Adam Amato Photo Editor
W
Cornerback Steven Moore (4) has two interceptions this season and has batted down three other passes.
Confident Comer
Senior Steven Moore sticks
by the attitude that no one
can beat him on the field
By Hank Hager
Sports Editor
In the Pacific-10 Conference, tall re
ceivers are the rule.
They've got size, strength and seem
ingly superhuman leaping ability, al
lowing them to jump over comer
backs inches smaller than them.
Pac-10 receivers — such as Washing
ton's Reggie Williams and USC's Mike
Williams — have tortured these de
fensive players ever since they entered
the conference
By the same token, it has become
the norm for Oregon cornerbacks to
lack the same size and physical
strength. But these players have
gotten by.
Rashad Bauman, for instance, over
came his height disadvantage in his
five seasons with the Ducks.
Oregon has another skilled comer
who aspires to compete with the Pac
10's tallest and who has taken the
spotlight and run with it.
Senior Steven Moore, former un
derstudy to Bauman and a friend to
the current professional, has
emerged as a player to watch in Ore
gon's secondary.
"He's always been confident" Ore
gon safety Marley TUcker said. "He's a
senior and knows what he has to do
and what we have to do as a team."
Moore was the poster boy last sea
son for the Oregon secondary; a
group that ranked 115th in the nation
in pass defense. That's out of 117 Di
vision I teams.
If there's ever a way to lose your
mental edge, playing for that group
would have been it. But Moore, like
the other members of the group,
has yet to lose sight of what they're
playing for.
If the Los Angeles native was as tall
as he is mentally strong, he would
easily tower ten-feet high.
"It was hard, but with me, I'm my
biggest critic," Moore said of last sea
son. "I don't think anybody can put
me down more than I can put down
myself. I think that makes it easier be
cause I'm harder on myself than any
body else could be."
Moore's play this season has been
noticed by the Oregon coaching
brass. Oregon's secondary coach,
John Neal, who was at Alabama
Birmingham last season, has seen all
the tapes from last season's games.
"I don't think (last season) carried
over at all with him," Neal said. "It's a
new start. Football is pretty much
year-to-year."
Looking for comparisons between
Moore and Bauman would be an
easy task.
Bauman was listed at 5-foot-8
inches with the Ducks, while Moore
stands 5-foot-9-inches tall. Bauman
played an integral role with the team
the day he arrived on the Oregon
campus, and while Moore didn't see
much action until his sophomore
season, he has been the de facto
leader of the Ducks' comerbacks ever
since he received prime playing time.
About the only comparison you
can't make between the two is the
team's success with each. Bauman led
the Oregon defense to the Fiesta Bowl
in 2001. Moore was a member of last
season's team that fell from grace.
Turn to CORNERBACK, page 8B
Oregon receivers focused’
after tough Cougar contest
The Oregon receivers have
resolved to bounce back
after a sub-par performance
against Washington State
By Jon Roetman
Sports Reporter
When a football player experiences
a sub-par performance in a big game,
he has two options for a response.
Option one involves finding a big
rock to crawl under.
Option two — in the case of the
Oregon receivers — involves calling
for the ball and redeeming themselves
by making plays.
Disappointed with last week's outing
against Washington State, Demetrius
Williams, Sarnie Parker and Kellen Tay
lor are looking to get the Duck offense
back on track against Utah.
"It's real important that everyone is
doing their job," Oregon wide receiv
er coach Dan Ferrigno said. "When we
perform like we did the other day, just
from a receivers standpoint, you're
not going to win many games. It's im
portant til at we take a positive step,
put that game behind us and get bet
ter this week."
By most standards, Williams had
an excellent game against the
Cougars, finishing with nine catches
for 175 yards and a touchdown. But it
was Williams' fumble after a 47-yard
reception late in the first quarter that
deflated the momentum Oregon had
gained after a blocked punt.
Determined to not to make the
same mistake twice, Williams said
he's ready to get back on the field.
"I need to improve on being more
focused, catching the ball all the time
and making sure 1 secure the ball after
the catch," Williams said. "It's impor
tant for us to make the catches that we
need to and make some plays after,
which we know we can."
Parker stayed relatively quiet against
Washington State, finishing with four
catches for 58 yards. His day will be re
membered for a Jason Fife pass he let
bounce off his shoulder pad in the back
comer of the end zone.
Despite Parker's momentary loss of
focus, the rest of the receiving corps
stands behind him.
"He's our go-to guy," Williams said
of Parker. "We look to him when
we're in a desperate situation. I think
we have to step up more to help
Sarnie out in those roles.
"I don't see him not being our go
to guy all season. He's our best receiv
er and we all look to him when we
need a play."
Taylor finished the Washington
State game with three catches for 50
yards and said he won't be satisfied
until the Oregon offense can put to
gether a complete game. Taylor is cur
rently third on the team in receiving
with 12 catches for 119 yards and said
Friday is a perfect time for the re
ceivers to show off their talents.
"We all bring different strengths,"
Taylor said. "(Williams) is tall, long and
rangy, Sarnie has the speed and I'm in
tense. With all three of us out there we
have a good blend of speed and size"
Contact the sports reporter
at jonroetman@dailyemerald.com.
016858
Keep your dote or
LOSE YOUR LICENSE.
Under Oregon's new MIP law, drivers under 21
who fail to appear in court on an alcohol-related
offense will automatically lose their drivers license.
It's just one more reason why driving sober is the
way to go.
Mi
f^pended: 02-02-2009
Drive Sober. The Way to Go.
Transportation Safety — ODOT
017098
You’ve got the Domino’s
Student Value Menu
Order by numberl
#1 12” Pizza with your favorite topping.$5.99
#2 12" One-topping pizza & two cans of coke.$7.99
#3 14” One-topping pizza & Cheesy Bread.$7.99
#4 14” One-topping pizza & Clnna Stlx.$7.99
#5 14” One-topping pizza & 2-llter Coke.$7.99
#6 Two 12" one-topping pizzas.$9.99
#7 12” One-topping pizza & 10 Buffalo Wings.$9.99
#8 14” One-topping pizza. Cheesy Bread & 2-liter Coke.$9.99
#9 12” Nine-topping Exravaganzza.$9.99
• Add a second 12” for only $4
• Add a second 14” for only $6
• Extra toppings $1 par pizza
343-3030
2568 Willamette • Eugene
inunmx
WOTTKBj
Willamette and Springfield
Monday - Thursday: 4pm -1 am
Friday and Saturday: 11am - 2am
Sundayz: 11am-1am
River Road
Monday - Thursday: 4pm - Midnight
Friday, Saturday & Sunday: 11am - Midnight
746-3030
1135 Mohawk • Springfield
343-0842
1355 River Road • Eugene
Limited delivery areas. $1 delivery charge.
Expires 12/31/03. Valid student ID required.
017143 I
Von Klein
Property Management, LLC
C.tmfmi iilaateiL
Find the home that fits you.
Largest Selection • Personal Service vv *
Come Viiit U. Today! 4857776 • “ '