THE PACIFIC 10 / MAL FLORENCE : Conference Coaches Rooting for Oregon

The interest in the Washington-Oregon game Saturday in Seattle is not confined to the schools involved. The outcome could have a major bearing on the Pacific 10 Conference race.

Washington, at 2-0, is the only team that hasn’t lost a conference game. Moreover, the Huskies, 4-1 overall, have a favorable schedule with only two more Pac-10 games on the road, against Stanford and Washington State.

Oregon is 4-1 overall and 0-1 in the Pac-10, having lost to Arizona, 22-17.

“Obviously, this is the most important game we’re going to play all year,” Oregon Coach Rich Brooks said. “If we want to play in the Rose Bowl, this is a must win.”

It would be understandable if the other conference coaches are rooting for the Ducks. Somebody has to beat the Huskies to tighten the race.

When asked to comment on the game, UCLA Coach Terry Donahue said: “If Oregon wins, the conference race starts all over again. If that happens, then Oregon will be hard to stop from going to the Rose Bowl.”

Donahue noted that the Ducks don’t play USC, enhancing their chances.

USC has already lost to Washington. UCLA will play both Oregon and Washington in the Northwest, on Nov. 3 and Nov. 10, respectively.

Oregon hasn’t played in the Rose Bowl game since 1958, when it lost to Ohio State, 10-7.

Brooks said he has one of his best teams, led by quarterback Bill Musgrave, who is the conference’s top passer with an average of 254.2 yards a game.

“He’s uncanny in spotting receivers and getting the ball to them,” Washington Coach Don James said. “He’s got a real good touch, a good feel for the kind of ball he has to throw.”

To beat the Huskies, Brooks said, the Ducks must contain Washington’s running and move the ball against a Husky defense that has allowed 55.6 yards rushing a game to lead the nation.

Washington is led by tailback Greg Lewis, who leads the Pac-10 in rushing, averaging 128.8 yards a game.

Stopping Lewis, who operates behind an offensive line that averages nearly 300 pounds, is one concern for Brooks. The other is trying to run against the Huskies.

“If they know you can’t run it, poor Musgrave will be in for a long day,” Brooks said, adding that the Husky pass rush has harassed quarterbacks all season.

“When you try to buy some time throwing the ball against the Washington defense, you usually wind up on your back,” he said.

Stanford’s players are still savoring their 36-31 upset victory over Notre Dame last Saturday in South Bend, Ind.

“It still hasn’t sunk in,” defensive end Tyler Batson said. “It’s the greatest feeling. It’s indescribable.”

Cornerback Kevin Scott said Stanford was intimidated by Notre Dame’s tradition in the first half when it trailed, 24-7.

“We didn’t play well. Everybody was thinking about the tradition instead of what we should have been doing. Once we got that out of our system, we played our game,” he said.

Coach Dennis Green said: “It’s not just beating the No. 1 team, it’s beating Notre Dame, the No. 1 team. Is this the highlight of my career? Oh yes, yes, yes.”

Notre Dame Coach Lou Holtz had a different viewpoint on the game. “I’m one step from suicide,” he said.

Arizona State, which was beaten by Washington, 42-14, last Saturday, has lost seven starting players because of injuries.

“I don’t think there is any question that Arizona State is as beat-up a team as we’ve played,” James said.

Arizona State will play California Saturday at Tempe, Ariz., and the Bears have their own injury problems.

Defensive tackle Rhett Hall and free safety Ray Sanders suffered injuries in Cal’s 35-34 victory over San Jose State last Saturday, and they will either be sidelined or their effectiveness will be limited.

Moreover, tight end Anthony Grandison will undergo surgery to repair torn knee ligaments and is lost for the season.

Washington State Coach Mike Price said there is “a little dissension” among the Cougars but added that it’s normal on any team with a losing record.

Price denied a report that he had screamed, “You blew it!” at his team after WSU lost to UCLA, 30-20, on Sept. 29 in Pullman, Wash.

“I swear to God on a stack of Bibles and may lightning strike me dead, nothing like that happened.”

We believe you, coach, we believe you.