09/17/15 Emerald Media - Gameday

T H U R S D AY, S E P T E M B E R 1 7 , 2 0 1 5

D A I LY E M E R A L D . C O M

# S E CO N DA RY I DE N T I T Y

⚑ GAMEDAY

OREGON HAS A RICH HISTORY IN THE SECONDARY. Now, they’re looking to underclassmen like Ugo Amadi and Arrion Springs to redefine it.

SECONDARY IDENTITY

M AT C H U P S T O WAT C H V E R S U S G E O R G I A S TAT E



O R E G O N ’ S P L AY O F F H O P E S N O T D E A D Y E T



W H Y G E O R G I A S TAT E W I L L B E AT O R E G O N

New nonstop EUG to San Jose Connecting the Silicon Shire to the Silicon Valley

Still

Searching?

LET US ASSIST YOU.

NO APPLICATION FEE • ASK ABOUT MOVE-IN BONUS SOME INDIVIDUAL LEASES AVAILABLE STUDIO, 1-2-3-4 BEDROOM UNIT

1301 Ferry #2 • 541-485-7776 • vonkleinrentals.com

PA G E 2

EMERALD

T H U R S D AY, S E P T E M B E R 1 7 , 2 0 1 5

⚑ GAMEDAY

STACK UP Oregon quarterback Vernon Adams Jr. attempts a pass at Michigan State.

OREGON VS. GEORGIA STATE ➡ KENNY

J A C O B Y, @ K E N N Y J A C O B Y

Don’t anticipate a tight contest when the Oregon Ducks (1-1) take on the Georgia State Panthers (1-1) in Autzen Stadium at 11 a.m. on Saturday. Georgia State has compiled a 2-24 record since it hired head coach Trent Miles to take over the ailing program following a one-win 2012 season. The program itself is only five years old, but the Panthers have never finished with a winning record.

They beat New Mexico State 34-32 last weekend, their first-ever victory over an FBS team or as a member of the Sun Belt conference.

The Ducks have never played the Panthers, but they shared a common opponent in 2014: Washington. The Huskies lost 45-20 to Oregon but defeated Georgia State 45-14.

Here’s how the teams stack up for Saturday:

OREGON OFFENSE VS. GEORGIA STATE DEFENSE Look for Oregon to test the Georgia State defensive backs with its aerial attack during the game’s early stages. New Mexico State quarterback Tyler Rogers shredded the Panthers’ secondary last week, completing 33 of 55 passes for 445 yards, three touchdowns and an interception. Tyrian Taylor, Rogers’s top target, torched Georgia State with 10 receptions for 206 yards and two touchdowns. So, expect Oregon wide receivers Bralon Addison and Charles Nelson to challenge the Georgia State secondary through the air with speed and crisp route running.

The game will also serve as an opportunity for quarterback Vernon Adams Jr. to establish a comfortable pocket presence and build rapport with Oregon’s receivers.

As for the Ducks’ ground attack, Georgia State faces a formidable test. The Panthers held New Mexico State to 3.7 yards per rushing attempt and Charlotte to 3.6 in their season opener. They’ve never defended a rushing attack like Oregon’s, though. The Ducks have rushed on 61 percent of their offensive snaps in 2015, and running back Royce Freeman has amassed four touchdowns and averaged six yards per carry. He ran for 92 yards and a touchdown on 24 carries against Michigan State Spartans last week. Freeman’s performance should only improve from here on out.

The Panthers have rushed on 46 percent of their offensive plays in 2015, compared to 47 percent in 2014 and 46 percent in 2013. The Panthers are unlikely

The Emerald is published by Emerald Media Group, Inc., the independent nonprofit media company at the University of Oregon.

Formerly the Oregon Daily Emerald, the news organization was founded in 1900.

