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About Oregon daily emerald. (Eugene, Or.) 1920-2012 | View Entire Issue (Sept. 23, 2005)
JfZmWjNTjNG INTO THE RECORD BOOKS During his Oregon career, Terrence Whitehead has proved to be a leader both on and off the field BY SHAWN MILLER SPORTS REPORTER errence Whitehead is leaving his mark at Oregon — some X thing few student-athletes have managed to accomplish. The senior is not only climbing the career charts, but is also the leader in a backfield stacked with talent. Rank ing second behind current Minnesota Vikings running back Onterrio Smith, Whitehead began his Oregon career as a true freshman in 2002. Whitehead emerged the following season from a four-tailback squad to become the starter in eight of the final nine games of the season and has held on to the spot since. The Los Angeles native will ex tend his 16-game starting streak Sat urday against his hometown rival Southern California Trojans. Despite minimal recruiting by USC and a slow start to the season, Whitehead isn’t focused on himself. “I’m not going to say I want to beat them because they are the two-time defending champs, I’m not going to say I want to beat them because they didn’t recruit me. I want to beat them because they are the next team on our schedule,” Whitehead said. His selfless attitude allows him to lead by example. After beginning the season with only 67 rushing yards on 26 attempts and no touchdowns, Whitehead broke out last weekend during a 37-34 victory over Fresrto State. He finished with 156 total yards and two touchdowns, including the game-winning 42-yard scamper late in the fourth quarter. “Terrence is a very versatile foot ball player,” Oregon quarterback Kellen Clemens said after White head’s performance against Fresno State. “He got some of those hand offs when there was a big hole there; he took it quite a few ways ... Terrence showed his stuff today.” The early frustration Whitehead felt this season was the result of a lack of confidence in and knowledge of the new offense. That switched after offen sive coordinator Gary Crowton re worked the scheme. “We need Terrence untracked for us to be the kind of offense we need to be,” Oregon head coach Mike Bellotti said. “Terrence is a stud. It showed that his performance against Fresno State was a difference in the game. ” After a game-breaking performance last week, Whitehead is looking to jump start his final college season, and there is no better opponent than the two-time defending national champi on TYojans, who just happened to overlook one of Oregon’s all-time great running backs. Whitehead has not only been in fluential on the field, but in the locker room as well. The legacy Whitehead leaves on the record books establish es him as one of the best, but his greater accomplishment might be the mentoring he has provided for the young backfield filling up the depth chart behind him. Teaching the future Perhaps the best recruit to wear green and yellow is freshman Jonathan Stewart, who is content learning from Whitehead and waiting a year for the starting gig. “He’s been a mentor, a brother,” Stewart said of Whitehead. “He’s tak en it step-by-step through anything that we’ve needed.” Stewart said he learned about many things from Whitehead, from the plays on offense to the ladies on campus. “Just the ropes of the offense, how to learn the offense and the different running techniques,” Stewart said. “Staying focused in the game, things outside of college — school, girls — all kinds of things.” When the blue chip recruit was signed last spring, the pressure was imminent for Whitehead during spring practice and fall camp. But he didn’t feel it. “I wasn’t really feeling like (Stew art) was on my heels,” Whitehead said. “I’m not worried about that. I’m just going to come here and play my game. ” Before this season started, Beliotti said Whitehead is, “the rock on which we build on, MVP of the team last year and our starter.” The two backs couldn’t have been happier with the setup. Whitehead leaves his legacy, while Stewart learns for a year before he begins etching his own name into the Oregon history books. — Kate Horton | Photographer Oregon running back Terrence Whitehead currently ranks fourth on the career rushing list with 2,316 yards. The Los Angeles native scored the game winning 42 yard touch down last week to catapult the Ducks to a 3-0 record. “The most important part is to get a good college education and of course try to win a national championship,” Stewart said. Stewart believes Oregon is close to accomplishing that goal and the lead ership provided by Whitehead has been key. Climbing the charts If Whitehead, who currently sits fourth on the career rushing chart with 2,316 yards, averages 122.5 rushing yards per game in Oregon’s final eight games of the regular season, he will WHITEHEAD, page 15 ESCAPE & EXPLORE Mei www.rei.com CYCLE CLIMB CAMP TRAVEL 306 LAWRENCE ST (FACING 3RD ST), EUGENE, OR 97401 (541)465-1800 cheer, surprise, show love, flirt, set a table, cheer, welcome, surprise : 80 Years serving the University 6lO East 13th (atPatterson) www.eugenesflowerhome.com Use flowers to... show you care, be thankful, congratulate Eugene’s Flower Home The University Florist 485-3655 UT/i&k/actto'-ca/lymr x c/e&i^/ier^y • l fierso/ialse/vice FTD auioo|9M ‘agejnooua ‘aieiniejguoo ‘injMuem aq ‘a-ieo noA .encourage, cheer, welcome, surprise, show love, flirt, set a table, show GAME GEAR AND SO MUCH MORE... 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