Gold Rush: Oregon
12/19/2002 12:00:00 AM | Football
Dec. 19, 2002
By Sam Walker
Although the Seattle Bowl marks just the sixth postseason bowl appearance for Wake Forest, a bowl history exists between the Demon Deacons and the Oregon Ducks. When the teams meet in Seahawks Stadium on the afternoon of Dec. 30, the same schools that met in the 1992 Independence Bowl face off once again. Demon Deacon fans will remember Wake Forest rallying from a 29-10 deficit to defeat Oregon 39-35. And although the universities are the same, the players and head coaches are different.
"I was there," coach Mike Bellotti of Oregon told The Register-Guard of Eugene Ore. Bellotti was the offensive coordinator for the Ducks in 1992 and remembers it as "a great football game, very exciting," despite the fact his Ducks ended up with a loss to the Deacons in coach Bill Dooley's final game as the Deacons' head coach.
"We know they're one of the premier programs in the nation," coach Jim Grobe of Wake Forest said. "Last year they finished second in the country. They have a good bowl history, I think they've been to six bowl games in a row, and so we know we're taking on not only a fine coach in Mike Bellotti but also a fine program. I think they're going to get a little healthy, and we're going to get a little healthy. We're looking forward to it."
Oregon will be playing in its sixth-consecutive postseason bowl, as well as its 11th bowl game in the last 14 years. And although Oregon finished the season 7-5, it was a disappointing 7-5. The Ducks lost five of their last six games after getting off to a hot start by winning their first six games and rising to a national ranking of seven. So the Seattle Bowl will be a game of redemption for both Wake Forest and Oregon.
The Ducks ran into some injury problems late in the season but hopes to have the injury situation settled by Seattle Bowl time. Possibly the biggest loss the Ducks suffered was one to junior tailback Onterrio Smith. He underwent arthroscopic surgery Nov. 18 to repair a partial cartilage tear in his left knee. Smith missed three of Oregon's last four games after rushing for more than 1,000 yards for the second straight year. He completed the regular season ranked 15th in the country in rushing with 1,079 yards and a 119.9-yard per game average.
Yet, the 2002 Oregon team is better known for its ability to move the ball through the air than on the ground. The Ducks average 147 yards per game on the ground and 233 through the air. Jason Fife started all 12 games for the Ducks at quarterback. Fife finished fifth in the Pac-10 in passing efficiency with a 134.2 rating. He finished the season completing 189 of 357 passes with 24 touchdowns and 10 interceptions and 2,748 yards. But Fife may not be the starter at the Seattle Bowl. A poor finish down the stretch added to Bellotti's concerns, and Bellotti has said he may very well use two quarterbacks against the Deacons.
Kellen Clemens is a relatively untested quarterback. He attempted a pass in just one of Oregon's eight PAC-10 games, throwing an interception and two incompletions against Washington. Clemens completed 4 of 9 passes for 40 yards with one touchdown and one interception. Bellotti has said the starter in the bowl will based on practices but has hinted that both quarterbacks will play.
Samie Parker leads the receivers with 45 receptions for 681 yards and seven touchdowns. George Wrighster, a tight end, is second among receivers with 36 catches for 534 yards and six touchdowns, and Keenan Howry, a senior goes into the Seattle Bowl with 35 grabs for 734 yards and five scores. Smith, Howry and place-kicker Jared Siegel were all named First Team All-Pac 10.
Although Wake Forest is known for its rushing attack, teams have hurt Oregon most in the air. The Deacons again led the ACC in rushing offense with 243.7 yards per game and turnover margin (+17). Fabian Davis led the ACC in all-purpose yardage with 140.4 yards per game, and senior fullback Ovie Mughelli ranked third in the ACC in rushing touchdowns (11). The Duck defense is giving up an average of just 107 yards per game on the ground and 295 yards through the air. Still, free safety Keith Lewis and cornerback Steven Moore have five interceptions apiece. Senior linebacker David Moretti leads the team in tackles with 104, and inside linebacker Kevin Mitchell, with 57 solos tackles, has 99 tackles.
So the Seattle Bowl will be a game of between teams with contrasting styles which are looking to prove they belonged in a bowl game. "It's exciting, and with Oregon's national reputation that's another exciting thing to play a national team," Grobe said. "The past few years they have been one of the better teams in the country. I think its good for our kids to get that opportunity. We're going to go into it with a lot of excitement and enthusiasm."