NEWSROOM EDITOR IN CHIEF DA H L I A BA Z Z A Z X 3 2 5 PRINT MANAGING EDITOR COOPER GREEN MANAGING EDITOR JACK HEFFERNAN DESIGNERS JACK GRAHAM RAQUEL ORTEGA

SENIOR SPORTS EDITOR JUSTIN WISE A S S O C I AT E S P O R T S E D I T O R S KENNY JACOBY H AY D E N K I M NEWS EDITOR DA H L I A BA Z Z A Z A&C EDITOR EMERSON MALONE

PHOTO EDITOR COLE ELSASSER

P H OTOG R A P H B Y A DA M E B E R H A R DT

OREGON OFFENSE VS. GEORGIA STATE DEFENSE to run the ball down the Ducks’ throats. Chances are they they will be playing from behind for much or all of the game, so Georgia State will press on without running back Taz Bateman, who suffered an arm injury against New Mexico State. Bateman rushed 14 times for 97 yards —a 6.9-yard average— this season.

Georgia State’s six other running backs have rushed 58 times for 206 yards — a 3.6-yard average. Kyler Neal will handle the bulk of the rushing duties against Oregon. The 5-foot-11, 218-pound sophomore from Dallas rushed 17 times for a respectable 79 yards and two touchdowns against New Mexico State. He’ll go up against an Oregon front seven that Michigan State bulldozed for 197 yards, two touchdowns and a 5.3 yards-per-carry average last week.

The Panthers gained a school record 582 yards on offense in their win over New Mexico State. Quarterback Nick Arbuckle passed for 372 yards and two touchdowns, both of which went to 5-foot-9, 170-pound freshman wide receiver Penny Hart, who finished with 11 catches and 150 yards. Donovan Harden, Georgia State’s top receiver in 2014, is unlikely to play against Oregon due to a foot injury he suffered during preseason. Nevertheless, don’t be surprised if Arbuckle, who ranks ninth nationally with 335.5 passing yards per game, throws 50 or more pass attempts against Oregon.

BUSINESS

E ST UA R DO P E R E Z

PUBLISHER, PRESIDENT & CEO C H A R L I E W E AV E R X 3 1 7

DESIGNSHOP DIRECTOR TA R A S L O A N

V P O P E R AT I O N S K AT H Y C A R B O N E X 3 0 2

ON THE COVER

VP OF SALES AND MARKETING R O B R E I L LY X 3 0 3 ACCOUNT EXECUTIVES NICOLE ADKISSON N I C K C ATA N I A BEN GILBERTS TYLER HORTON

The cover image was illustrated by Jack Graham.

GET IN TOUCH EMERALD MEDIA GROUP 1 2 2 2 E . 1 3 T H AV E . , # 3 0 0 EUGENE, OR 97403 541.346.5511 VO L . 1 1 7 , I S S U E N O. 1 3

T H U R S D AY, S E P T E M B E R 1 7 , 2 0 1 5

EMERALD

PA G E 3

⚑ GAMEDAY

OREGON VS GEORGIA STATE ➡ JUSTIN

WISE, @JUSTINFWISE

On a day the Ducks lost their first September game since 2011, Georgia State ended a streak of its own: A 12game losing streak. The Panthers, thanks to 372 passing yards and two touchdowns from Nick Arbuckle, beat New Mexico St. 34-32 to improve to 1-1 on the season.

But, the celebration will likely be called short considering the opponent they have on Saturday. Georgia State head coach Trent Miles isn’t oblivious to the challenge, either. That’s not to say he’s preparing his team to be on the opposite end of a clinic, though.

“We are respectful of Oregon, but we will get on the plane and try to win a game,” Miles said during his weekly coaches teleconference, according to The Register Guard. “We’re not just going to show up.”

And with a lethal passing attack on display in its win over New Mexico State, along with some speed and raw skill on the defensive end, there are plenty of potential tests that Georgia State could offer the Ducks.

MATCHUPS TO WATCH

Oregon cornerback Ugo Amadi.

Oregon quarterback Vernon Adams Jr.

