jackietreehorn
9/15/2006, 11:03 AM
sorry if this has been posted already. check out AD's quote at the very bottom.
http://sports.espn.go.com/ncf/preview?gameId=262592483&confId=null
EUGENE, Ore. (AP) --There's not a whole lot of mystery between No. 15 Oklahoma and No. 18 Oregon.
The rivals will meet Saturday for the third time in three years, but whether their familiarity gives either side an advantage is a matter of debate.
"We definitely know each other very well," Oklahoma quarterback Paul Thompson said. "I think it helps us. We've played them recently, we know their tendencies, we know what they like to do.
"And we know we were able to get the win over them, so I think going into this game we should have a lot of confidence."
The Ducks want this one, too, not only to avenge last December's 17-14 loss in the Holiday Bowl, but also because they've never defeated the Sooners in six meetings dating to 1966.
In 2004, the Ducks went to Norman to face the then-No. 2 Sooners after Oregon had been embarrassed by a 30-24 loss at home to Indiana. Oklahoma won the game 31-7 and went on to the Bowl Championship Series title game.
"I'm pretty sure they want it pretty bad being that they have took the loss the last two years. We just have to know that coming into the game," Oklahoma wide receiver Malcolm Kelly said. "We have to be just as motivated as if we lost the last two years going against Oregon."
The Sooners (2-0) started the season by getting past UAB 24-17, and then winning 37-20 last week against Washington -- a game that was tied at halftime.
Oregon is Oklahoma's first game on the road this season, and this is the Sooners' first trip to Autzen Stadium.
Oregon (2-0) opened at home with a 48-10 conference victory over Stanford before beating Fresno State 31-24 with a fourth-quarter fake field goal at Bulldog Stadium.
While the revenge factor from last year's Holiday Bowl loss has been huge going into the season, Oregon has dutifully concentrated on its first two games -- not wanting an ugly repeat of the Indiana loss two years ago.
"This team has done a great job of focusing on the task at hand," coach Mike Bellotti said.
Of course, the Sooners look a bit different than they did in last year's postseason. Gone is QB Rhett Bomar, who was dismissed before the season started after investigators discovered he had broken NCAA rules by taking money for work he did not perform at a Norman car dealership.
Thompson has performed respectably in taking over, throwing for 499 yards and four touchdowns this year. But he has also been intercepted three times.
"Obviously losing their starter is bad, but at the same time, this guy was starting at the beginning of last year and he was starting for a reason," Oregon linebacker Brett Haberly said. "He's a good athlete, and he's got a pretty good grasp of the offense."
The Sooners have seen a glimpse of Oregon quarterback Dennis Dixon -- he played in the Holiday Bowl in tandem with Brady Leaf. The two had collectively replaced Kellen Clemens, who broke his ankle late last season.
In the waning minutes of the Holiday Bowl, Leaf was intercepted in Oklahoma territory, sealing the Sooners' victory.
This season, Dixon won the starter's job while Leaf became his backup. Dixon has completed 44 of 66 passes for 476 yards and a touchdown.
But no doubt most eyes will be on the running 28s: Oklahoma's Adrian Peterson and Oregon's Jonathan Stewart.
Last year Peterson recovered from a high ankle sprain to run for 710 yards in the final five games of the season, including 84 yards against Oregon in the bowl win.
He has gained 304 yards on the ground through the first two games this season, including 32 carries for 165 yards and two scores in last weekend's victory over Washington.
Stewart had two carries for six yards in the bowl game. But big things were expected of the quick and powerful sophomore this season, and in his first game he ran for 168 yards before a right ankle injury limited him to one carry for three yards and a TD last weekend.
Stewart said he felt like he was about 80 percent as he prepped for the Sooners. The Ducks also have sophomore Jeremiah Johnson, who has rushed for 153 yards and has scored three touchdowns so far.
So, it could very well be the Battle of the Backs come Saturday.
