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About Oregon daily emerald. (Eugene, Or.) 1920-2012 | View Entire Issue (Sept. 20, 2002)
New Autzen brings droves of Duck fans Oregon players are enjoying the improved facilities and bigger crowds. Hank Hager Sports Reporter The anticipation for the expansion of Autzen Stadium had been built up for years. Finally, when the structure began to go up, all that was left was wonder. What was the place going to look like from inside? What would the noise level be like? And best of all, would the Ducks continue their storied suc cess in the bowl? After three games, three sellouts and three wins, Ore gon players are taking a new liking to the place. “With every single game, like us, it’ll just keep get ting filled and keep getting better and better,” junior quarterback Jason Fife said. “I don’t know if it was that loud the first game, but in the second game, with the close game and it coming down to the fourth quarter and everything, it started coming alive again, feeling like Autzen.” Oregon fans have come in droves, evidenced by the 55,977 average attendance in the first three games. “It’s definitely bigger,” senior defensive tackle Kai Smalley said. “It’s kind of hard to tell if it’s loud or not. Definitely, you can really feel the fans out there, espe cially when you’re near (the expanded) side.” More important to the players is the new FieldTurf laid on the field before the season. After a year on NeX turf, the Ducks’ brass decided to switch to the new synthetic grass. “I love this turf,” Smalley said. “It’s got that much bet ter grip on it. It gives more when you fall. It’s much better turf than we had last year.” How the turf holds up, however, is a bigger question. Oregon practiced on the turf in inclement weather ear lier this week, head coach Mike Bellotti said, so that in the case of rain, the Ducks will be prepared for its dif ferent intricacies. Duck fans have been flocking to Autzen Stadium already this season, selling out the first three home games. “We have not really played in these conditions on this surface,” Bellotti said. “From what I understand from playing on it at Washington State in rain and snow, it held up well, so I’m curious to see.” Also included in the 12,000 seat expansion was a slight renovation to the Oregon Hall of Fame in the Casanova Center and an expanded weight room. “The weight room expansion and renovation is designed to be the best weight room facility in the nation,” Bellotti said. “The game day experience is for fans, recruits and basically the public. They can come in there and relive experiences and see the game day setting. “Those things help us in recruiting because we can let a young man walk down that hallway and see what Ore gon is like on a game day.” Contact the sports reporter at hankhager@dailyemerald.com. “Yes, Mom. I used my textbook money for books.” Poweils.com offers incredibie savings on more than a million used books - not just textbooks, but reading material for the elective aspects of life, too. And with free shipping on qualified orders there’s no end to the amount of specialized learning you can afford. Mom would be so proud. powells .com The legendary independent bookstore (800) 291-2676 Live and Learn Japanese! Waseda Oregon Programs take North American and international students to the prestigious Waseda University, Tokyo, Japan for Japanese language and com parative US-Japan Societies study: • Waseda Oregon Transnational Program January 15 - June 27, 2003 • Waseda Oregon Summer Japanese Program July 9 - August 19, 2003 Scholarships of up to $1000 are available for the Transnational Program. For more information, contact: Waseda Oregon Office Portland State University (800) 823-7938 www.wasedaoregon.org email: info@wasedaoregon.org “I: fashi comes Iran m center Make your fashion statement from our selection of stores including: Abercrombie & Fitch American Eagle Outfitters Ann Taylor Loft Banana Republic The Buckle Cathy Jean Eddie Bauer Express Co. Footlocker The Gap Hot Topic Journeys Lerner New York Sole Outdoors Over 120 Reasons to Shop Bon MarchS * JCPenney • Meier & Frank * Copeland’s Sports * Emporium Mon-Sat 10am to 9pm Sun 11am to 6pm 541-683-5513 www.valleyrivercenter.com g/^ love to opt the e>coop? w ,w. w. „. d. a. j. L .y. e .m e r. a I d . c o m