VERNON ADAMS JR. VS. GEORGIA STATE SECONDARY

GEORGIA STATE RECEIVERS VS. OREGON SECONDARY

We know how capable the Ducks’ rushing attack can be against lesser opponents. Look no further than the stat sheet of Oregon’s game versus Eastern Washington, in which the Ducks amounted 485 yards. Adams looked sharp through the air as well. And for the most part in East Lansing last Saturday, he looked like a capable quarterback. But turnovers proved to be the difference. In what should be a bounce back game for the graduate transfer, Adams will try and get his form back. On Monday, he did admit he felt anxious in last week’s game, and that he hopes to get that comfort back in the pocket Saturday.

OREGON’S DEVON ALLEN The redshirt sophomore made his season debut last week, but saw limited action and did not record a catch. If in the lineup Saturday, expect him to become another dangerous option for Adams in the Oregon offense.

PA G E 4

EMERALD

T H U R S D AY, S E P T E M B E R 1 7 , 2 0 1 5

Oregon’s secondary turned out to be one of the brighter spots in the team’s 31-28 loss to Michigan State. The Ducks limited Connor Cook to 192 passing yards and freshman Ugo Amadi intercepted the first pass of his career. It was a fierce contrast to the Ducks’ opener, in which Eastern Washington quarterbacks accounted for five touchdowns and 438 yards of passing. However, consistency is the issue with the Ducks’ inexperienced unit. On the other hand, Georgia State wide receiver Penny Hart is coming off a dominant performance. Hart caught 11 passes for 150 yards last week and may be another formidable challenge for the Ducks’ cornerbacks.

PLAYERS TO WATCH OREGON RUNNING BACKS Oregon’s running backs amassed just 113 yards on the ground at Michigan State. Royce Freeman got the bulk of the carries and finished his night with 24 rushes for 92 yards. However, with this group, last week should serve as anomaly, and it could be a big day.

GEORGIA STATE’S PENNY HART The freshman has recorded 12 receptions for 204 yards and three touchdowns this season.

P H OTOG R A P H S B Y CO L E E L SAS S E R , @ CO L E E L SASS E RV I S UA L S A N D A DA M E B E R H A R DT

IT TAKES TWO TO SAY YES. be clear on consent.

consent

ask for it

SHOW YOUR SUPPORT AskForConsent.org

©2015 Church & Dwight Co., Inc.

T H U R S D AY, S E P T E M B E R 1 7 , 2 0 1 5

EMERALD

PA G E 5

Nick 38966 9.3.15

Portland Airport Transportation RESERVATIONS REQUIRED

since 1973

541-33 GO HUT hutshuttle.com EVERY 2 HOURS EVERY DAY

541-334-6488

Transportation between Eugene Phoenix Inn & Portland Airport

FREE WIFI!

NEVER A COVER

DANCER AUDITIONS Call 541-517-7196

Nude Hours

12pm - 2:15am Daily Lottery Champagne Room Outside Smoking Drinking Patio

1836 South ‘A’ St., Spfld • 541.762.1503 Only 5 minutes from campus! www.sweetillusions.biz

PA G E 6

EMERALD

T H U R S D AY, S E P T E M B E R 1 7 , 2 0 1 5

⚑ GAMEDAY

Oregon defenders work together to bring down an Eastern Washington receiver .

OREGON DEFENSE “PROGRESSING” ➡ JUSTIN

WISE, @JUSTINFWISE

In December 2014, weeks after the Ducks had secured their entry into the College Football Playoff, redshirt sophomore cornerback Chris Seisay’s role took a substantial leap.

Oregon senior Ifo Ekpre-Olomu, the anchor of the defense’s secondary, had torn his ACL. Seisay would now start in the Rose Bowl. He’d also start in the national championship, and his confidence, thanks to a supporting cast of what he called “brothers” in the secondary, continued to soar.

“They helped me grow up, one play at a time,” Seisay said at the national championship media day, two days before Oregon’s 42-20 loss to Ohio State.

