Din of inequity

EUGENE, Ore. – The capacity is listed at 54,000, but the University of Oregon’s Autzen Stadium holds more than that. And it is more than that.

The Ducks’ last home game – a Pac-10 showdown with Cal two weeks ago – drew a stadium-record 59,273, almost all of whom were screaming themselves hoarse – until Oregon fumbled away a last-minute, game-tying chance in the 31-24 defeat.

Today, the 58,000 or so who will overfill the 40-year-old stadium will turn their voices toward the visiting Washington State Cougars (2-3 overall, 0-3 in Pac-10 football play), trying to force mistakes, miscommunication and misfires.

So how do you get ready for the loudest stadium this side of the Rockies?

“The best thing you can do is get ahead,” said offensive coordinator Mike Levenseller. “I’ve been there many times and at times we’ve had problems, and at times we haven’t.

“I’m not making it an issue with these guys. They have to concentrate and communicate.”

The get-ahead strategy worked well the last time WSU was here in 2003. Everything went the Cougars’ way, according to coach Bill Doba, and an early lead silenced the Autzen faithful in WSU’s 55-16 victory.

But other than that – which hasn’t worked this season as the Ducks are 4-1, 1-1 in the conference and ranked ninth in the nation – there’s little a team can do.

“We used to play a little noise, turn the speakers up real loud in the stadium and all that does is just drive you crazy,” Doba said.

WSU senior receiver Michael Bumpus said there is only one way to keep the noise from disturbing the Cougars.

“When it comes to (the noise), we just have to be able to communicate with hand signals and be disciplined with the snap counts,” he said.