incredible depth at every position.
The Wolverines have two warm-up home games against Central Michigan and Houston
before their first real test of the season, Notre Dame. The Fighting Irish surprised Michigan last
year, 25-23, but must play in Ann Arbor this fall. This is a critical game for the Wolverines for
obvious reasons, but it is of special interest for the Ducks, since it occurs the week before
Michigan plays its first road game at Autzen. And traditionally, Big Blue lets down in their first
trip away from home. Could the Notre Dame battle set the stage for a big upset? It’s possible, if
the Ducks are ready.
WASHINGTON STATE COUGARS
Saturday, September 27, 12:30 p.m. (PDT)
Autzen Stadium, Eugene
Series Record: Oregon leads, 38-35-7
Head Coach: Bill Doba (1st year)
2002 Record: 10-3, 7-1 (first in PAC 10)
The operative word for Washington State this year is
new, specifically because Bill Doba is in his first year as
a head coach after serving as the Cougar’s defensive
coordinator for nine seasons. And because senior Matt
Kegel will be the starter at quarterback, following the
departure of Pac-10 Co-Offensive Player of the Year, Jason
Gesser. Whether new translates into good will determine
the direction of Washington State’s season.
Kegel has played sporadically over the past three years,
mostly because of Gesser’s dominant leadership on and off
the field, and due to a knee injury. At 6-5 and 235 pounds
he is similar in size to his famous and infamous cousin,
Ryan Leaf, who quarterbacked the Cougars to the Rose
C O RN E RB AC K
Bowl at the end of the 1997 season before going on to
J A SO N DA V ID
a short-lived NFL career. Kegel threw for only 211 yards
last year and will have sophomore Chris Hurd (6-2, 217) and redshirt freshman Josh Swogger
(6-5, 243) looking to take over if he fails to produce.
Junior tackle Calvin Armstrong (6-8, 321), first team All Pac-10 last year, will anchor the
offensive line. Senior Mike Shelford (6-2, 275) and sophomore Nick Mihlhauser (6-2, 282) will
compete at the center position, while returning senior starters Billy Knotts (6-7, 283) and Josh
Parrish (6-6, 232, ) will mix-and-match with junior Sam Lightbody (6-9, 310), and sophomores
Riley Fitt-Chappell (6-6, 310) and Norvell Holmes (6-3, 295) at the other line positions.
Running back Jermaine Green (5-11, 220) returns for his senior season, hoping it’s
his best. Last year he rushed for 829 yards and averaged 5.5 yards per carry, in spite of MCL
and groin injuries. His health will be an important factor for the WSU offense, since backup
Jonathan Smith (5-10, 190, senior) was injured most of last year and has
little experience.
Junior Devard Darling is the only returning receiver with much experience and proven
ability. At 6-3, 206 pounds and with 4.3 speed he will be a big play threat on every down, but
he will need others to step up and absorb some of the attention that opposing defenses will
undoubtedly steer his way. Last year he caught 54 passes for 800 yards and 11 touchdowns;
next year he’ll be playing football on Sundays, if he leaves school early.
Senior defensive linemen Jeremey Williams (6-4, 284), Isaac Brown (6-3, 222) and D.D.
Acholonu (6-3, 230) are major candidates for post-season honors. However, the linebackers
behind them are undistinguished and are possibly the weakest part of the defense.
Three-fourths of the secondary returns in senior safeties Virgil Williams (6-1, 195) and
Erik Coleman (5-10, 200) and cornerback Jason David (5-8, 165). David made seven pass
interceptions and had 10 pass breakups last year and the safeties were solid, but, putting
everything in perspective, their jobs were a whole lot easier due to the presence of cover
corner Marcus Trufant, who controlled half the field by himself and was the #1 draft choice
of the Seahawks this spring.