Nine months later, Seisay has shaped into a leader on a secondary now searching for a new identity. In those nine months, a lot has changed.

For one, the individuals who helped him grow as a player – defensive backs Troy Hill, Dior Mathis, Ekpre-Olomu and Erick Dargan – have all departed.

In addition, the defensive backs he’s lining up alongside are not nearly as experienced as they were a year ago. It became painfully obvious in Oregon’s home opener against FCS opponent

P H OTOG R A P H B Y A DA M E B E R H A R DT

Eastern Washington, in which the defense surrendered 438 passing yards and 42 points.

With a date against then-No. 5 Michigan State and its stout quarterback Connor Cook looming, the defensive backs looked like potential fresh meat. But, Seisay wasn’t fazed.

“We need to be staying confident, knowing we’re great athletes,” Seisay said the Thursday before the Ducks’ game with the Spartans. “Just because you’re young, it doesn’t matter. It all depends on how you play.”

Which is why Saturday’s loss may have been one of the more encouraging ones for Oregon’s defense in years. Michigan State defeated Oregon last Saturday, 31-28. But the way the Ducks played – only allowing 192 passing yards from Cook, forcing a turnover on their own side of the field and holding the Spartans to a 25 percent thirddown conversion rate – is why both the veterans and underclassmen are finding positives from its first loss in September since 2011.

“We feel like we’ve been progressing,” said true freshman Ugo Amadi, who recorded his first collegiate interception against the Spartans.

Redshirt senior linebacker Tyson Coleman

agrees.

“Compared to that first game, we played a lot better,” Coleman said. “Guys grew up, we played more physical, more stout.”

The game still came with a substantial dose of negatives, though. Michigan State’s rushing attack came close to eclipsing the 200-yard mark, and missed tackles became a recurring trend throughout. For three quarters, it seemed like the Spartans would continue to put points on the board.

But, Oregon became dominant in the fourth quarter, forcing back-to-back three-and-outs and giving the offense a chance to steal a win on the road. Head coach Mark Helfrich said Tuesday that all those reps the defense faced in the second half “can’t do anything but help us.”

Like Seisay’s comments before the game, his teammates have responded to the Michigan State loss the same way. With a game against Georgia State this Saturday and Pac-12 play beginning after that, it seems the Ducks are encouraged by their potential heading into the rest of the season.

And for the rest of the season, the results will simply depend on how they play.

T H U R S D AY, S E P T E M B E R 1 7 , 2 0 1 5

EMERALD

PA G E 7

đ&#x;“– COVER

A TALE OF

TWO CORNERS

Freshman Ugo Amadi and sophomore Arrion Springs, both cornerbacks, bonded by learning the defense together. Now, along with the rest of the Ducks’ inexperienced secondary, they’re trying to establish a new identity.

➥ WILL

PA G E 8

EMERALD

T H U R S D AY, S E P T E M B E R 1 7 , 2 0 1 5

DENNER, @WILL_DENNER

Amadi attempts to strip the ball from an Eastern Washington receiver.

Springs and another defensive back work together to bring down an MSU player.

Amadi attempts to defend Eastern Washington receiver.

P H OTOG R A P H S B Y CO L E E L SAS S E R , @ CO L E E L SASS E RV I S UA L S A N D A DA M E B E R H A R DT

A case of mistaken identity eventually led Ugo Amadi to the University of Oregon.

Late in December 2014, Amadi, fourstar recruit in the 2015 class according to Rivals, decommitted from Louisiana State, less than three weeks after decommitting from Ole Miss.

The next day, Oregon secondary coach John Neal received a mysterious text message from an unrecognized number.

“It was an honest mistake,” Neal said.

“Someone texted me and told me [Ugo] wasn’t gonna go to LSU. He said, coach Harbaugh, since you’re the new coach at Michigan, would you be interested?”

