■ Oregon notes
Frustrated reserve QB
DuRocher granted release
After winding up third
on the depth chart,
the former prep star leaves
BY BRIAN SMITH
SPORTS REPORTER
The University announced earlier
this week that third-string quarter
back Johnny DuRocher was granted
a conditional release to transfer from
the school.
DuRocher made no indication
about his future plans.
He was listed third on Oregon’s
depth chart at quarterback, behind
Kellen Clemens and freshman Dennis
Dixon and did not see any playing
time in the team’s first two games.
“I respect Johnny’s decision and
his desire to play,” Oregon head
coach Mike Bellotti said Tliesday. “I
can’t guarantee to him that’s going
to change (his status). 1 was very
honest with him about our needs,
and this is what he wanted to do, so
that’s that.”
DuRocher’s departure leaves
Oregon thin and inexperienced at
the position.
“We have a true freshman and a
redshirt freshman backing up our
junior,” Bellotti said. “That in it of it
self is a big concern.”
According to Bellotti, freshman
Brady Leaf will step into third-string
duties, as well as keeping his duties
as the team’s scout team quarter
back. Sophomore punter Drew Lar
son, who played quarterback in high
school, might also be worked in as a
scout team quarterback.
“It obviously puts us short,
|s_
Erik R. Bishoff | Photographer
The future is uncertain for Oregon’s former third-string quarterback Johnny DuRocher after
his request to be released was granted by the University.
significantly short,” Bellotti said.
“It’s very difficult timing for a team
when you’re three games into the
season and to lose a person that
was your backup and your third
team quarterback.”
DuRocher was a top prospect
from Bethel High School in Wash
ington state. He was ranked ninth
OREGON, page 4
■ In my opinion
The painful ways sports teams
build you up and let you down
I’m watching Oregon in its loss to
Oklahoma last Saturday, and I’m
thinking; OK, we got them third-and
long, the Duck defense will stop
them this time, right? Ahhhhh! Not
another first down! It was like getting
poked to death with a sewing needle.
Maybe I’m overreacting, but dur
ing two touchdown drives in the de
cisive second and third quarters, Ja
son White and the Sooners converted
four — that’s right, four — third-and
long tries, and Duck fans everywhere
felt that little vein in their forehead
getting bigger and bigger.
Just when the Ducks looked like
they were going to stop the mighty
Oklahoma offense ... BAM! First
down Oklahoma.
After the Sooners picked up two
third and longs in the second quarter
during Oklahoma’s first touchdown
drive of the game, I actually started
rooting for the Sooners to get closer
to the first down marker during their
CLAYTON JONES
SEVENTH INNING STRETCH
first two downs so I didn’t have to see
another third and long.
But the trend continued, and it’s
almost like I knew a first down was
going to happen. 1 don’t think it
would have mattered if Oregon
would have dropped back all eleven
players in coverage, Jason White
would have found someone open.
Don’t get me wrong — this col
umn isn’t a knock on the Oregon de
fense. In fact, barring the fourth quar
ter, the defense looked the best it has
in a long time. It held a team that was
averaging more than 50 points per
game to zero points in the first quar
ter and 10 in the first half. That’s im
pressive.
1 am recognizing how clutch the
Oklahoma offense is on third downs.
This season the Sooners have com
pleted 66.6 percent of their third
down attempts, tied for first in the
country. Oregon ranks 90th in the na
tion in that category, completing 31
percent of its third down attempts.
White, the 2003 Heisman winner,
looks so confident and comfortable
on the field it’s as if he’s in the back
yard of his house with a Nerf football
and a couple buddies playing against
sixth graders, and why shouldn’t he?
White should feel comfortable on
the field — he has been at Oklahoma
for six years. Yes six. Do you know
what we call most college students
who are at college for six years?
Med students.
JONES, page 6
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