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About Oregon daily emerald. (Eugene, Or.) 1920-2012 | View Entire Issue (Dec. 6, 2004)
ASU s loss to Arizona puts it in Sun Bowl with Purdue After the defeat, the Wildcats dropped down to a tie for third in the Pac-10 and lost their star QB BY JON ROETMAN SENIOR SPORTS REPORTER Arizona State’s promising season of offensive authority came to a crashing halt on Nov. 26 when the Sun Devils lost to lowly Arizona to cap off what had been a successful Pacific-10 Conference season. The 34-27 loss gave Arizona State a 5-3 conference record and dropped the Sun Devils into a third-place tie with Oregon State in the Pac-10. Adding insult to injury, Arizona State lost one of the most highly lr- = decorated quarterbacks in confer ence history to injury during its slip up against the Wildcats. Andrew Walter, the Pac-lO’s all time leader in touchdown passes with 85, separated his throwing (right) shoulder midway through the fourth quarter, leaving sopho more Sam Keller in control of the Sun Devil offense. Keller, who has thrown for 483 yards during his young career, will re main in charge as Arizona State takes on Purdue in the 71st edition of the Sun Bowl Dec. 31 in El Paso, Texas. The Sun Devils (8-3 overall, 5-3 Pac-10) will have their work cut out for them without their offensive leader. They will face a stingy Boiler maker defense that is allowing only 16.3 points per game. But if Keller can limit his mistakes and keep Ari zona State in the game, the Sun Dev ils have the pass-catching playmak ers needed to pull out a victory. All-Pac-10 second team wide re ceiver Derek Hagan has been a de pendable weapon all season. The jun ior has amassed 1,066 yards and nine touchdowns in 74 receptions and is averaging nearly 100 yards per game. One of the reasons Hagan has ASU, page 11B HARDWARE • Hardware • Electrical • Plumbing • Paint • Housewares • Lawn & Garden • Tools 342-5191 2825 Willamette Eugene, Oregon Lauren Wimer | Senior photographer Oregon State’s quarterback Derek Anderson (14) led the Pac-10 in passing, averaging 296.1 yards per game. Insight: OSU will depend on its pass offense for points Continued from page 5B previous visits to the Phoenix area for a bowl, and we are looking forward to another enjoyable experience,” Oregon State Director of Athletics Bob De Carolis said. “I know our team is excited about playing in a re spected bowl and against an oppo nent with a tremendous reputation.” The two teams have compiled identical records of 6-5 but need a win in this game to mark 2004 as a winning season in their archives. The Fighting Irish come into this game in the cross hairs of college foot ball for unfortunate reasons. Notre Dame is reeling in the wake of a 41-10 loss to rival Southern California, who will have its bags packed for the Or ange Bowl in January. On top of that, Notre Dame football has received more criticism than praise from the media following the firing of former head coach Tyrone Willingham. Notre Dame will be led by defensive coordinator Kent Baer, who is serving as the inter im head coach. That decision came shortly after the Fighting Irish received their invitation to the Insight Bowl fol lowing the release of Willingham. Notre Dame is desperate to revamp its program, and a bowl win could be just what it needs to do so. The year 2004 marks a decade since the Fighting Irish last won a bowl game. In 1994, Notre Dame hoisted the Cotton Bowl Trophy after defeating Texas A&M. Sophomore Brady Quinn will lead the Fighting Irish at quarterback and hopes to emulate his outing against the TYojans in which he led the offense for an opening-drive of 92 yards en route to a touchdown. Quinn ended the 2004 regular season leading the team in more statistical categories than any other sophomore quarter back in Notre Dame history. Quinn looked impressive through out the first half of the game against USC and was aided by a Notre Dame rushing attack that churned out 195 yards. A consistent running game has been the key to every victory this sea son for the Fighting Irish and will be a necessity against Oregon State. Quinn will have to throw out of the pocket with confidence and keep the offense balanced. Senior flanker Carlyle Holiday has been one of Quinn’s favorite targets this year and will need to continue hauling deep passes. Most importantly, Notre Dame needs to continue playing smart football by avoiding turnovers. The Fighting Irish committed zero turnovers against the TYojans, which helped them stay in the game early. Defensively, the Fighting Irish have remained sturdy throughout the sea son. Their biggest advantage over the Beavers comes with their ability to defend the run. Notre Dame’s front eight is led by senior linebackers Mike Goolsby and Brandon Hoyte, who lead the team in tackles. Fortu nately for Notre Dame, Oregon State does not feature a decent running at tack — the strength of its offense is welded by the throwing arm of sen ior quarterback Derek Anderson. Anderson leads the Pacific-10 Con ference with 3,257 passing yards and will give the Notre Dame secondary all it can handle. Anderson’s favorite receiver has been senior split end Mike Hass, who leads the Pac-10 in re ceiving yards. Hass played one of his best games two weeks ago against Oregon and was a major threat in last year’s Las Vegas Bowl win against New Mexico. When these two Beaver seniors are at their best, they make the worst of any defense. The real challenge for Oregon State will be containing Notre Dame’s of fense. The Beaver defense is led by senior defensive end Bill Swancutt, who anchors the front four. Stopping Notre Dame’s rushing attack will be quite a feat for Swancutt and Meeuwsen, but if they and the rest of the defense play as well as they did late in the regular season, a Beaver win could be nothing less than sealed. Need Cash? earn extra money for back to school expenses Donate Plasma! Earn up to $180 per month New donors bring this ad in for an extra $5 on first visit IBR Plasma Center 683-9430 I block east of Garfield on 8th 1901 West 8th Ave., Eugene
