To Oregon, Autzen Is Just Ducky

How does a school build a 17-game home winning streak? Start with talented players, of course. And, in Oregon’s case, give an assist to a great crowd and a tricky artificial playing surface.

The Bruins wanted to start fast to silence the notoriously loud crowd at Autzen Stadium. Instead, UCLA started its first possession at its 14, practically deafened by noise from seats along the sideline and behind the end zone. The Bruins were guilty of a false start on their first play, had to call time out before their next and committed three consecutive false-start penalties later in the first quarter.

“We were jumping offsides and we couldn’t make reads,” UCLA Coach Bob Toledo said. “The crowd was like a 12th man for them.”

The current turf, installed in 1991, is worn in places and near the end of its life span. UCLA quarterback Ryan McCann felt a slight hamstring pull while scrambling on the turf, and tailback DeShaun Foster slipped while tantalizingly close to breaking a long run, so Toledo jokingly wondered whether the Ducks might retain the turf for a hometown edge.

“They might keep this turf for the next 10 years,” he said.

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Sixth-ranked UCLA is the highest-ranked opponent Oregon has defeated since upsetting No. 4 Brigham Young, 32-16, on Sept. 29, 1990, at Autzen Stadium.

It was also the Ducks’ first home victory over UCLA since a 28-24 victory in 1990. UCLA is 10-2 against Oregon at Autzen.

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Freddie Mitchell was not happy, to say the least, that an official ruled he was out of bounds on an apparent touchdown catch in the third quarter. Replays indicated Mitchell had one foot in bounds, in accordance with college rules.

“That was horrible officiating,” Mitchell said. “Too bad this isn’t the NFL, where you have instant replay.”

Said Toledo: ‘I thought it was a touchdown. When you play in front of a crowd like this, sometimes the officials get a little intimidated.”

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So who won the war, Mitchell or Rashad Bauman, Oregon’s touted cornerback?

Mitchell had eight catches for 158 yards.

“He’s the easiest corner back I’ve played against all year,” Mitchell boasted. “And I felt that he was so easy to beat but he talks too much. It’s so disrespectful for him to talk so much.”

Bauman claimed he won, boasting that he held Mitchell to “a couple of catches.”

“He’s a decent receiver,” Bauman said.

Of course, Bauman had the last word.

“They said they were No. 1,” Bauman said, feeding off Ryan McCann’s statement after UCLA defeated Michigan last week. “Well, I don’t think they’re No. 1 anymore. I don’t think they think they’re No. 1 anymore.”

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The Oregon Trail

Oregon has had a series of standout running backs from California community colleges:

TONY CHERRY

(1984-85) Riverside Community College

Career: 298 carries, 1,640 yards, 5.5 avg, 15 TDs

SALADIN McCULLOUGH

(1996-97) Pasadena City College, El Camino College

Career: 389 carries, 2,058 yards, 5.3 avg., 24 TDs

REUBEN DROUGHNS

(1998-99) Merced College

Career: 389 carries, 2,028 yards, 5.2 avg., 18 TDs

MAURICE MORRIS

(2000) Fresno City College

Season: 91 carries, 473 yards, 5.2 avg., 5 TDs