Sports Editor
Hank Hager
hankhager@dailyemerald.com
Tuesday, October 21, 2003
Oregon Daily Emerald
SPORTS
Best bet
MLB playoffs:
N.Y. Yankees at Florida
5 p.m., FOX
Hank Hager
Behind the dish
Harrington
in no-win
situation
with Lions
Somewhere in Cincinnati on Sunday,
Carson Palmer must have had a smile on
his face.
The first-year pro, for one, was on the
sidelines as the Bengals defeated Baltimore,
34-26, for their second win of the season.
He didn't see any playing time in the
win, but by just staying on the sidelines he
was gaining more of a future than Joey
Harrington did in Detroit's 38-7 blowout
loss to Dallas.
The former Oregon hero was just 5 of
13 against the Cowboys for 30 yards and
two interceptions. He was pulled in favor
of backup Mike McMahon in the first half.
As Drew Sharp of the Detroit Free Press
pointed out in a column Monday, Har
rington's quarterback rating against the
Cowboys was a paltry 7.1.
"But on the Lions' scale it is but another
all too familiar rumbling, a groundswell
of questioning the quarterback's compe
tence," Sharp wrote. "Harrington's pathet
ic individual effort in the most horrid col
lective exhibition of Lions football in the
last three years will set the tone of public
outrage in the aftermath of Sunday's 38-7
loss to Dallas.
"Screaming for the quarterback's head
in this town has become reflexive, but
creating a quarterback controversy is a
foolish waste of emotion because for
there to be a 'controversy' there must first
be a 'quarterback'"
Where Palmer is being given a chance to
compete in the future, Harrington has
been set up to fail by the mere fact he has
stepped on the field every game in just his
second professional season.
The Lions are 1-5 this season. They
haven't had a winning season since 2000
when Detroit went 9-7.
The specter of a winning season has
shrunk quickly this year, and the title wave
that engulfed Ford Field has washed away
Flarrington's early potential. Detroit is a
sinking ship, even with head coach Steve
Mariucci, and the Detroit brass has done
nothing but hurt the Portland native's
ability to get tried and hue experience.
Throwing Harrington in games, as the
Lions did last season, was unfair. He
is getting experience, but it isn't of a
quality nature.
Harrington doesn't have receivers that
can make or break a game. His top go-to
guy, Charles Rogers, broke his collarbone
in early October and may not see the field
for at least a few more weeks.
When Flanington was with Oregon, he
had a cast of offensive players that was
well suited to his ability. Granted, Detroit
can't base it's offense on his talents, but
there needs to be an adjustment.
Before all the blame is placed on Detroit
itself, Harrington must be tossed some of
the criticism himself. Sharp may have
been a bit harsh to criticize the former
Duck so bluntly. Still, a passer rating of 7.1
is downright nasty to look at.
Turn to HAGER, page 6
USC, UCLA loom large for Oregon
1
!
\ j
i'
\ A r i li.
Mark McCarnbridge Photographer
Kristen Bitter is seventh in the Pac-10 with 1.04 blocks per game in conference play.
The Ducks return
to McArthur Court this
week to face two teams
ranked in the top-10
By Jon Roetman
Sports Reporter
This week provides the Ore
gon volleyball team with a good
news, bad news scenario.
The
good
news: The
VOLLEYBALL ?ucks
_ have com
pleted the
first half of their Pacific-10 Con
ference schedule and will be bet
ter prepared when they face op
ponents for a second time.
Ihe bad news: It may not mat
ter how prepared Oregon is
when the Ducks face No. 9
UCLA on Thursday and No. 1
USC on Friday.
The Bruins and Trojans are tal
ented enough to strike fear into
the heart of any opponent, but
the Ducks are staying upbeat
and positive about their chances.
"They're both awesome pro
grams, and they both have
strong traditions behind
them," freshman middle block
er Kristen Bitter said. "It is (easy
to be in awe), especially as
a freshman going against the
No. 1 team.
"But it's so exciting. Not very
many people get this opportuni
ty, so 1 look at it as a blessing and
an honor."
Bitter added that the Ducks
can relax and go after their first
conference win now that they
have seen all of the Pac-10 teams.
"I don't think things will go
the same during the second half
of the Pac-10 (schedule)," Bitter
said, "We know what we're go
ing up against. Ihe shock factor
is gone, and now it's just time to
play volleyball and see who we
can get."
