By Pigskin Pete

Scores of Oregon’s two Division I college grid programs on the most recent Saturday of the current season are a clear indication of the contrast in 
management between these teams.   Oregon soundly whipped Arizona 
State, a pre-season nominee for success, 48-13. Back home, Oregon State
staged an early collapse and fell at home before California, 41-13. That
leaves USC, UO and California still contending for Pac 10 leadership. It 
should also be noted that the Ducks humiliated the Sun Devils on the latter’s home field.

There are now two teqams, UO and USC, still undefeated with 4-0 
records. Cal and a surprising Washington are at 4-1 for the season. UO,
SC, Cal and Washington are still unbeaten in league play. This week, all Pac 10 eyes will be on Berkeley, where the Bears host the Ducks to slim the title contender ranks. Diehard members of the Tyee Club funders for the UW 
program have hopes for Husky surprises to continue on a visit to Southern
Cal’s home grounds, but we see a return to reality for the Dawgs.

Oregon State hosts Washington State, and we envision another loss for the
Beavers, whose program will never be strong under coach Mike Riley’s 
"nice guy" approach. Bevo fans must understand that their two victories to
date are over a pair of weak sisters: Eastern Washington and Idaho, while Boise State badly broke the Beaver’s dam. 

Oregon displays a wealth of talent

The Ducks continue to impress on both sides of the ball. Quarterback 
Dennis Dixon now confidently leads the offense with both his running and 
passing skills. The veteran offensive line gives Dixon the time and the holes
to foster his success, bolstered by the rushing stardom of both Jonathan 
Stewart and Jeremiah Johnson...and then there’s a pass receiving corps no
less than six deep and featuring 6-5 monster Jaison Williams. Duck defense
is great so far, but somewhat thinner than the offensive corps, having now 
lost three stop ‘em stars to broken bones (Linehan, Bates and Haberly).
Arizona State QB Rudy Carpenter can give solemn testament to Oregon’s pass defense after suffering six sacks and one interception.

Our forecast for the opening weekend of October: Oregon over Cal by 6, 
Washington State over Oregon State by 3, USC over Washington by 10,
UCLA over Arizona by 7 in Pac 10 clashes and another winless Stanford 
embarassment at Notre Dame (Irish by 21). Walt Harris of Stanford is the best bet for mentoring replacement at season’s end. 

There are Duck supporters who swear Riley will join Harris in the 
unemployment ranks, but fervently hope he is not replaced by Fresno 
State’s Pat Hill, who has taught his teams to never look in awe at any opponent.

Vikings find QB talent too late

Pigskin attended Saturday eve’s PGE Park titanic between Montana and 
Portland State with firm conviction that PSU would find its usual way to lose key Big Sky matchups. That happened, 26-20, but the Vikings awakened  late in the second quarter behind new quarterback recruit Brian White, who joined the Viks just a week ago after transferring from Division I Colorado
and filled in after the loss by injury of a pair of quarterback stalwarts who
were nos. 1 & 2 when this season opened. Had PSU coach Tim Walsh
opted to insert White earlier, he might have beaten the perennial Big Sky dominant Grizzlies, who had their own Division I QB refugee, Josh  Swogger, previously groomed to start at Washington State.. 

This became a very entertaining contest in the second half before a profitable crowd of  13,000 plus (we swear half of the spectators had traveled here from  Montana). Viking Kenneth Mackins’ kickoff return of 80 yards to score after a safety in the fourth quarter was a highlight.  PSU now travels to Montana State in a game that will provide some ironic
inspiration for new Vik signal caller White, since his former Colorado club  was victim of the current collegiate season’s biggest upset to date when  Montana State prevailed.

© 2006  Oregon Magazine