With so many new faces in new positions, including the head coach, it will be difficult for
Washington State to match last year’s record. Coach Doba has a few good men, but lacks quali-
ty depth, something that may affect the outcome of several games. Look for the Cougs to finish
somewhere in the middle of the Pac-10. They have a tough non-league schedule, playing Idaho
at Seahawk Stadium, both Notre Dame and Colorado on the road, and New Mexico, favored to
challenge for the Mountain West title. Oregon should win a spirited battle in Eugene this year.
UTAH UTES
Friday, October 3, 7 p.m. (PDT)
Rice Eccles, Salt Lake City
Series Record: Oregon leads, 17-7
Head Coach: Urban Meyer (1st year)
2002 Record: 5-6, 3-4 (fifth in Mountain West)
Utah is projected to finish in the second division in the Mountain
West Conference due to their history of underachieving and the fact
that they have a new head coach, Urban Meyer. Ute fans hope he will
generate a turnaround in Salt Lake City much like he did at Bowling
Green. Prior to his arrival, that program had suffered through six
straight losing seasons, finishing 2-9 in 2000. In the last two years
he led the Falcons to 8-3 and 9-3 records. Of course success at a Mid-
American Conference school is usually viewed with scepticism by teams
W ID E RE CE I VE R
from other “major” (BCS) conferences, and the Mountain West is rated
P AR I S W A RR E N
only slightly better than the MAC. So Meyer will be working to prove
himself at this level where the competition will be considerably tougher.
As for the Utes over the past few years, they have played just well enough to be competi-
tive, but have lost a lot of close games. For example, last year Utah outscored other teams
(249-226) and had more total yardage (4,094-3,653), but had a losing record. And for Ute
16 AUGUST 28, 2003
Ducks I llustrated
fans, just being competitive at the I-A level isn’t going to cut it. This year’s team will need
to kick it up a notch in order to prove itself.
Utah is betting on the best running back combo in the conference, senior Marty
Johnson (5-11, 230) and junior Brandon Warfield (5-10, 210), to lead the offense. Last
year Johnson ran for 405 yards (7.0 yards per carry) in the first two games before suffering
a season-ending injury. Warfield became the starter in seven conference games and averaged
127 yards.
Junior quarterback Brett Elliott (6-3, 205) started the last six games of 2002, completing
58.8% of his passes for 1,529 yards and 10 touchdowns. Former starter Lance Rice (6-1, 207,
senior) and sophomore Alex Smith (6-4, 205) are waiting in the wings. Elliott is the most
mobile, Rice has started more games (20), while Smith has the best arm. All three may
be needed.
The top three receivers from last year are gone, so whichever quarterback will be looking
for some new guys. Junior starter Paris Warren (6-1, 213), who transferred from Oregon
a year ago, looks to be one of them, and he’ll be highly motivated to perform at Autzen
when he comes running out of the other tunnel. Junior receivers Lynzell Jackson (6-2, 190),
Larry Miles (5-11, 180), Travis LaTendresse (6-1, 194) and JC transfer Jerome Wright (6-0,
181) should also be factors in the Ute passing attack.
Defensive end Jason Kaufusi, a 6-3, 250-pound senior, has been first-team All-
Mountain West for the last two years. He will be counting on senior Josh Savage (6-4, 276)
to hold down the other end, while the interior line gains experience. Senior Ray Holdcraft
(5-11, 242) is the only returning linebacker with much experience. In the secondary strong
safety Dave Revill (5-11, 205, senior) led the team with 89 tackles last year, while senior
cornerback Arnold Parker has size (6-2, 210) and speed (4.39).
Defensive coordinator Kyle Whittingham’s troops have led the Mountain West in
total defense for the last three years and in scoring defense the last four years. Extending
that record may be problematic given the inexperience throughout the lineup.
Utah plays Texas A&M and Colorado State on the road, and Utah State and Cal at
home before hosting Oregon. How the Utes perform in these latter two games (both on
a Thursday, both later in the day) may give an indication how they’ll play against the Ducks
(on a Friday, also at night).