Oregon head coach Carl Fer
reira said UCLA (14-4 overall, 6
3 Pac-10) presents a smart oppo
nent that will not beat itself, ihe
Bruins are led by juniors Brynn
Murphy and Heather Cullen.
Murphy is averaging 3.88 kills per
game, while Cullen is at 3.06.
"They have a high volleyball
IQ," Ferreira said. "They have a
very methodical attack and hit
their shots over and over and
over."
Collegiate power
The Trojans (18-0, 9-0) are the
defending national champion
and have held the top position
in die collegiate rankings for die
entire season. They have three
players averaging more than
three kills per game, and Ferreira
said the Trojans usually have the
size, adrleticism and experience
to overwhelm their opponents.
To put it in perspective, Fer
reira added that USC has more
than 100 matches of internation
al experience among its players,
compared to none for Oregon.
"They're the best collecdon of
collegiate players on a volleyball
team I've ever seen," Ferreira
said. " They're just very good at
what they do."
Double-digit Mason
Freshman outside hitter Sarah
Mason led the Ducks with 10
kills in the loss on Friday at Ari
zona State. Mason, who has
recorded double-digit kills in 10
of the Ducks' last 11 matches,
stands ninth in the Pac-10 with
3.59 kills per game during con
ference play.
Turn to VOLLEYBALL, page 6
Bruins fighting for conference crown
UCLA has won and become a big
surprise in the Pac-10 this season
By Hank Hager
Sports Editor
For anyone who thought UCLA would be in
the bottom half of the Pacific-10 Conference
standings at the conclusion of the 2003 season,
the Bruins have been surprising.
So startling that UCLA could be considered the
surprise of the Pac-10 this season. UCLA (5-2
overall, 3-0 Pac-10) proved that with a 23-20
overtime victory over California on Saturday at
the Rose Bowl in Pasadena.
"We keep finding a way
to win," UCLA head coach
Karl Dorrell said after the
game "We have a little luck
on our side It was a heck of
a football game"
California trailed for
most of tire game, but came back to tie the score
with a touchdown and 2-point conversion with 11
seconds to play.
UCLA's Justin Medlock kicked a 41-yard field
goal in extra time, then watched as California's
Tyler Frederickson hit the left upright on a 50
yard attempt, giving the Bruins the victory.
The close win allowed UCLA to stay in a
tie for first in the Pac-10's race for the confer
ence crown.
The Bruins had to battle through a quarterback
PAC
io
Sharon M. Steinman Fort Worth Star-Telegram
Jarrad Page (4) and the Bruins have won each of their
first three Pac-10 games to remain in a tie for first.
dilemma early in the season that claimed sopho
more Matt Moore.
He won the starting job to begin the season,
but gave way to sophomore Drew Olson after an
injury in the first game of the season against Col
orado, a 16-14 loss.
At the time, Moore was expected to miss 4-to-6
weeks with a severe bone bruise on his left tibia.
Moore is back but has been designated as the
backup to Olson. He has seen action in two games
since coming back from the injury but is waiting for
his chance to start.
"Right now we have a four-game winning
streak," UCLA offensive coordinator Stave Axman
told the Los Angeles Times. "1 feel our quarterback
is playing well, and he's getting better. To make a
change — you’ve got to worry about making that
type of change. On the other hand, we feel very
confident in Matt and his ability to step in."
Olson has passed for 1,107 yards this season in
six games, five of which are starts. 1 le has completed
91 of 162 passes and has thrown four touchdown
strikes while being picked off five times.
I he Bruins are 5-1 this season when Olson starts.
Walter wastes no time
Arizona State quarterback Andrew Walter lit up
North Carolina Saturday, just one week after
throwing for more than 300 yards against Oregon.
The junior was 34 of 58 for 408 yards. He has
now thrown for more than 300 yards in three
straight weeks after accomplishing the feat in a
win over the Ducks and a loss to USC.
Walter's Heisman campaign, which was in full
steam entering the season, has dwindled a bit,
and it's unlikely it will get back on track enough
for him to make a charge this season.
But next year is a different story.
Not going to happen
ESPN.com reported on Monday that the West
ern Athletic Conference plans to raid the Sun Belt
Conference. An announcement was made last
week that Rice, Southern Methodist and Tulsa
would leave the WAC after accepting invitations
to join Conference USA.
Ihe WAC, according to the article, is eyeing eight
teams from the Sun Belt as possible replacements.
Speculation now has it that the Pac-10 will follow
Turn to PAC-10, page 6