"I don't look at it like that. Even though I don't look at it like that, that's probably how it's going to be played anyway," Peterson said. "I'm going to go out there and I'm going to try to take care of my job. That'll speak for itself basically."
http://sports.espn.go.com/ncf/preview?gameId=262592483&confId=null
EUGENE, Ore. (AP) --There's not a whole lot of mystery between No. 15 Oklahoma and No. 18 Oregon.
The rivals will meet Saturday for the third time in three years, but whether their familiarity gives either side an advantage is a matter of debate.
"We definitely know each other very well," Oklahoma quarterback Paul Thompson said. "I think it helps us. We've played them recently, we know their tendencies, we know what they like to do.
"And we know we were able to get the win over them, so I think going into this game we should have a lot of confidence."
The Ducks want this one, too, not only to avenge last December's 17-14 loss in the Holiday Bowl, but also because they've never defeated the Sooners in six meetings dating to 1966.
In 2004, the Ducks went to Norman to face the then-No. 2 Sooners after Oregon had been embarrassed by a 30-24 loss at home to Indiana. Oklahoma won the game 31-7 and went on to the Bowl Championship Series title game.
"I'm pretty sure they want it pretty bad being that they have took the loss the last two years. We just have to know that coming into the game," Oklahoma wide receiver Malcolm Kelly said. "We have to be just as motivated as if we lost the last two years going against Oregon."
The Sooners (2-0) started the season by getting past UAB 24-17, and then winning 37-20 last week against Washington -- a game that was tied at halftime.
Oregon is Oklahoma's first game on the road this season, and this is the Sooners' first trip to Autzen Stadium.
Oregon (2-0) opened at home with a 48-10 conference victory over Stanford before beating Fresno State 31-24 with a fourth-quarter fake field goal at Bulldog Stadium.
While the revenge factor from last year's Holiday Bowl loss has been huge going into the season, Oregon has dutifully concentrated on its first two games -- not wanting an ugly repeat of the Indiana loss two years ago.
"This team has done a great job of focusing on the task at hand," coach Mike Bellotti said.
Of course, the Sooners look a bit different than they did in last year's postseason. Gone is QB Rhett Bomar, who was dismissed before the season started after investigators discovered he had broken NCAA rules by taking money for work he did not perform at a Norman car dealership.
Thompson has performed respectably in taking over, throwing for 499 yards and four touchdowns this year. But he has also been intercepted three times.
"Obviously losing their starter is bad, but at the same time, this guy was starting at the beginning of last year and he was starting for a reason," Oregon linebacker Brett Haberly said. "He's a good athlete, and he's got a pretty good grasp of the offense."
The Sooners have seen a glimpse of Oregon quarterback Dennis Dixon -- he played in the Holiday Bowl in tandem with Brady Leaf. The two had collectively replaced Kellen Clemens, who broke his ankle late last season.
In the waning minutes of the Holiday Bowl, Leaf was intercepted in Oklahoma territory, sealing the Sooners' victory.
This season, Dixon won the starter's job while Leaf became his backup. Dixon has completed 44 of 66 passes for 476 yards and a touchdown.
But no doubt most eyes will be on the running 28s: Oklahoma's Adrian Peterson and Oregon's Jonathan Stewart.
Last year Peterson recovered from a high ankle sprain to run for 710 yards in the final five games of the season, including 84 yards against Oregon in the bowl win.
He has gained 304 yards on the ground through the first two games this season, including 32 carries for 165 yards and two scores in last weekend's victory over Washington.
Stewart had two carries for six yards in the bowl game. But big things were expected of the quick and powerful sophomore this season, and in his first game he ran for 168 yards before a right ankle injury limited him to one carry for three yards and a TD last weekend.
Stewart said he felt like he was about 80 percent as he prepped for the Sooners. The Ducks also have sophomore Jeremiah Johnson, who has rushed for 153 yards and has scored three touchdowns so far.
So, it could very well be the Battle of the Backs come Saturday.
"I don't look at it like that. Even though I don't look at it like that, that's probably how it's going to be played anyway," Peterson said. "I'm going to go out there and I'm going to try to take care of my job. That'll speak for itself basically."