IN BRIEF
Walker out of backfield
at Oregon State
Oregon State tailback Jimtavis
Walker has left the team because of
personal reasons, the school an
nounced Wednesday.
Walker, a 5-foot-10, 225-pound
native of Statesboro, Ga., had ap
peared in three of the team’s five
games this season, rushing for 44
yards on 15 carries. He did not play
in 2004 because he had to sit out a
season due to NCAA eligibility rules
for transfers. He played at the Uni
versity of Florida in 2003.
Off the field, Walker and a team
mate were arrested in February and
accused by Corvallis police of as
saulting a taxi driver and offering to
pay a $20 fare with marijuana. The
charges were later dropped.
With Walker's departure, junior
college transfer Nate Wright and
freshman Patrick Fuller have been
elevated on the depth chart behind
starter Yvenson Bernard, Oregon
State head coach Mike Riley said in
a statement.
UPenn running back
commits suicide
Two days after one of the best
games of his career, Penn running
back Kyle Ambrogi committed sui
cide, the university and police said.
The 21-year-old senior, who died at
his suburban Havertown home Mon
day, had been battling depression,
the Daily News reported, quoting the
player's family.
Ambrogi, a backup, carried five
times for 18 yards and two
third-quarter touchdowns. His
brother, Greg, is a defensive back on
the team.
— The Associated Press
Quarterbacks: Oregon has history of dual-QB system
Continued from page 3B
Dixon said. “I know we’re halfway
through the season, and I have a lot
more to show.”
Leaf, a native of Great Falls, Mont.,
has been a big supporter for both
Dixon and Clemens since coming to
Oregon. For his wedding last June,
Clemens asked Leaf to be one of his
groomsmen.
“It was a big day for me obviously,
and it meant a lot that he was there,”
Clemens said. “He and I are really
close and I’m proud of the progress
he has made this year. ”
Clemens has enjoyed having Dixon
and Leaf on the sideline to talk to and
discuss the opponents’ defense.
“The greatest thing is that they are
both sophomores and have been
around and know what to look for,”
Clemens said. “I don’t see everything
out there on the field, but I can come
off and say, ‘Hey, what was that cov
erage?’ and they’ll be able to tell me
everything. Last year it was different,
now they see things better. It really is
a team effort at quarterback. ”
On the weekends Dixon and Leaf
can be found together enjoying the
spoils of being college athletes.
“We’re very tight,” Dixon said. “I
love Kellen and Brady. We do things
on the weekend that most people
don’t do, and it’s cool.”
One of the more talked-about sto
ries surrounding Oregon football this
past offseason was the departure of
Johnny DuRocher, who was a prom
ising freshman quarterback. During
the 2004 season, DuRocher
transferred to Washington, where he
now backs up Isaiah Stanback. It was
a shocking move, but it came as no
surprise to Leaf, who knew
of DuRocher’s dissatisfaction
with Oregon.
“He didn’t feel like he enjoyed
himself here anymore. He just
wanted to find a new home,” Leaf
said. “He did what he felt would
make him happy and I respect him
for it.” Attempts to reach DuRocher
for comment were denied by
Washington media services.
Oregon’s football program is no
stranger to having a dual-quarter
back system, and next year will
most likely mark another season in
which Bellotti has juggled quarter
backs. With both Dixon and Leaf
showing great potential, the race
for the starting job might remind
fans of Oregon’s 1997 season,
which saw Smith sharing snaps
with Jason Maas behind center.
The program had success then, but
Bellotti still preferred having the
starting quarterback job reserved
for one.
“I’m not sure I was comfort
able with it last year,” Bellotti told
reporters prior to Oregon’s 1998
opener against Michigan State.
“Our team is very accustomed to
it. If the results weren’t positive,
or if it was a divisive thing for the
team, and if the players them
selves couldn’t handle it, we
wouldn’t do it.”
As for Clemens, whose days of
suiting up for the Ducks are com
ing to a close, he feels the pro
gram’s future is in good hands re
gardless of who starts in his place
next season.
“They each have a different
style, but they’re both great football
players, and I expect a lot out of
them next year,” Clemens said.
sadams@ dailyemerald, com
Tim Bobosky | Photo editor
Dennis Dixon shows off his speed in the open field. As a reserve, Dixon continues to
impress in limited playing time at quarterback.
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