Senior quarterback Kellen Clemens has supported his teammates from the sidelines for the last three games of the season while healing from a spiral fracture in the fibula of his left leg. Broken &£ Even after his season-ending ankle injury, senior Kellen Clemens has continued to be a team leader BY SHAWN MILLER SPORTS EDITOR Kellen Clemens went from whipping boy to poster child in a matter of months, but as his senior season at Oregon wraps up, thoughts of what could have been loom large. Records would have been broken and awards won. Instead, Clemens spent the final month of the regular season on the sidelines after sustain ing a season-ending spiral fracture in the fibula of his left leg and soft tis sue damage in the left ankle during an Oct. 22 game at Arizona. Clemens was horsecollared, which is illegal in the NFL, and knew there was a bone break as soon as he hit the grass. “I knew it was broken, but I thought well maybe I could make it back for the bowl game,” Clemens said. “The emotions came Sunday when the x-rays came in.” The senior was lost for the season. “It was real hard,” Oregon receiv er Demetrius Williams said. “He’s like a brother. You watch him go down and it ends like that for him. It’s kind of difficult to watch that hap pen. You just want to make the best of it, try to do the best you can, not just for you but for him also.” The normal healing rate for such a serious injury is four to six months. “Normal isn’t what we are shoot ing for,” Clemens said. “I’m five weeks ahead of schedule and I am six weeks in right now.” Clemens is scheduled for another surgery on Jan. 2 and should be able to start walking without crutches af terward. A month later he should be able to run, while it will take a sec ond month before his leg and ankle are close to 100 percent. Since his on-field time has been cut short, Clemens feels his role is mostly moral support and to provide guidance for the new quar terbacks, which began soon after the trainers removed his cleats following the injury. “(I) went into the locker room to get it wrapped up and then one of the trainers came in and said, ‘We need you out here to signal because (fel low quarterback) Dennis (Dixon) just got his bell rung,”’ Clemens said. Clemens has continued to support and teach, while the new starting quar terbacks have led the Ducks to three wins and to finish the regular season ranked fifth in the country with a 10-1 CLEMENS, page 12C "Best Meal for & Deal/ Place,"Best. Omelette, 2nd Place, “Bast BreaMaef 2nd 3lace. "Best. Vegetarian Fare" 2pd Place, RegEteeGuard fteader Poll. IPS?. * "Bee* ■■ 4k ■ ne D6oi . eats in town.” lake Visitors Wru . Pay. 1st Place ■ Best Sports Illustrated on Campus 2nd Place, Eugene Weekly, 1999 ♦ "Best Dinner Under $12. i W, <* n * v f* 1 rmt 1st Place, "Best Breakfast." 2nd Place, “Best Soup “ 3rd Place Eugene Defining the taste of Eugene for over 25 years. 2588 Willamette St. 541-687-8201 * 1340 Aider Street 541-687-0355 • 7,12 & 15 seat passenger vans • Sport utility 4x4 vehicles & cargo vans • Sporty compacts luxury cars & • FREE Customer pick-up (local area only) • Low daily, weekly & monthly rates • Credit cash or cash deposits • ALL DRIVERS MUST BE 21 OR OLDER • Does not include taxes or surcharges. Offer may not be used in conjunction with any other promotional offers. Limit one coupon per customer and one coupon per rental. Eugene VAN & CAR Rental 342-6161 www.elmcars.com Wheels. Open Monday to Friday 8 6, Saturday 8 5, Sunday 10-5 at the Eugene Lincoln Mercury Showroom 380 Goodpasture Island Road in the Valley River AUTO Center $5.95 all you can eat student buffets 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. Monday - Friday Pizza, soup, salad & soda. We also have slices for $1.25 1809 Franklin Blvd. 284-8484 Sun-Thu: 11 am-Midnight | Fri-Sat: 11 am-1 am GAME GEAR AND SO MUCH MORE... Champs Copeland Sports The Duck Shop Foot Locker Lady Footlocker Lids PLUS 120 OTHER GREAT STORES Before and after the game visit Chili’s, Honey Baked Ham, Terrace Cafe, and the Valley River Center Food Pavilion. *