball. The genie in
the bottle.
Leaning back in his chair at Oregon me
dia day earlier this month, Chambers had
this to say about those who see 2002 as a
rebuilding year for Duck football:
“I think it’s funny how people sit back
and judge us like that,” Chambers said. “I
don’t want to diss Joey (Harrington, the
third pick of last year’s NFL draft), but he’s
just a quarterback. How’s he going to get so
many receptions without his receivers?”
Oregon returns All-American wide re
ceiver Keenan Howry, who needs six
touchdowns, 30 catches and 831 yards be
fore he holds school records in all three
categories. Joining Howry at wideout are
veteran Jason Willis and exciting speedster
Sarnie Parker.
“How’s he going to get so many rushing
yards without the line blocking for him?”
Chambers continued.
Chambers anchors an offensive line
that returns three starters and gave up
only 11 sacks to lead the Pacific-10 Con
ference last season.
“Everything starts in the trenches.”
The D-line lost two starters, but their re
placements — including Igor Olshansky
and Robby Valenzuela—will rule by com
mittee. With veterans like Seth McEwen
leading the way, the Ducks could easily
post dominating performances like the one
in last year’s Fiesta Bowl, where they held
rush-happy Colorado to a mere 49 yards
on the ground.
And Chambers didn’t even mention oth
er key parts not named Harrington. Onter
rio Smith, a 1,058-yard rusher as a backup
last season, returns, as does speedy Allan
Amundson. Linebacker Kevin Mitchell is
one of the most hard-nosed football players
you’ll ever meet.
“I just want to hit somebody,”
Mitchell said. “I haven’t hit anybody
since January.”
Kickers Jared Siegel and Jose Arroyo
should shake off rookie jitters if last sea
son’s Spring Game is any indication; dur
ing halftime at PGE Park in Portland,
they took turns booting 50-and-60-yard
field goals.
There are many more on this team of
96 players.
On a wall in their locker room, the
Ducks have the phrase “stay hungry” writ
ten on a wall, a re
minder that Pac-10
titles aren’t easy to
come by, even if the
Ducks have won
the last two.
“Our goal is not
necessarily wor
rying about de
fending a confer
e n c e
championship, but
to aggressively go
seek another one,”
Oregon head coach
Mike Bellotti said.
If the Ducks contin
ue their most famous
trend this season — the
trend of winning one
more game each year than
the previous season — they
will end up with a 12-0 record
and a national championship.
Realistic? Bellotti thinks so.
“The thing about last year that
was the most frustrating thing, was not
that we didn’t quite get to that champi
onship game—it was that we allowed it to go
Turn to Preview, Page 5
KICKOFF AT 3 P.M. ■ AUTZEN STADIUM ■ SATURDAY, AUGUST 31,2002 ■ TV: FOX SPORTS NET
Autzen grows up
The new Autzen Stadium
has much to offer the 12,000
additional patrons who
make the trek to Eugene.
Page 2
Rating the Pac
Pac-10 power may have
shifted northwest, but the
southern teams will still put
up a fight in 2002.
Page 3