What With Nebraska and USC, It Doesn’t Get Any Easier for Oregon

Oregon Coach Rich Brooks was wondering why his football team had to play Nebraska last week when there are so many other bullies he has to deal with in his own conference.

“We took home more money from Nebraska than we did in our first three games, so I guess that’s the answer,” Brooks said.

The Ducks also brought home several injured players, a high price for a 48-14 defeat.

There’s no respite for Oregon, which will play unbeaten USC tonight at 6:30 at the Coliseum. And the schedule ahead is just as demanding: consecutive games with Arizona State, Stanford and Washington.

The Ducks are coming off losses to Arizona (41-17) and Nebraska after opening with wins over San Jose State and Colorado. USC, Nebraska and Arizona are top 10 teams. Arizona State and Washington are in the top 20, and Stanford is unbeaten. These Ducks may be barely able to swim.

Brooks is in his 10th season as Oregon’s coach and he was previously an assistant at Oregon State and UCLA. So he knows the conference.

“I’ve been in the league a long time, and I don’t think it has ever been better from top to bottom than it is now,” he said.

“We’re a pretty decent football team. We’re not awful. Take Arizona, for example. We’ve played them well over the last four years, winning two and losing two, and all the games have been close. But the marked improvement in that team is incredible.

“Then, you look at USC, Washington, Arizona State, UCLA and Stanford. Washington State is struggling, and they go down and tie Arizona State. It’s a tough league.”

Brooks’ prospects for an upset against the 3-0 Trojans were enhanced when it was learned that Chris Miller, the All-Pacific 10 quarterback in 1985, probably will play tonight, even if he doesn’t start.

Miller, who is chasing Dan Fouts’ school records for total offense and passing, bruised a nerve in his right elbow against Nebraska and was listed as doubtful early in the week.

Brooks has already lost J.J. Birden, the league’s leading receiver, for at least eight weeks with a broken arm. Joe Mansfield, a starting defensive end, was left home with an injury, and the other defensive end, Rob Marshall, is doubtful.

“We just have to beat somebody, that’s all, somehow, someway, if we’re going to have any kind of year,” Brooks said. “And we have to beat somebody who is ranked in the top 10, or top 20. That’s not easy to do, obviously.”

Brooks has yet to beat USC since he became Oregon’s coach in 1977, although the Ducks tied the Trojans, 7-7, in 1980 and gave the 1984 Rose Bowl team a scare before losing, 19-9.

“I see the same thing I used to see in the old USC teams,” Brooks said. “Even when they don’t play as well as they’re capable of playing, they find a way to win, whether it’s running Marcus Allen 35 times, or throwing a flea flicker or returning a fumble 99 yards for a touchdown. They have the ability to come up with a play when they need it to win the game.

“The biggest difference in USC’s offense this year is that they now have a great athlete (Rodney Peete) at quarterback. He can do a lot of things to hurt you, and as the season progresses you’ll see their running game get better and better because of the pressure the quarterback puts on the defense.”

Oregon had the worst defense in the Pac-10 last year, yielding an average of 437.5 yards a game. The offense, with Miller pulling the trigger, was much better, helping the Ducks finish 5-6.

So far this season, Oregon is ranked ninth in total defense in the Pacific 10, giving up an average of 411 yards a game. Arizona contributed to that statistic with 546 yards of total offense. The mobile Miller, who throws effectively on the run, has pushed Oregon to a No. 2 league rating in passing, though, with an average of 229.8 yards a game. Oregon’s running game remains undistinguished, averaging 87 yards a game and 2.5 yards a play.

USC Coach Ted Tollner didn’t have to say much to keep his team mentally focused for games against Baylor and Washington, considering that the Trojans were underdogs in each. But Oregon presents the opposite problem, since some people are saying now that the Trojans should be 5-0 after the Oregon and Washington State games and heading into a game with Arizona State Oct. 18.

“When people say things like that, I say bull,” Tollner said. “If you think that way, you end up 3-1 faster than you can blink an eye.”

He admitted that the possibility of a letdown is there.

“It’s always a concern,” he said. “We tell our players that we have to continue to improve. I hope we have enough maturity to keep playing hard. Overall, though, I like the mental state of the team. I haven’t seen any signs of us believing that we’re OK now.”

Tollner remains concerned about his team’s running game since the tailbacks, Ryan Knight and Aaron Emanuel, are averaging only 3 and 2.9 yards, respectively.

Trojan Notes

Tonight’s game, expected to draw a crowd of 50,000, will be broadcast by KNX radio but won’t be televised. . . . Coach Ted Tollner said that inside linebackers Keith Davis and Sam Anno may play but won’t start. Davis has a broken thumb, Anno a hyper-extended knee. . . . Oregon’s Chris Miller has completed 57.7% of his passes for 770 yards and 4 touchdowns while throwing 5 interceptions. If Miller doesn’t start, he’ll be replaced by redshirt freshman Pete Nelson, who completed 10 of 20 passes for 114 yards against Nebraska. His only other game experience was six plays against Arizona. . . . Oregon’s chances of beating USC last year in the Mirage Bowl at Tokyo diminished after Miller left the game with a bruised back in the third quarter. USC ended up winning, 20-6. . . . USC outside linebacker Marcus Cotton is the leading tackler in the Pac-10, averaging 17 in 3 games. Anno is next with 16.3. Cotton has also deflected 8 passes and made 3 quarterback sacks. . . . Against Nebraska, Oregon free safety Ed Hulbert, a former Crenshaw High School star, had 18 tackles, intercepted a pass and recovered a fumble. . . . Oregon’s Kevin Willhite, the once-heralded prep star from Sacramento, is now a second-team fullback.