The Ducks beat themselves. Even with their star QB out, they could have won this game but shot themselves in the foot too many times. One 14 pt swing, for example, had them driving for a TD, then the 2nd string QB (who is not impressive -- I kept hoping they'd put the 3rd string in, he couldn't be worse) threw an interception returned for a TD. Instead of 7 Oregon pts, 7 Arizona pts. And there were other costly turnovers as well. This game could have been won if Oregon had its act together. They didn't have the character to survive the loss of the star. The defense permitted 31 pts in the first half before getting its act together in the second. They don't deserve the national championship, period. (For example, LSU earlier in the season suffered a similar setback of an injured star, fell behind, but regrouped and went on to win the game. Character.)
TUCSON, Ariz. (AP) -- Oregon's national title dream has ended.
Quarterback Dennis Dixon's Heisman Trophy campaign also took a heavy blow.
The curse of No. 2 claimed another victim when the second-ranked Ducks lost
Dixon to a knee injury and never recovered in a 34-24 upset by Arizona on
Thursday night.
"The national championship thing was fine while it lasted," Oregon coach
Mike Bellotti said. "The reality is we're still always trying to get the
conference championship and the very best bowl game (the Rose Bowl)
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