ARIZONA STATE SUN DEVILS
Saturday, October 11, TBA (PDT)
Sun Devil Stadium, Tempe
Series Record: Arizona State leads, 14-9
Head Coach: Dirk Koetter (3rd year), 12-13
2002 Record: 8-6, 5-3 (third in Pac-10)
Arizona State was the surprise of the Pac-10 last year;
after pre-season estimates placed them ninth in the league,
the Sun Devils finished with a 5-3 record, placed third
in the conference, and nearly upset Kansas State in the
Holiday Bowl. Head coach Dirk Koetter (who was Oregon’s
offensive coordinator a few year’s ago) welcomes back
16 starters and will again employ an explosive offense
(averaging 33 points per game over his first two years)
and a tough defense. Most pre-season polls this year pick
ASU to finish at least third in the Pac-10, with USC and
Washington as the other contenders. Fortunately the Sun
Devils play the Trojans in Tempe and don’t have to play
the Huskies at all.
Q U A RT ER B A C K
The key player on offense is junior quarterback
AN D RE W WA L TE R
Andrew Walter (6-5, 221), who completed 56.7% of
his passes for an astounding school-record 3,877 yards and 28 touchdowns. And he started
in only 10 of the 14 games. Sophomore Chad Christensen (6-3, 206) started the first four
games of the season, but returns as the backup signal caller. (Duck fans would like to forget
how Walter shredded the Oregon secondary last year, throwing for 536 yards (a Pac-10
record), and leading his team to a 45-42 come-from-behind victory at Autzen. That game
started the Ducks’ slide down the standings and exposed Oregon’s Achilles heel to the rest
of the country.)
The principle downfield targets in ASU’s passing attack will be junior Daryl Lightfoot
(5-9, 171), senior Skyler Fulton (6-0, 200), sophomore Derek Hagan (6-1, 192), each of whom
had at least 30 receptions last year. Highly regarded redshirt freshman Terry Richardson
(6-0, 182) will make his presence known this year, also.
Senior fullback Mike Karney (6-0, 260) is a great blocker, and tailbacks Mike Williams
(6-0, 205, senior), and sophomores Cornell Canidate (5-9, 197) and Hakim Hill (6-0, 210)
figure to be the beneficiaries. Last year these three combined for 1,293 rushing yards and 22
touchdowns. The entire offensive line returns; lining up from left-to-right will be sophomore
tackle Chaz White (6-4, 291), senior guard Tim Fa’aita (6-1, 305), junior center Drew
Hodgdon (6-3, 285), senior guard Regis Crawford (6-3, 304) and sophomore tackle Grayling
Love (6-3, 282). And there is depth here with two others with starting experience in reserve.
Three of the starters on the defensive line return. Junior end Jimmy Verdon (6-3, 273),
and senior tackles Shane Jones (6-2, 290) and Brian Montesanto (6-5, 261) had a great year
together last year, but will have to step up their play this fall to compensate for the absence
of All-Everything end Terrell Suggs (73 tackles, 24 sacks), who was the #1 draft pick of the
Baltimore Ravens last spring. This year’s linebackers will have very little experience, and will
depend on Honorable Mention All Pac-10 junior safeties Riccardo Stewart (5-10, 203) and
Jason Shivers (6-1, 193) for help. Junior cornerback R.J. Oliver (5-9, 171) has a lot of speed as
shown by his 18 pass breakups and 48 tackles last season.
Special teams coach Tom Osborne (also a recent Oregon assistant) is happy to have
second team All Pac-10 senior punter Tim Parker (6-0, 192) returning, and may try him as
the Sun Devil placekicker as well.
Arizona State looks to be favored in its first four games leading up to their big show-
down with USC on October 4. This could work in the Ducks’ favor, since they visit Tempe
the very next week. Will the Sun Devils have a letdown when Oregon comes to town?