■ In my opinion
Oregon seniors say farewell
to Autzen stadium this Saturday
Saturday’s home game against
UCLA will mark the final time Ore
gon seniors suit up for a game at
Autzen Stadium.
I don’t have enough room to men
tion everyone, but here are some
memories of a few elder Ducks.
Michael DeLaGrange, offensive
tackle, No. 77: At 6-foot-6,350 pounds,
“DeLa” is one of the biggest players in
Oregon history. The Grants Pass native
has filled in nicely when not injured.
Robin Knebel, offensive lineman,
No. 79: The Roseburg native has
been one of Oregon’s most valuable
linemen, as he is able to play all five
positions. He was the top prep offen
sive lineman prospect in the state
during his senior year at Roseburg
High School in 1999.
Jerry Matson, inside linebacker, No.
52: One of the hardest working play
ers in Oregon history laughed in the
faces of those who told him he wasn’t
big enough, fast enough or strong
enough to play at the Division I level.
He leads the Ducks with 50 tackles
this season, after amassing 81 as a
junior. His hit on Oregon State kick re
turner Harvey Whiten during the 2003
Civil War — which made SportsCen
ter’s Top 10 list — will be etched in the
minds of Oregon fans forever.
Ramone Reed, outside linebacker,
No. 18: Reed overcame the death of
his mother last season and continued
to work toward earning a starting role
ION ROETMAN
ROUGHING THE PASSER
this year. He has more than earned the
respect of his coaches and teammates,
while collecting 46 tackles and a pair
of interceptions this season.
Jared Siegel, kicker, No. 25: The
most successful kicker in Oregon his
tory, Siegel set school records for
most points and most field goals
made in a career this season. In all,
he holds or shares 15 Oregon kicking
records. His best season was ar
guably his sophomore campaign,
when he connected on 49 of 50 extra
points and 20 of 24 field goals.
Adam Snyder, offensive lineman,
No. 72: At 6-foot-6, 320 pounds, Sny
der has been dominant at both guard
and tackle. A first-team All-Pacific-10
Conference performer last season,
Snyder has protected three different
quarterbacks during his Oregon career.
Chris Solomona, defensive end,
No. 47: The San Pedro, Calif., native
has stepped up this season with 31
tackles after earning a starting posi
tion. He has returned a pair of inter
ceptions for touchdowns, including
one against rival Washington.
Nick Steitz, offensive guard, No.
74: At 6-foot-4, 319 pounds, Steitz
has been solid at left guard for sever
al seasons. When the Ducks need a
tough yard, they usually run right be
hind the duo of Steitz and Snyder.
Marley Tlicker, rover, No. 23: Com
ing off a solid junior season in which
he started all 13 games, Tlicker’s sen
ior campaign was slowed by an elbow
injury he suffered against Arizona
State. He intercepted two passes dur
ing his freshman season and logged a
career-high 55 tackles as a junior.
Robby Valenzuela, defensive tack
le, No. 99: One of the most overlooked
performers in Oregon’s recent history.
While not as hyped as the likes of Igor
Olshansky, Junior Siavii or Haloti
Ngata, Valenzuela has helped cause
mayhem in opposing backfields for
three years. He delivered a thunderous
blow to Stanford quarterback Ttent
Edwards this season, which knocked
him out of the game with a bruised
left shoulder and hand.
Kenny Washington, running back,
No. 20: A dependable backup, who
has supplied the Ducks with depth,
Washington is most noted for his skills
as a kick returner. He garnered first
team All-Pac-10 honors as a junior, av
eraging 31 yards per kick return.
jonmetman@dailyemerald.com
DUCK CAPTAINS
Four Ducks, two on offense and two on defense, were chosen as this game’s team captains.
Each will be looked upon to lead Oregon to a conference win over the UCLA Bruins.
II
Adam Snyder
#72 Offensive Tackle / Senior
Hometown: Whittier, Calif.
Snyder began his senior year as a candi
date for the Outland Trophy, awarded
annually to the top interior lineman in
the country. In 2003, he became the
first lineman to be named the Pacific-10
Conference Offensive Player of the Week
since 1995. He also became Oregon's
first-team AII-Pac-10 offensive lineman,
the first Duck to do so in 20 years. He
also helped lead the way to a season
high 218 yards rushing against Oregon
State last season. He has made a ca
reer 33 starts for the Ducks, his first
against USC his freshman year. This will
be his last game at Autzen Stadium.
TL
Nate LiaBraaten
#88 Tight End / Junior
Hometown: Bend, Ore.
LiaBraaten was a diverse athlete at
Bend High School and a twoyear letter
winner in football, basketball and track
and was the youngest starting tight end
in Bend High School history. He also led
Bend to a fifth-place finish at the state
4A championship and was eighth in the
state in the javelin with a throw of 196
feet. He walked on to the Oregon foot
ball team and earned a scholarship af
ter a solid 2003 spring showing.
LiaBraaten had a career-bigh two catch
es against Michigan and scored his only
career touchdown against Portland
State his freshman year.
II
Chris Solomona
#47 Defensive End / Senior
Hometown: San Pedro, Calif.
Solomona has used the time he spent
behind the likes of Junior Siavii and
Igor Olshansky to mature into one of
the better defensive linemen in Oregon
history. He started the first game of his
career against Indiana in the 2004
opener and has 31 total tackles this
season. He also has three sacks this
season to go along with the most im
pressive stat: his two interceptions re
turned for touchdowns. He was tabbed
as the nation's third-best junior college
defensive lineman by SuperPrep mag
azine as well as the No. 6 overall JC
prospect by JCfootball.com.
II
Justin Phinisee
#31 Rover / Junior
Hometown: Compton, Calif.
Phinisee has made the move from
cornerback to rover quite easily after
Marley Tucker’s injury. He also has
taken over punt return responsibilities
and has returned 14 punts for 167
yards for an 11.9 yard average. His
longest return of the season was
against Arizona for 61 yards. On de
fense he leads the team with five
pass-breakups. He also has an inter
ception to go with 26 tackles in eight
games played this season. Last sea
son he finished fourth on the team in
tackles and second among the Ore
gon secondary.
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