Oregon hides signals behind sheets in 3 OT win over Arizona State
Oregon sideline personnel hold up sheets to shield play call signals during the Ducks’ triple-overtime victory over Arizona State, 61-55, Thursday night.
The Oregon Ducks played hide-and-seek with their play calling Thursday night against Arizona State out of fear the Sun Devils might try to steal their signals from the sideline.
Along the Oregon sideline, at least five white sheets were held up by staff members to shield play calls being sent in to Ducks players following accusations from Utah that Arizona State stole some of their signals on Oct. 17.
“They called out a couple of our plays last year,” Utes center Siaosi Aiono said of the Sun Devils, according to ESPN. This year Utah switched to huddling up to call plays, Aiono said, and rolled to a 34-18 win. “It was like a tool in our tool bag to have just in case we had to pull it out, and it worked out for us,” he said.
It’s hard to say whether the sheets worked for the Ducks. Defense was at a premium Thursday with the two teams combining for 1,243 yards and 116 points in the triple-overtime affair.
“I really didn’t pay any attention to it,” Arizona State Coach Todd Graham said of Oregon’s use of sheets to protect their calls, according to KMVP-FM.
Oregon eventually emerged victorious in the third overtime when defensive back Arrion Springs intercepted a pass from Arizona State quarterback Mike Bercovici in the end zone to seal the Ducks’ 61-55 win.
“I knew it was coming the whole way — the whole way,” Springs said.
Maybe the Sun Devils should have shielded their signals.
Follow Matt Wilhalme on Twitter @mattwilhalme
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