Photos from Register Guard
Beautiful.
It was harder than I had hoped. But should we be surprised?
What proved to be the difference? A couple of obvious things.
1) Which defense was going to have the more successful day? Although Oregon was giving away turnovers like coupons in a "Black Friday Sale-abration", the final answer lies in rushing totals.
Oregon: 288 yards rushing. LaMichael James accounted for 166 of those yards including this 52 yard explosion for the TD that put them ahead to stay.OSU: 83 yards. Quizz Rogers was held to 64.
Without Quizz, OSU became one dimensional. But oh what a dimension it was. OSU's Sean Canfield threw for 306 yards and two TD's. They weren't dead yet.
With the game continually on the line for both teams, a second key factor became huge.
2) Fourth down conversions.
The Beavers were one of two, including a fourth and 15 in the fourth quarter that failed.
The Ducks made all three of their fourth down conversions. And the killers were two in the final fourth quarter drive that ran out the clock.
A total of five attemped fourth down conversions. Gutsy calls by both coaches. And the ones for Oregon were the difference.
It is regrettable that OSU will probably end up in the Las Vegas Bowl. They deserve better.
But the Ducks earned exactly what they deserve. The Boise State disaster seems like a century ago. Blount's return and contribution to the win was epic.
I've already heard this once tonight and it bears repeating several more times.
Oregon Football 2009: What a long strange trip it's been.
More later,
kb
7 comments:
Congratulations. But I am no longer a Duck supporter of any type. Why/ One name, Blount. The fact the he was let back on the team and allowed to play after his punch just makes me want to hurl. I'm not sure what kind of example we are trying to set for society. Screw up? Big deal, nothing bad will come your way. -John T
John,
I don't think Blount's return was a free pass. It was redemption. It was supposed to be his season. He came close to throwing it away and the team rallied and carried the load. This was redemption for the team, too.
I understand your point, but maybe society needs examples where we not only see people forgiven, but we see people forgiving, all the while pressing on for the prize.
To me, the poster moment of the game was our 4th and 4 where Masoli had to run for the 1st down. OSU's safety planted himself 2 yards in front of the 1st down line. He is all that stood in the way of Masoli going to the Rose Bowl. It summed up the game for me. OSU did not have what it would take to stop Masoli. He would not be denied.
Ya, John. What Freedom Fighter said. It's all about forgiveness and redemption. Don't make me come over to your house and blount the words 'forgiveness' and 'redemption' into your jaws!
Yes that was a huge moment in the game. Did you notice when the safety planted his immovable object against Masoli's unstoppable force, after the collision the poor Beav just kind of laid down in slow motion to take a nap?
Hopefully Ohio State players will see that and know to jump out of the way.
Sorry for the blounting in the jaw thing. I adjusted my dosage and I'm much better now.
Keep in mind that Blount is still a kid, basically. It is important to learn at any age -- but partucularly his age -- that life with hope after a terrible mistake is obtainable. But he had to get his stuff together and do right by those he is responsible to.
He did that with the help of this UNPROMISED carrot to play again dangled in front of him.
He got to play again for one reason. He straightened up, worked hard and earned it.
Here is a guy who could've been a Heisman contender, league stat leader, team poster boy. All of that is gone.
Today he is humbled, and ecstatic that he got to carry the ball just FIVE times and score one TD after three months.
John, you might do well to remember the Ducks when you get a phone call from the preschool teacher to tell you your daughter just blounted some poor kid who got in her face.
Give me a break John! Suspend a kid for the entirety of his big season for popping someone who mouthed off to him AFTER THE GAME? He lost most of the season, did his punishment and came back for the next-to-last game in the season.
If I'd been suspended every time I popped someone in a soccer game, I wouldn't be playing now...which is probably your point. But too bad, we don't want girlie men playing for the Ducks or being their fans anyway. So I'm glad to hear you will no longer be a fan.
Bruce
I'm guessing non of you listened to Lou Holtz commentary at half time. I understand that there is a matter of forgiveness here, but I also believe that there is a matter of taking responsibility for your actions.
Hell, I was asked to leave my first job out of college for telling someone to kiss my ass. I did a great job at that place and advanced quickly, but I know I made a mistake. I was never asked to come back. In fact, years later I did some freelance work there until one of the big wigs found out and immediately ceased my work. I paid my dues and moved on.
I'm just wondering why the double standard? Athletes and entertainers get away with murder (anyone remember OJ?), but because they ENTERTAIN us, we tend to forgive them. _John T
Those big wigs who kicked you out a second time -- it was their loss. They let your one mistake stand in the way of getting some good positive production out of you. You had probably learned your lesson, but they weren't willing to capitalize on getting back an employee who was now smarter and wiser.
Give me their names and addresses and let's go blount them.
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