Ducks give Dawgs a goal

When the Huskies take the field tomorrow against Oregon, the heated Northwest rivalry will resume, as the two teams have two different goals to shoot for.

The Ducks, who have come on strong as of late, are looking to shake off an early-season funk that dropped them to 1-3 after the first four weeks. For Washington, they are looking to play spoiler in the Ducks' bid for a major bowl game.

No longer do the Dawgs have anything of any historical prominence to play for. Done are the streaks of non-losing seasons, of consecutive games without a shutout and the fabricated Northwest championship.

Not a lot of smack-talk has been coming out of Eugene, Ore. either. Is it a case of the Ducks not thinking highly enough of this Husky team to be much of a challenge? After all, they are three-touchdown favorites over the UW.

Could it be that losing to the Huskies would be a gigantic embarrassment for the Ducks? Has this program sunk that far? Could the Ducks actually have this game circled as a win before the first snap of the game?

I doubt it. In fact, I expect to see the Ducks attempt to ram everything they can down the Huskies' throats tomorrow. They have given up 42 points to Washington in each of the last two games and will look to make the Dawgs pay for it while they have a chance to, in this most horrific of seasons.

The Huskies' game-ending celebratory dance on the center "O" at Autzen Stadium in 2002 still is reviled as a classless move by the Oregon faithful, even if it is considered a "non-issue" by UO coach Mike Bellotti.

Moreover, the Ducks want to prove that they belong in the upper echelon of the Pac-10 with USC, Cal and Arizona State. With roses apparently going to USC (or Cal if the Trojans play for the national title), the Ducks are trying to shore up a bid to play in San Diego with a potential Holiday Bowl berth.

Remember when playing in the Sun Bowl was considered a down year for the Huskies?

The quarterback is still a huge concern even though junior Casey Paus was named the starter for the rest of the season. Although Paus saw his best success as a UW quarterback after coming in to replace Cody Pickett last year in the Huskies' 42-10 romp over the Ducks, he has become an opposing backfield's best friend ever since.

This team that has fallen on hard times isn't about to hang its head and call it a year. The enthusiasm that a hated rival brings a team is bound to help them get something going. If Washington can keep their talented defense off the field for an ample amount of time, then they have the capability to shut down the Duck offense the way they did in the first quarter at USC.

However, if they have to stay out there as long as they did, in the final three plays, then look for another drubbing handed to the Dawgs by the worst of adversaries.

Beating Oregon can heal a lot of the wounds that this squad has endured this year, and nothing tastes better for Halloween dinner than some roast Duck.