Blow to the Head Gives Ducks and Fans Wisdom



When Ducks cry: Reaction to Kenjon Barner's blow to the head.

   I can't recall the last time Duck fans were shaken sober after a 20 point win.  Yes, Oregon was favored by 35 and we were (OK, I was) fully expecting such a blowout. WSU was pretty terrible to this point while the Ducks had just knocked off 9th ranked Stanford.   
   But let's face it. The Cougs brought it. They were trying to drag the Ducks to their woodshed, paddles ready and waiting. It showed in Oregon's first scoring drive when Washington State's defensive personnel were fired up. They were woofin' and hollerin' and flying to the ball.  It was clear that Oregon wasn't going to score quickly on that drive. And it looked like they wouldn't score at all. 
   WSU had stopped Oregon on two consecutive third downs. But the Ducks went for fourth both times. And after the Ducks finally scored, they faked the extra point for a two point conversion.
   Here's how the Spokesman Review tells it . . .
Washington State (1-5, 0-3) showed from the first Oregon possession its game plan was predicated on whacking the Ducks in the mouth.


Linebacker Alex Hoffman-Ellis set the tone with a crunching sack of Thomas on the game’s second play.

“We practiced all week getting off blocks, being physical and beating our guy,” linebacker Myron Beck said. “At times we did that. We’re improving.”

But Oregon coach Chip Kelly showed his disdain for the WSU defense on the same possession, going for it twice on fourth down – including one from the WSU 43 that was successful by inches – as the Ducks covered 80 yards in 13 plays, taking an 8-0 lead on LaMichael James’ 1-yard run and a quick-hit two-point conversion.

The Cougars answered 6 minutes later with James Montgomery’s 26-yard sprint . . .

   Oregon took everything WSU gave them and pushed it back with insult to take an 8-0 lead. That should have set the tone and deflated the Cougs right there. Oregon's #3 ranking was for real and no one could do thing one about it.
   "Now Cougs, if you'll just lie still, we can make this as painless as possible." The Ducks should've been so lucky. But Washington State was not going to give up. They truly wanted the win and played out of their skulls for it.
   Coach Kelly and others had paid some sincere lip service to the notion that the Ducks had targets on their backs. They were the Pac-10 champs and favored by many to repeat. Everyone wants a shot at them and would love to knock them off. Every team will bring their 'A' game.
   ASU and Stanford may say they gave their best effort against Oregon. But WSU left no doubt late in the first quarter when Kenjon Barner, upon returning a kickoff, was knocked into last Tuesday with a brutal head-to-head collision. 
   Was it legal or goonish?  Did the Coug do it on his own or was he pushed?  I was bothered that several Coug players on the sidelines were still smiling and high-fiving while Barner lay motionless. I also wish the refs had flown the flag as a matter of principle.  A blow to the head should be treated like a face mask.  It doesn't matter if it looked 'clean' or unintentional. Do they tolerate head-to-head blows or don't they?
   In any event, message sent. Message received. There would be blood. And it didn't stop there. QB Darron Thomas walked to the sidelines with his throwing arm hanging weird off his shoulder. Moments later, LaMichael James got up slowly from a run and limped off. Next it was Nate Costa limping, then Casey Matthews, then someone else.
   Not only was Washington State taking the hurt to Oregon,  they took the lead in the game.  Up 14 to 8,  25,000 Coug fans were suddenly making Martin Stadium very Autzenesque.  

Plain and simple: Nate Costa's a stud.

  The end of the story is that thanks to the superb play of Nate Costa along with excellent efforts of LmJ, Jeff Maehl, Casey Matthews, Brandon Bair, Cliff Harris and all the others, Oregon stormed back and won. What's more is that it looks like all the injuries will heal over time; and that Oregon has extra time given a bye week and their next game scheduled for Thursday after next.

Immediately after Barner hit, Cliff Harris, who is emotional
by nature, was seen seething on the sidelines. Fortunately
he channeled his anger into his play as he made tacklers
look silly while returning this punt untouched for a TD.
Watching this, one name came to my mind: Deion Sanders. 

   That is the result. But what was the lesson? It's that Coach Kelly ain't lyin' when he talks about that whole target on the back (or helmet) thing.

   This was cellar dweller Washington State who punched Oregon in the mouth and gave the Ducks a taste of their own blood. It couldn't have come at a better time, because better teams are still lining up for their turn.

   So who is the player of the game? Nate Costa is the top choice for seamlessly stepping in and securing the win.

  But for long term benefit, I'm going to select Anthony Carpenter. He was the Cougar freshman who flew in with the horizontal helmet blow to Kenjon Barner. We have yet to hear from Mr. Carpenter about his own reaction to the hit. But as long as Barner will be OK, we can look at the positives. Carpenter may have done Oregon a favor by making the following painfully clear. . .



Stay classy, Carpenter.



  Oregon hopefully learned that this bid to repeat as Pac-10 champs will not be easy. "Extra curricular efforts" such as jacked up emotions, out of control hits, goonery, fake injuries, etc. should be expected and considered the norm from now through December 4th.

  Be careful, Oregon. Be vigilant, stay cool.
And uhh . . . don't lose your heads.

D.T. walks off field looking like
a stroke victim.

Link to Ken Goe's latest article of what's next:

Oregon Ducks rundown: Bye week? What bye week? Second-ranked Ducks go back to work

Latest from R-G.

Oregon football: Ducks high-step into No. 2 in polls at 6-0.   Oregon trails only Ohio State in all three polls, and Kenjon Barner’s back in Eugene after night in hospital


John Canzano story on Linebacker Casey Matthews showing class through injuries to Barner, James Rodgers.

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