The sender, one of Amadi’s coaches, had confused Neal’s number with that of recently hired Michigan head coach Jim Harbaugh.

Neal responded: “Well, I’m not coach Harbaugh, but I’m really interested.”

As it turned out, so was Amadi.

He looked at the Oregon depth chart and noticed that both starting cornerbacks, Ifo Ekpre-Olomu and Troy Hill, were graduating after the end of the season. Amadi saw an opportunity for early playing time. Neal and Amadi got in touch shortly after; and, one week following the Ducks’ 59-20 drubbing of Florida State in the Rose Bowl, Amadi committed to Oregon.

A misplaced text message turned into a welcomed addition for the Ducks.

Amadi enrolled early as a freshman to start taking classes during the winter 2015 term. On his first day at school, Neal showed Amadi around campus.

They made a stop at the Jaqua Center, where fellow cornerback Arrion Springs was studying.

Neal acquainted his young corners, and the two hit it off almost immediately.

“We just started getting along,” Amadi said. “I made him give me his number, but he would never admit it to this day.”

While mistaken identity played a huge role in getting him to Oregon, Amadi, along with Springs and the rest of the Ducks’ secondary, were tasked with developing a new one for a group that lost three of four starters to graduation.

The unit entered fall camp with a combined 19 starts, 15 of them coming from safety redshirt junior Reggie Daniels. Daniels became the secondary’s de facto leader, while younger guys like Springs and Amadi attempted to fill the void left by a previously well-established group.

Springs likens himself and Amadi to rappers Kanye West and Big Sean, “pushing each other to get better.” But establishing their identity on the field, along with the rest of the secondary, remains a work in progress.

In Oregon’s season opener against Eastern Washington, the defensive backs were responsible for 438 passing yards and five touchdowns. Eastern Washington receiver Cooper Kupp set a single-game record at Autzen Stadium with 15 receptions and 246 receiving yards.

“As a whole, from the guys that go to the scout team to the guys that play, we’re trying to establish our own identity,” Neal said. “We don’t have that right now. The more we play, the more we’re gonna strive to get it.”

On the surface, the Springs-Amadi dynamic appears to be somewhat of a big brother, little brother relationship.

Springs jokes that Amadi is “always at my house, sometimes when I don’t want him to be.” But underneath, the two cornerbacks are in a similar position, even though Springs has one more year of collegiate experience.

Springs appeared in nine games last season, but most of his playing time came when the Ducks were leading comfortably. Both cornerbacks have limited big game experience, which is why Springs looks to Amadi for help in learning defensive nuances almost as much as Amadi does.

“It’s mainly us two,” Springs said. “We [talk to] each other a lot in practice, even when we don’t want to hear what [the other] has to say.”

Enrolling early allowed Amadi more time to get adjusted to college. But it’s Springs, whom Amadi credits with learning the defense, and thus earning playing time early as a freshman.

“Ever since I came here, he taught me the playbook,” Amadi said. “All my success has been awarded to him for everything I do on the field.”

Although Amadi was listed behind Springs in the season-opening depth chart, Amadi was featured frequently in nickel (three-cornerback) formations in both the Eastern Washington and Michigan State games. Amadi struggled to defend Kupp, allowing two of Kupp’s three touchdowns in the game. His “welcome to college” moment came when Kupp beat Amadi on a route, then broke through Amadi’s tackle and ran for a score. A few days after the game, Amadi vowed to never make the same mistake.

“Ever since then, my mindset has changed,” Amadi said. “I’m just trying to become more physical and make sure that never happens again.”

The secondary, however, fared much better last Saturday against Michigan State. The Ducks held Michigan State to 192 passing yards. Springs led the team with a career-high 13 tackles and Amadi, playing in his second collegiate game, grabbed his first interception.

“We still have areas where we need to improve, but we’re making great strides as defensive backs,” redshirt sophomore cornerback Ty Griffin said.

Still, establishing an identity takes time with an almost entirely new group.

