Plenty on line for Cougars, Ducks
PULLMAN – Not many around the conference or the country will be focusing on the game in Martin Stadium today.
With California visiting Southern California today – undoubtedly the marquee game of the 2004 Pac-10 season – most everyone will be locking in on that intrastate matchup to figure out who the top team in the conference will be. But most would agree it’s certain that even the loser will finish near the top of the Pac-10.
In Pullman, however? Maybe not.
Oregon visits Washington State at 2 p.m. today, a game that will probably be played in the rain and definitely without a mass of TV cameras. But these two teams – both originally picked to be in the second tier of the Pac-10 – could do a lot to help influence the bowl picture, even though it’s just the second conference game for both teams.
That’s because the Cougars (3-1, 1-0 Pac-10), coming off of a bye week, have a chance to deal the Ducks (1-3, 0-1) a loss that would bury them in the standings. And likewise, the Ducks have a chance to muddy the conference chase by pulling themselves out of an early hole.
“They were picked early to be one of the top two or three teams in the conference, and it’s the same team,” WSU coach Bill Doba said.
“They’re there. They just haven’t had the luck. I mean, we could be 1-3 really easily. We block a punt in New Mexico and have one good drive. And last (game), we hit the guy and he fumbles.”
And as WSU would love to move its win streak to three this afternoon, Oregon realizes a win is a near-must if its season is to turn into something positive, even after a home loss to Arizona State last weekend.
“I think there’s a resolve,” Oregon coach Mike Bellotti said. “This football team is a great group of kids. If you don’t put something on the line, you don’t hurt. And we hurt (after Arizona State) because we put a lot on and we tried but we didn’t finish.”
The Cougars’ bye week did help to heal some of the minor aches and pains. But it hasn’t done the trick for everyone, as they’ll most likely be without their top two tight ends, a starting wide receiver and a starting defensive tackle.
For obvious reasons, Doba is concerned. But he knows – if the Cougars can overcome those injuries this week – a 4-1 start, including two Pac-10 wins, might just have them on track to make even the likes of Cal and USC look over their shoulder.
“We could be 4-0. We moved the ball really well against Colorado and just didn’t put points on the board,” Doba said. “We’ve been snakebit, I’ll tell you. We’ve got more guys hurt … it looks like a hospital war-zone, for cripes sake, afterwards. Our training room is pretty full.”
Notes
Oregon returned some tickets to WSU late this week, meaning a limited number – probably about 100 – will be on sale this morning at Gate G of Martin Stadium. The ticket office there will open at 10 a.m., four hours before kickoff. Director of ticket operations Dan Meyer confirmed the Cougars have sold out the remaining home games this year against Stanford, USC and Washington, and while there is a chance those schools will also return tickets during the week leading up to the game, there are no guarantees. … Offensive lineman and field-goal snapper Riley Fitt-Chappell is doubtful because of a foot strain suffered in practice. … Paul Stevens is expected to replace injured Matt Mullenix as a backup at defensive end.