Without Musgrave, Ducks Are Grounded : Neither Oregon Backup Quarterback Is Able to Sustain a Drive Against Trojans

Imagine how much USC would suffer if the third-ranked Trojans lost quarterback Rodney Peete, their Heisman Trophy contender.

Then you have some idea of the afternoon that the Oregon Ducks endured without Bill Musgrave, their star quarterback, in Saturday’s 42-14 loss to USC at the Coliseum.

Musgrave, who completed 22 of 32 passes for 287 yards and 3 touchdowns in the Ducks’ 34-27 upset win over the Trojans last season at Eugene, was sidelined for the second consecutive game with an injured right ankle as USC handed 18th-ranked Oregon its first loss in 5 games.

Oregon Coach Rich Brooks switched quarterbacks like Imelda Marcos changed shoes, but nothing seemed to work.

Brooks played musical quarterbacks with Pete Nelson and Bob Brothers, a redshirt freshman with half a game of college experience, making 7 changes, including 5 in the first half.

Changing quarterbacks may have worked for the Washington Redskins en route to winning the National Football League title last season, but it was a dismal failure for the Ducks. Brooks had about as much success with his strategy as the Chicago Cubs had with their college of coaches. In other words, he can’t wait for Musgrave to heal.

Musgrave, the best freshman quarterback in the nation last season, doesn’t have anything to worry about. His job is secure. The passes he threw on the sidelines while warming up receivers looked better than the passes that Nelson and Brothers attempted in the game.

“Musgrave is a very good quarterback,” said Peete, after he passed for 270 yards and 2 touchdowns as the Trojans gunned down the Ducks. “They wouldn’t have been switching quarterbacks if he’d been in there.

“As a quarterback, I wouldn’t like it if we kept switching quarterbacks because I like to be in there all the time.”

Nelson, who started his second straight game in place of Musgrave, was a sitting duck against the Trojan defense because of his lack of mobility.

Nelson got a quick hook after he threw a pass that floated like the Goodyear blimp and was intercepted by USC free safety Mark Carrier with 2:50 remaining in the first quarter. The Trojans quickly converted Nelson’s mistake into a touchdown as Peete hooked up with wide receiver John Jackson on a 59-yard touchdown pass play.

Nelson and Brothers were diplomatic when asked about the quarterback rotation.

“I knew that if things weren’t working, we would switch quarterbacks,” Nelson said. “I don’t think it matters whether Bill or Bob or myself were in there. But maybe the offense clicks when Bill is in there because they’re used to him.

“We just self-destructed. I think we still have a good team, but we just didn’t show it today.”

Said Brothers: “It might have disrupted the offense to keep changing quarterbacks because the style of the team changes with every quarterback.”

Brothers took over for Nelson on Oregon’s next series and threw his first pass of the game to USC linebacker Delmar Chesley. Trojan defensive back Chris Hale set up the interception when he deflected Brothers’ pass into Chesley’s hands at the Duck 32. The Trojans capitalized on the Ducks’ second turnover, scoring their second touchdown just 2 plays later.

Brothers was benched after he was sacked for minus 16 yards on consecutive plays on Oregon’s first series of the second quarter. But the Duck offense started sinking again with Nelson at the helm, so Brooks brought back Brothers for another shot. But wait. Nelson returned for the next series as the Ducks closed out the first half trailing, 21-0.

Brothers opened the second half at quarterback. After completing his first pass of the third quarter for minus 2 yards, he had his next pass intercepted by Trojan cornerback Tracy Butts.

Nelson returned again on the next Oregon possession but was forced to leave the game when he suffered a minor back injury.

Nelson completed 10 of 18 passes for 70 yards with 1 interception and 0 touchdowns. Brothers hit 3 of 11 passes for 19 yards with 2 interceptions and 0 touchdowns.

Oregon, which had averaged 408 yards in total offense in winning their first four games, managed just 112 yards in total offense against the Trojans.

“I expected that we would have been more successful with our quarterbacks today, but it certainly would have been nice to have Musgrave,” Oregon Coach Rich Brooks said. “I’m not sure if he’ll be ready next week. He wanted to play today, but he was too immobile.”

Said Musgrave: “I would have liked to have been in there today, but I’m hoping I can play next week (against Idaho State at Eugene).”

USC Coach Larry Smith said he was more concerned with Musgrave’s availability than with the Ducks’ quarterback rotation.

“I think they were trying to find the guy with the hot hand,” Smith said when asked why the Ducks kept changing quarterbacks.

Oregon still hasn’t found him.