Ducks Pre-Game Football Notes Versus Fresno State

GAME TWO - OREGON AT FRESNO STATE - 7:00 P.M. - BULLDOG STADIUM.

Photo courtesy: goducks.com

EUGENE - The University of Oregon football team (1-0, 1-0 Pacific-10 Conference) hits the road to take on Western Athletic Conference power Fresno State (1-0, 1-0 WAC) Saturday at 7:00 PM.

The Bulldogs have not left the friendly confines of Bulldog Stadium this season as they opened with a win over Nevada at home last week. The Ducks have not played in Fresno since a 30-27 overtime win in 1996.

TELEVISION/RADIO INFORMATION

ESPN2: Regional Telecast:

Dan Fouts (play-by-play)

Tim Brant (analyst)

Vince Welch (sideline)

LOCAL BROADCAST: Oregon Sports Network, 6 PM (PDT)

Jerry Allen, Mike Jorgensen, Jay Allen

DELAYED TELECAST: Oregon Sports Network, 11:30 PM (PDT)

Joe Giansante, Anthony Newman

QUICKLY

• Oregon is 7-4 on the road versus non-conference opponents during head coach MikeBellotti’s tenure. Included was a 30-27 overtime win at Fresno State in 1996.

• While Oregon holds a 4-2 advantage in the series, its average margin of victory is just four points. There have been two overtime wins by the Ducks and three times they have won by just three points.

• Oregon’s last loss to a non-conference opponent on the road was a 31-7 loss at then-No. 2 Oklahoma.

• Coach Bellotti is 14-0 against current WAC schools in his Oregon head coaching tenure.

THE SERIES VS. FRESNO STATE

Oregon is 4-2 all-time against Fresno State, but has only traveled to Bulldog Stadium twice (1996, 1982). The Ducks are 1-1 in Fresno, winning 30-27 (ot) in 1996 and losing 23-16 in 1981. After last season’s 37-34 win over the Bulldogs in week two, head coach Mike Bellotti improved to 4-0 against Fresno State. Two of those wins were in overtime (1996, 1997 (2ot)). Oregon is 81-15-4 overall against teams currently in the WAC. Its last loss to a WAC team was a 36-16 setback at Hawaii in 1994.

OREGON VS. FRESNO STATE -CLOSE CALLS

9/5/81 at Fresno State: Fresno State, 23, Oregon 16

9/18/82 at Oregon: Fresno State 10, Oregon 4

8/31/96 at Fresno State: Oregon 30, Fresno State 27 (ot)

9/20/97 at Oregon: Oregon 43, Fresno State 40 (2ot)

9/7/02: at Oregon: Oregon 28, Fresno State 24

9/17/05 at Oregon: Oregon 37, Fresno State 34

HEAD COACH MIKE BELLOTTI - 12TH SEASON

When Mike Bellotti was elevated to head football coach at the University of Oregon on Feb. 13, 1995, few people could have envisioned the impact the former UC Davis honors student would have on a university, as well as a community, which was coming off its first conference championship in 37 years. In the 11 seasons that followed, all he accomplished would be the navigation of a program through its most successful era in school history.

He shares the claim as the Ducks’ all-time winningest coach with a victory over Stanford on opening day in 2006 and has guided Oregon to the No. 2 ranking in the country and a Fiesta Bowl win following the 2001 season Bellotti has led the school to nine bowl appearances in his 11 years at the helm, tallied eight or more wins in a single season seven times, accumulated the second-most victories (91) of any program in the Pac-10 during his tenure and has overseen a team that has finished among the nation’s Top-20 four times in the past seven seasons.

None of his 29 Oregon predecessors can match his timetable for success as well as few in the Pacific-10 Conference. The “dean of the Pac-10” is tied for ninth all time in conference wins (57-32) while only four former league mentors (John Robinson, Don James, Terry Donahue and Larry Smith) were able to post more conference triumphs than Bellotti in their first 10 years in the Pac-10. His 91-42 ledger as the Ducks’ head coach (112-67-2 overall) began the 2006 campaign only one victory shy of Rich Brooks (1977-94) as the winningest football coach in school history, while his winning percentage of 68.4 percent trails only Hugo Bezdek (72.7%—1906, 1913-17) among Oregon’s all-time mentors who coached the Ducks a minimum of three seasons.

Guiding the Ducks to an unprecedented seventh-consecutive bowl appearance in 2003, the Northern California native has played a vital role in assembling more than 24 percent (129 wins) of the University’s all-time triumphs (532) since assuming the role as the school’s offensive coordinator prior to the 1989 season. In addition, only six active Division I coaches in the country have guided their current schools to more postseason appearances than Bellotti has at Oregon while he ranks 16th on the list of winningest active Division I-A coaches in the country.

