Adam Amato Photo Editor
Senior linebacker Kevin Mitchell, who will play his final home game Saturday, has more than 350 tackles in his Oregon career.
An Autzen farewell
Saturday’s game against
Oregon State marks the
final game at Autzenfor
Oregon’s senior players
By Hank Hager
Sports Editor
One-by-one, they'll come through
the Autzen Stadium tunnel, roaring
through as their names are an
nounced by Don Essig, the public ad
dress announcer.
They'll have the 56,000-plus in at
tendance cheer at the top of their
lungs, mostly for what they've helped
accomplish in the last four or five
years, but also for the memories
they've afforded Oregon's faithful.
Such is the life of a graduating sen
ior on Civil War Saturday.
"It's going to be exciting, but at the
same time, a little bit sad," fullback
Matt Floberg said. "I'll miss it, but it's
the Civil War, so my mind will be on
other things."
Floberg is one of a number of sen
iors who will step through the tunnel
for the last time. That list includes
quarterback Jason Fife, a catalyst in
the Oregon offense for the past two
seasons; linebacker Kevin Mitchell, by
all accounts the heart and soul of the
Ducks' defense seemingly since he
stepped on the field for the first time
in 2000; and center Dan Weaver, a for
mer walk-on who battled the odds to
earn a scholarship.
There are players leaving like wide
receiver Sarnie Parker, who has been
one of the fastest players in the na
tion.
Keith Lewis, almost a once-in-a-life
time find at Oregon, will leave as one
of the most consistent members of
the secondary in recent memory.
Then there are players like defen
sive linemen Junior Siavii and Quinn
Dorsey, whose careers in Eugene have
taken different twists and turns.
Siavii's career came to Oregon after
one season at Butte Junior College,
while Dorsey sat out the entire 2002
season because of personal reasons.
He came back after five-game suspen
sion this season stemming from an
NCAA violation and has given depth
to a depleted line.
"I think they've done a very good
job," Oregon head coach Mike Bellot
ti said of his team's seniors. "Obvious
ly it's hasn't been a huge group, but 1
think they've hung together and
helped turn this season around, and
I'm very proud of them. I'm going to
miss every one of them. They're a
great group of kids who have left their
mark on the field and some of them
have been great leaders, in terms of
keeping the laugh quotient available
for the team, and others have done it
on the field."
The group is leaving after seeing
some of the best years of Oregon foot
ball.
For the members of the group who
have been with the Ducks for five sea
sons — such as Mitchell, Fife and
Parker — they've helped accumulate
a 44-16 record through that span. The
four-year players, like Lewis and
Floberg, will enter the game against
Oregon State with a 35-13 record.
Turn to SENIORS, page 20B
UO players teach each other
about Civil War's importance
Athletes from outside
Oregon quickly learn about
the importance of the Civil
War upon arrival
By Jon Roetman
Sports Reporter
The emotion of the Civil War is
something that Duck and Beaver fans
experience every year.
The concept seems natural from a
spectator's point of view: The guys in
the green and yellow hate the guys in
the black and orange.
Right?
It's not that simple.
Unlike those who grew up in Ore
gon and were taught at a young age
which university to despise, most of
the athletes who grace the Ducks ros
ter are from another state.
Jerry Matson, Kevin Mitchell and
Demetrius Williams are three such
players who weren't born into dislik
ing Oregon State, instead acquiring
a hatred of the Beavers upon their ar
rival to Eugene.
Matson, a native of Edmonds,
Wash., said once an athlete comes to
Oregon, he is immediately accepted
by his peers and the fans. They quickly
drill the importance of the rivalry into
the player's mind.
"Between 60,000 fans and the hun
dreds of people you know, they don't
let you feel like an outsider," the jun
ior linebacker said. "The first year
you're here, you kind of get a feel for
how important it is. Then, once you
Turn to RIVALRY, page 15B '
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.
Drive Sober. The Way to Go.
Transportation Safety — ODOT
017098
You’ve got the Domino’s
Student Value Menu
Order by number!
#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 & Cinna Stix.$7.99
#5 14” One-topping pizza & 2-liter 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 per pizza
343-3030
2568 Willamette • Eugene
hsuvski
ffOTTRS*
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.
Von Klein
Property Management, LLC
Find the home that fits you.
Lowest Selection • Personal Service
| Come Viisl Ui Today! 485-7776 • 1301 Ferry