Their inexperience showed against Eastern Washington, but the secondary’s turnaround performance at Michigan State suggests they’re closer to finding their identity than many thought. At least their coach thinks so.

“All of our guys know where we’re going,” Neal said.

T H U R S D AY, S E P T E M B E R 1 7 , 2 0 1 5

EMERALD

PA G E 9

⚑ GAMEDAY

Sheldon High School, Faulhaber’s alma mater

KNOWING HIS PLACE: IVAN FAULHABER EARNS THE OPPORTUNITY TO COMPETE

➡ R YA N

K O S T E C K A , @ R YA N _ K O S T E C K A

He isn’t the biggest linebacker on the team.

He isn’t the most athletic linebacker on the team. He’s also not the strongest linebacker on the team.

But, none of that matters to Oregon’s redshirt sophomore Ivan Faulhaber, a second-string outside linebacker.

Faulhaber considers himself one of the Ducks’ most knowledgeable linebackers; and, because of those football smarts, he’s gone from former walk-on to a name on the depth chart in three years.

“I know I’m not the biggest or the fastest, but that just means that I have to work harder in other areas and make sure I’m more prepared mentally than others,” Faulhaber said. “I think the guys on the team know that about me and respect that because I’ve worked so hard to understand all the concepts about us and our opponents.”

While redshirting during his freshman year in 2013, Faulhaber was one of the most consistent scout team players throughout

PA G E 1 0

EMERALD

T H U R S D AY, S E P T E M B E R 1 7 , 2 0 1 5

the season. It was in those practices that Oregon coaches began to take notice of the ever-improving local kid from Sheldon High School in Eugene.

In 2014, Faulhaber still saw most of his time on the scout team since he didn’t make the Ducks’ travel squad. The only playing action he got was in four games last year, most prominently in the final snaps of Oregon’s 59-20 Rose Bowl win over Florida State. Though, he failed to register a tackle all year.

Faulhaber continued his upward trajectory, however, during last year’s spring game. He totaled four tackles, including two tackles for loss and one sack.

“The spring game was big for me last year because it was when I felt the most comfortable playing,” Faulhaber said. “I was able to put everything I’ve worked on together; and, from there, I’ve just continued to work harder to get better and help the team.”

Now, the time has come where Faulhaber’s

story is more than being about the local kid who walked on to Oregon’s team. Where typical stories end with the athlete just making the team, Faulhaber is past that point and now making a difference for the Ducks. Yet, he doesn’t forget where he comes from or the extra pressure he feels.

“It’s different now because, at first, I never felt any pressure to succeed. A lot of people didn’t expect me to be where I’m at now. I’m not going to lie; part of me always wanted it and was always going to work for it, but I wasn’t ever sure the time would come,” Faulhaber said. “Now that I’m traveling and helping make a difference, there is a bit more pressure to be successful for my school (Sheldon) and my town as the local kid.”

Faulhaber will have two years of eligibility remaining with the Ducks after this year.

Given how the first three have gone, Faulhaber’s plan to continue contributing in whichever he can could lead to big things for him and the Ducks.

P H O T O G R A P H F R O M C R E AT I V E C O M M O N S

PLUMBING ELECTRICAL HARDWARE TOOLS PAINT HOUSEWARES LAWN & GARDEN

2825 Willamette • Eugene, Oregon • 342-5191

Go Ducks!

The University Florist Un i ve Own rsit ed y o by f O pro reg ud on Alu ms !

www.eugenesflowerhome.com

1313 Patterson, Eugene 458-201-8959 1193 Harlow, Springfield 541-485-3655

CALLING ALL

EXTROVERTS! Emerald Media Group is hiring students to join our Street Team fall term. Get paid to have fun handing out papers to fellow students.

Apply in person at Suite 300 or email kcarbone@dailyemerald.com

A simple way for UO students

TO SEARCH FOR

HOUSING DucksHousing.com

YOU SHOULD SHOULD LIVE HERE. LIVE HERE. 2 BLOCKS FROM UNIVERSITY OF OREGON CAMPUS

NEW RATES STARTING NOWFROM LEASING $550 No Up-Front Fees!