FRESNO STATE LAST WEEK VS. NEVADA

Dwayne Wright rushed for 158 yards in his first game in nearly two years to lead Fresno State to a 28-19 victory over Nevada in the Bulldogs season and conference opener last week. Wright had a 1,000-yard campaign in 2003, but missed most of the last two seasons with a knee injury. He hadn’t played since Sept. 11, 2004. Quarterback Tom Brandstater passed for 124 yards and a score in his first start for the Bulldogs, who snapped Nevada’s five-game winning streak from last season. The Bulldogs scored a touchdown in each quarter and had 212 yards of total offense. Nevada failed to score in the first quarter, but scored in the next three quarters. The Bulldogs blocked a PAT after Nevada’s first score and the Wolfpacks’ two-point conversion attempt failed after their next score.

THE LAST TIME - OREGON 37, FRESNO STATE 34 - SEPTEMBER 17, 2005

First Downs Rushing Passing (cmp-att-yds.-int) Total Offense

FS 25 28-112 33-43-418-1 530

ORE 31 37-160 28-39-332-0 492

Game Recap: Kellen Clemens threw for 332 yards and four touchdowns to lead Oregon to a 37-34 victory over then-No. 23 Fresno State. The loss snapped a seven-game winning streak for the Bulldogs, who also had won their previous three against Pac-10 teams. Demetrius Williams caught eight passes for 95 yards and two touchdowns, while Terrence Whitehead rushed for 96 yards and a score, and caught another TD. Whitehead took a seemingly routine pass from Clemens and ran it 42 yards into the end zone to make it 37-27 for the Ducks with 4:16 left. But Fresno State kept it interesting with Paul Pinegar’s 14-yard touchdown pass to Matt Rivera to narrow it to 37-34 with 1:50 left. Pinegar completed 33 of 43 passes for 418 yards and three scores for Fresno State, which was ranked in the AP’s preseason poll for the first time but wasn’t challenged much in a season-opening 55-17 victory at home over Weber State.

STATISTICAL LEADERS - OREGON

Rushing: Jonathan Stewart (22 carries for 168 yards, 2 TD, 25 long, 7.72 per carry)

Passing: Dennis Dixon (21-30 for 236 yards, 1 TD, 0 INT, 29 long, 236.0 per game)

Receiving: Garren Strong (6 catches for 78 yards, 0 TD, 29 long, 78.0 per game)

Tackles: Blair Phillips (8 total, 0.0 for loss of 0.0 yards)

Sacks: Patrick Chung (1 for 12 yards), Jeremy Gibbs (1 for six yards), Nick Reed (1 for three yards)

Tackles for Loss: Jeremy Gibbs (2.0 for 7 yards)

Interceptions: N/A

Punt Returns: Jeremiah Johnson (3 returns for 36 yards, 20 long, 12.0 avg.)

Kickoff Returns: Jonathan Stewart (1 return for 54 yards, 54 long, 54.0 average)

STATISTICAL LEADERS - FRESNO STATE

Rushing: Dwayne Wright (26 carries for 158 yards, 3 TD, 40 long, 6.1 per carry)

Passing: Tom Brandstater (16-24 for 124 yards, 1 TD, 20 long, 124.0 per game)

Receiving: Joe Fernandez (5 catches for 58 yards, 1 TD, 20 long, 58.0 per game)

Tackles: Dwayne Andrews (9 total, 0.0 for loss of 0.0 yards)

Sacks: Tyler Cutts (1.0 sacks for 9 yards)

Tackles for Loss: Tyler Clutts (1.0 for 9 yard loss)

Interceptions: N/A

Punt Returns: Joe Fernandez (2 returns for 11 yards, 8 long, 5.5 avg.)

Kickoff Returns: Joe Fernandez (3 returns for 75 yards, 34 long, 25 avg.)

CAREER HIGHLIGHTS

It was a career day for several Oregon players last Saturday. Running back Jonahtan Stewart had career bests in carries (22) and rushing yards (168) and also matched his career high of two rushing touchdowns. Wide receivers Garren Strong (6 catches, 78 yards), Jordan Kent (2 catches, 27 yards) and Brian Paysinger (3 catches, 29 yards) all set new career best in receptions and receiving yardage. A capable backup to Stewart, Jeremiah Johnson enjoyed the best rushing performance of his career (10 carries, 79 yards) while his 52 yard run in the third quarter is also a personal best.

BELLOTTI BECOMES THE BEST

Oregon’s win over Stanford last Saturday was head coach Mike Bellotti’s 91st win at Oregon, which ties him with Rich Brooks (1977-94) as the all-time winningest coach at UO. He is now 91-42 as the Ducks’ head coach.

PROTECTING THE PASSER

The Ducks’ offensive line unit is an experienced group and in the opener vs. Stanford, the linemen were perfect in protecting quarterbacks Dennis Dixon and Brady Leaf. After allowing 41 sacks in 2004, Oregon trimmed that number to 20 last season. They kept the improvement going as they did not allow a sack against Stanford and are currently tied for first in the nation in sacks allowed.

