Place an Ad Calendars Classified Forums Sports Weather

sptimes.com Text-only News sections Arts & Entertainment AP The Wire Business Citrus County Columnists Floridian Hernando County Hillsborough Letters Movies Neighborhood Times News Update North Pinellas North of Tampa Obituaries Opinion Pasco County South Pinellas Sports State Tampa Bay TV Times World & Nation  Find your local news section Weekly sections Brandon Times City Times Homes Outdoors Perspective Personal Tech Taste Travel Weekend Xpress Special Sections Arena football Buccaneers College football Devil Rays Lightning Police reports Schools Seniority Subscriber Services Subscribe Renew Help Advertise Place an ad In print Online Market Info Join Us Internships Scholarships Times Jobs Contact us

Oregon controls its fate

By BOB HARIG

© St. Petersburg Times, published October 21, 2000

You don't hear them mentioned as national championship contenders, but the Oregon Ducks are ranked seventh in the country and making a case for consideration.

At 3-0 in the Pac-10, they are off to their best conference start in 43 years. Last week's victory over Southern Cal completed a three-game stretch of wins over the Trojans, UCLA and Washington, a triple that Oregon had not pulled off in 52 years.

"We're at the point where we can set our sights pretty high," Oregon linebacker Matt Smith said.

And just think how high they'd be were it not for an early season loss at Wisconsin.

With No. 1 Nebraska having to play No. 3 Oklahoma, No. 2 Virginia Tech having to play No. 4 Miami, and No. 5 Clemson still to play No. 6 Florida State, the Ducks could be in the national championship race.

If nothing else, they control their fate as far as the Rose Bowl is concerned.

"The Rose Bowl has to come through Eugene, Oregon," cornerback Rashad Bauman said. "We don't plan on losing these five games we have remaining. We're going to go out and handle our business, and anybody who wants to get to the Rose Bowl, they do have to beat the University of Oregon."

The next team to try is Arizona, which is tied for first in the Pac-10 with the Ducks. But the Wildcats must play at Autzen Stadium tonight, where Oregon has an 18-game home winning streak, the second-longest in the nation.

"This is not an easy place to come into and win," Oregon coach Mike Bellotti said. "There's some great tradition here, and we're hoping to make some of our own."

HEUPEL FOR HEISMAN: As far as campaigns go, this is a late one. But it has begun in earnest with Oklahoma e-mailing material for quarterback Josh Heupel with the theme: Precision 2000.

"I don't know why he wouldn't be mentioned among the top few people for the Heisman. He certainly deserves it," Oklahoma coach Bob Stoops said of Heupel, who threw for 374 yards and two touchdowns in a 41-31 victory against Kansas State. "What will help him most is if we continue to win."

Heupel has completed 68.6 percent of his passes (144-for-210) this season for 1,894 yards, with more touchdowns (11) than interceptions (four), heading into an Oct. 28 meeting between Oklahoma (6-0, 3-0 Big 12) and No. 1 Nebraska (6-0, 3-0) in Norman, Okla.

Stoops and other Big 12 coaches said Monday that Heupel merits as much Heisman consideration as high profile candidates such as Virginia Tech quarterback Michael Vick, Purdue quarterback Drew Brees or TCU running back LaDainian Tomlinson.

"I haven't seen anyone better" this season, Kansas State coach Bill Snyder said. "He had as fine a performance against us as I've seen in an awfully long time."

Said Texas coach Mack Brown: "Heupel has been unbelievable. He's playing as well as anyone in the country."

OVERTIME RULES: The score looked a little funny, especially when it occurred in overtime: Cal 46, UCLA 38. How did the Bears win by eight? They did it by going for two points after a touchdown in the third overtime, which they were required to do.

The NCAA's rule that forces teams to go for a two-point conversion after a touchdown beginning with the third overtime was the result of Cal's four-overtime marathon with Arizona in 1996. Cal won 56-55. The idea was that by the third overtime, forcing a team to go for two would speed up the outcome.

A FORCE: Iowa State defeated Oklahoma State last week for its third road victory of the season, a first for the Cyclones since 1978. At 5-1, Iowa State is one victory from being bowl eligible.

- Information from other news organizations was used in this report.

© 2006 • All Rights Reserved • Tampa Bay Times
490 First Avenue South • St. Petersburg, FL 33701 • 727-893-8111

Contact the Times | Privacy Policy
Standard of Accuracy | Terms, Conditions & Copyright

Gary Shelton