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About Oregon daily emerald. (Eugene, Or.) 1920-2012 | View Entire Issue (Oct. 31, 2003)
Sports Editor: Hank Hager hankhager@dailyemerald.com Friday, October 31, 2003 Oregon Daily Emerald SPORTS Best bet College football: Oregon at Washington 7 p.m. Saturday, TBS Jon Roetman Roughing the passer Detroit should learn from Raiders Joey Harrington and Marques Tuia sosopo will step onto the same field Sun day for die first time since September 2000. Oh, how things have changed since then-No. 20 Oregon faced then-No. 6 Washington at Autzen Stadium. Harrington, a junior at the time, threw for 119 yards and a touchdown while leading the Ducks to the 23-16 win. Tu iasosopo threw for 229 yards in their loss, which eventually cost the Huskies a shot at a national title. While both quarterbacks will once again be leading teams in need of a win Sunday, similarities to the duo's Pacific-10 Confer ence glory days begin and end there. Three years removed from a collegiate contest of immense importance, the former Pac-10 Offensive Players of the Year are now in charge of disappointing NFL squads. Harrington has struggled through his first two seasons in Detroit. After a 3-13 campaign last year, he is taking most of the blame for the Lions' 1-6 start to the 2003 season. The third-overall pick in the 2002 draft, Harrington was thrown into the mix almost immediately, rather than being given time to observe from the sideline. Other than the Colts' Pey ton Manning, history has shown that young quarterbacks struggle when they are forced to play too soon. Harrington was handed the starting job just three games into his rookie sea son, taking over for an ineffective Mike McMahon. He has thrown 20 touch down passes and 28 interceptions in his brief career, while amassing a passer rat ing of 58.7. Tuiasosopo was never subjected to the pressures of saving a franchise as a rookie. Selected by Oakland in the second round of the 2001 draft, Tuiasosopo was given the chance to learn from the 2002 NFL Most Valuable Player, Rich Gannon, for his first two years in the league. Tuiasosopo finally got his chance Oct. 20 against Kansas City when Gannon went down with a shoulder injury. The former Husky passed for 224 yards in relief duty and led the Raiders to the Chiefs' 1-yard line before time expired on his attempted fourth-quarter comeback. The Raiders have put Tuiasosopo in a position to succeed. After soaking up in formation and getting a chance to throw to the likes of Jerry Rice and Tim Brown in practice, Tuiasosopo is light years ahead of where Harrington was when he got his first chance to start. Being an older team and one in decline, the 2-5 Raiders should give Tuiasosopo the starting nod for the rest of the season. He's had the chance to stand on the sideline and observe. Now, let him get some play ing time under his belt, especially with the Raiders out of playoff contention. Turn to ROETMAN, page 6A OSU defeats Ducks in four Oregon blows an eight point lead in game three Thursday before falling to the Beavers in four sets at McArthur Court By Jon Roetman Sports Reporter DUCK VOLLEYBALL The Oregon volleyball team could sense it. The 1,303 fans in attendance at McArthur Court could see it After splitting games one and two with Oregon State Thurs day, the Ducks inched closer to winning their first Pacific-10 Conference match of the season when they took a 23-15 lead in game three. Then everything fell apart. Led by sophomore outside hitter Karah Rhoades, the _ Beavers (13-11 overall, 3-9 Pac-10) went on a 16-6 run — including eight consecutive points — to capture the decisive game three, 31-29, en route to -- a 3-1 (30-23,27-30,31-29,30-24) win over the Ducks. Oregon set the tone early in game three, jumping out to an 8-3 lead after a kill by junior Lauren Westendoif bounced off the chest of Beaver setter Laura Collins. But the Ducks could n't put the Beavers away, mixing too many unforced errors in with their kills. The Oregon State run in game three was similar to a run the Beavers made earlier this year against the Ducks. After falling behind 15-4 in game three of the season's first Civil War meeting, the Beavers went on to outscore the Ducks 26 13 to close out the game and the match. "Actually, that thought went through my head," Rhoades said in reference to the Beavers' early-season comeback. "We were down a couple points and I just thought, 'hey, we've been here before.' (We used) that experience to come back." Rhoades was a constant thorn in Oregon's side, recording a double-double with 16 kills and 14 digs. She finished with 20.5 total points, including four service aces and a block assist. "The crowd was rowdy tonight and it's a tough place to play no matter who you are;" Rhoades said. "(Oregon) gave us a fight but it's a big win for us." The loss was a painful one for the Ducks. Numerous mis Turn to VOLLEYBALL, page 6A Danielle Hickey Senior Photographer Jodi Bell (9) dished out a match-high 48 assists in Thursday’s loss to Oregon State. NCAA tournament at stake for Oregon Mark McCambrige Photographer Forward Nicole Garbin said the Ducks “have nothing to lose" as they head into their final two weekends of regular season play. Oregon visits Arizona and Arizona State in a weekend that could vault the Ducks to their first postseason berth By Jesse Thomas Sports Reporter Oregon finally has control over its post season destiny — the first time the situa tion has arisen. As the Ducks head out to their final road trip of the season, they await a weekend that holds larger implications than any other has. Oregon heads south for a two game stint with the Arizona schools. The Ducks play Ari zona State on Friday in Tempe at 6 p.m. and finish the weekend on Sunday in Tucson with a game against the Wildcats. That game starts at noon. "This is what we have been working all season for," sophomore defender Carlie Ashcraft said. "This is what all the fitness and all the training is working towards." Oregon (8-8 overall, 2-3 Pacific-10 Con ference) enters its final regular season road trip with confidence. The Ducks are com ing off a 2-0 win over California last week at Pape Field, the team's second shutout DUCK SOCCER since August. The Ducks have never advanced to the postseason in the seven-year history of the program. Arizona State, which Oregon faces on Friday night, has qualified for the tournament in two of the last three years. "1'his weekend is very important for us, especially Friday," redshirt sopho more Nicole Garbin said. "Friday we need to get the 'W.' It's kind of a make-or break-your-season type of game. If we get that win on Friday then Sunday's going to come a lot easier." Arizona State (8-4-3, 2-2-1), which was ranged as high as 11th earlier this season, will also be looking to keep its postseason hopes alive after being swept by USC and UC1A last weekend. Oregon holds a 2-4-1 series record against the Sun Devils. The last time the Ducks were in Tempe, in 2001, they won 3-2. Arizona State, now unranked, has shut out five opponents this season. "They're a good team and they're fin ishing their last weekend at home so they'll be motivated," Oregon head coach Bill Steffen said. "Arizona State is a very talented team. It's going to be a real battle because we each have our mo tivating factors." After Friday's matchup, Oregon will head to Tucson to face Arizona. Like the Ducks, the Wildcats have never advanced Turn to SOCCER, page 6A