SPREADING THE WEALTH

The Ducks new offensive scheme proved once again to be prolific. Running back Jonathan Stewart rushed for 168 yards and with 54 kickoff return yards, he had 222 yards of total offense. Eight different receivers caught a pass and as a team, Oregon accumulated 534 yards of total offense, which is fourth in the nation after the first week of play. The last time Oregon put up more than 500 yards of total offense was last season vs. Washington (570) — a feat it accomplished four times last year.

MOVING THE CHAINS

It seems as though nearly every carry by Jonathan Stewart meant something. Nine of his 22 carries resulted in a first down, while two others went for touchdowns. Seven of his total carries were for 10 or more yards. Jeremiah Johnson had just 10 touches as Stewart’s back up, but two of those were good for a first down and another was a touchdown.

LEADING THE WAY

Oregon returns an offensive line intact from a year ago that paved the way for a unit which ranked eighth in the country in passing (304.5 avg.), 12th in scoring (34.5 ppg) and 18th in total offense (438.8 avg.). It also allowed only 20 quarterback sacks (3rd-fewest in the Pac-10), which was a decrease from 41 sacks in 2004. In addition, James Finley (57 rec., 571 yds., 2 TDs) heads a group of six receivers who all finished the year in double digits in catches despite the loss of team-leader Demetrius Williams (59 rec., 1059 yds., 10 TDs). Defensively, the Ducks return four of last year’s top-seven tacklers, led by rover Patrick Chung (91 tackles) and free safety J.D. Nelson (64 tackles).

HONORS CANDIDATES

Center Enoka Lucas and free safety J.D. Nelson loom as Oregon’s highest decorated returnees as the pair garnered second-team Pac-10 all-conference accolades last season. The Ducks also will benefit from the return of three honorable mention all-league standouts in rover Patrick Chung, wide receiver James Finley and offensive tackle Max Unger. Unger also attracted Freshman All-America acclaim as a 12-game starter at left offensive tackle as a redshirt freshman while Chung was tabbed by The Sporting News as the conference’s Defensive Freshman of the Year.

NATIONAL LEADERS

The Ducks return two of their three individual national leaders from a year ago. Jonathan Stewart led the country in kickoff return average as a true freshman in 2005 (33.7 avg.), including a pair of returns for touchdowns. Placekicker Paul Martinez was the nation’s leader in field goals made per game (2.11 avg.), with his 19-of-24 three-point conversions including eight-of-nine successful tries from beyond 40 yards (long of 51 yards).

SEPTEMBER UNDER BELLOTTI

Oregon is 34-10 in the month of September under Head Coach Mike Bellotti. The Ducks have gone perfect in September three times under the 12th-year coach (1998, 2001, 2002). The Ducks were 3-0 in the month last season before dropping a 45-13 decision to the top-ranked USC Trojans on Sept. 24 at Autzen Stadium.

BRANCHING OUT

There are currently two head coaches in the Pac-10 that were hired from Mike Bellotti’s staff. California Head Coach Jeff Tedford served on Bellotti’s staff from 1998-2001 and Arizona State Head Coach Dirk Koetter was a part of Bellotti’s staff from 1996-97. Outside of the league, Chris Petersen is in his first year as Boise State’s head coach after serving as the Ducks’ wide receivers coach from 1995-2000.

MULTI-SPORT ATHLETE

Senior wide receiver Jordan Kent already has accomplished something that few Division I athletes have during the modern era. Lettering in football, men’s basketball and track & field in 2005-06, Kent not became the University of Oregon’s first male athlete to letter in three or more different sports during the same year since World War II, he became the first major college athlete in the country to do so in four years. A survey of Division I sports information directors revealed that the last Division I athlete to letter in three or more separate sports during the same school year was North Texas’ Adrian Awasom, who lettered in football, basketball and track during the 2001-02 year. Prior to that, you have to go back to 1987-88, when Deion Sanders lettered in football, baseball and track at Florida State. The elite fraternity also includes Auburn’s Bo Jackson (1982-83 - football, baseball, track), Tennessee’s Ron Widby (1965-66 - football, basketball, golf), Washington State’s Dale Ford (1963-64 - football, basketball, baseball), and Navy’s Roger Staubach (1962-63 - football, basketball, baseball). Two of the nation’s most well-known athletes of all time actually earned letters in four sports in the same year -- Syracuse’s Jim Brown did so in football, basketball, track and lacrosse in 1956-57, while UCLA’s Jackie Robinson lettered in football, basketball, track and baseball in 1940-41.

RELIABLE, DURABLE SENIORS

Two Oregon seniors have not missed a single game in the past three years, and a third has only missed one. J.D. Nelson and Dante Rosario have both played in all 37 games since the start of the 2003 season, with Rosario having done so as a true freshman. Defensive tackle Matt Toeaina missed only one game his sophomore season to begin the 2006 campaign playing in 35 games. But the distinction as the Ducks’ most experienced player heading into his final year belongs to Nelson, with the Mountain View, Calif., free safety owning a team-high 24 starting assignments as well as taking part in 2,047 plays the past three seasons. Rosario has participated in 1,751snaps as a fullback, H-back, tight end and special teams standout.

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