University Southern California Trojans
Ducks Try to Make It Four Straight Over USC
September 21, 2001 | Football
Sept. 21, 2001
By LANDON HALL
AP Sports Writer
EUGENE, Ore. - Southern California has won 11 games the past two seasons and lost 13. And the Trojans have lost four of five to Oregon.
Yet the seventh-ranked Ducks still consider USC a threat to their national championship plans. And the main reason is the Trojans' perennial strength: speed.
"They are hands down the fastest team that we will face this year, and that's how it is every year," Oregon quarterback Joey Harrington said. "That's the calling card of USC's team in general. I expect them to bring it."
If speed is the calling card of the Trojans, the Ducks' signature trait is winning close games. When the teams meet Saturday night at Autzen Stadium in the Pac-10 opener for both, it will recall two recent thrilling battles. Both games were at night in Eugene, and Oregon won both by narrow margins - 17-13 in 1998, and 33-30 in triple overtime in 1999.
"That was a long night," Ducks tight end Justin Peelle said of the 4-hour, 40-minute ordeal. "We don't really plan on doing it like that, but for some reason it just happens. We know when it comes down to it, we're going to win."
In six-plus seasons under coach Mike Bellotti, Oregon is 13-1 at home in games decided by a touchdown or less.
"There's a bond and a trust created by work ethic, by friendship, by camaraderie, and it comes out in those close games," Bellotti said. "They believe it's going to happen, and they find a way to make it happen."
While Oregon is 2-0 this season, the Ducks have been living dangerously. They scraped by Wisconsin 31-28, then led Utah only 16-10 at halftime before pulling away.
Bellotti said the team has spent much of the past two weeks working hard on both sides of the line: sustaining blocks on offense, shedding them on defense.
"The bottom line is toughness," he said.
USC won its first game for new coach Pete Carroll, 21-10 over San Jose State, then put up a strong fight against Kansas State before losing 10-6.
The Trojans need to do a better job of pressuring Harrington. They have only two sacks this season, and last year Harrington had one of the best games of his career against them, passing for 382 yards and four touchdowns in Oregon's 28-17 victory at the Coliseum.
"It doesn't mean they won't run the ball, but if you can't contain Harrington, they'll have a big day," Carroll said.
Oregon thinks USC will try to load up against the run like it did last year, when Maurice Morris was held to 85 yards on 32 attempts. Morris had 1,188 yards last season, but hasn't looked the same so far, gaining just 76 yards on 26 carries. Backup Onterrio Smith has outrushed him by 57 yards.
"I'm not concerned about Maurice's performance," Bellotti said. "He's strong and he's healthy, and I'm excited about getting him untracked."
Oregon has won 22 straight at home, and beating USC three straight times has been a factor in the Ducks' climb toward the top of the Pac-10. Between 1972 and 1994, Oregon went 1-15-1 against the Trojans.
"Emotions are real high right now," Oregon cornerback Steve Smith said. "We've beaten them four out of the last five, and you know they want to end our streak up here."