FOR FALL! (a $285 value) Call For Details!

PREMIER FULLY-FURNISHED STUDENT APARTMENTS • • • •

Located in the Arena District at 15th Ave. & Walnut St. Individual leases per person Designer floorplans with upgraded finishes Eco-friendly furniture, cable & Internet included

universityhouse.com

541.344.1660 T H U R S D AY, S E P T E M B E R 1 7 , 2 0 1 5

EMERALD

PA G E 1 1

⚑ GAMEDAY

Relax. We’ll Save You a Seat!™ Shuttle

WHY GEORGIA STATE WILL BEAT OREGON

See schedule & reserve your space online now!

Service to and from Portland International Airport PDX From Albany Eugene Salem

33825

Mention this ad when making your reservations

www.city2cityshuttle.com (541) 758-8001 Welcome Back Ducks!

come visit your campus outdoor store

Check out our great selection of back to school survival products.

**Editor’s Note: Each week during football season, we feature an essay from the opponent’s student newspaper on why Oregon will lose. This week’s edition is from Devone Slappy, a staff writer at The Signal.**

Find us in the heart of campus on 13th Ave.

FREAKY

FAST! FREAKY

GOOD!

SERIOUS DELIVERY!

TM

TO FIND THE LOCATION NEAREST YOU VISIT JIMMYJOHNS.COM

Georgia State is listed No. 2 in ESPN’s Bottom 10 list only because it beat the previous No. 2 team, New Mexico State.

Yet Georgia State still has a great chance to knock off No. 12 Oregon because of injuries, experience, momentum and the edge of having nothing to lose.

Oregon confirmed Tuesday that its starting quarterback, Vernon Adams Jr., has a broken right index finger. Adams broke the finger in Oregon’s season opener and played through the injury in the game against Michigan State. Based on that game, Adams can’t perform at the same level at which the Ducks need him.

If Adams does play against the Panthers, Georgia State shouldn’t fear much, considering he is missing wide-open receivers in clutch moments as well as throwing costly interceptions. If Adams doesn’t play, Oregon will have to start redshirt junior Jeff Lockie.

This is where experience will come into play. If Lockie is to start against Georgia State, it will be his first since high school.

Expect the Panthers’ defense to bring the pressure since Jeff Lockie isn’t a mobile quarterback and lacks college football experience.

Georgia State is coming off of the best offensive performance in school history – 582 yards of

total offense and a conference win against New Mexico State.

Georgia State’s freshman receiver, Penny Hart, seems to be fitting the system and building chemistry with starting quarterback Nick Arbuckle. The two connected 11 times for 150 yards and two touchdowns last week. Georgia State is coming in with momentum that they’ve never had before in a season, especially since they are now leading the Sun Belt Conference.

However, Oregon is coming into the game with no momentum at all. There is nothing Oregon can really feed from that would bring any type of momentum into this game against a team that is listed in the Bottom 10.

Georgia State has nothing to lose coming into this game.

Nothing is scarier than a team coming into a football game with no restraints or fears. They are expected to lose this game to an elite program.

Oregon, on the other hand, has a lot to lose in this game. They lose this game, and they can kiss their chances of getting into the College Football Playoff goodbye.

Not knowing who the starting quarterback is, the consequences of losing this game, and coming into the game with no momentum smells like a recipe for disaster for the Oregon Ducks.

©2014 JIMMY JOHN’S FRANCHISE, LLC ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.

PA G E 1 2

EMERALD

T H U R S D AY, S E P T E M B E R 1 7 , 2 0 1 5

P H OTOG R A P H B Y A DA M E B E R H A R DT

⚑ GAMEDAY

Oregon quarterback Vernon Adams Jr. looks into the crowd before his first home game.

KIM: OREGON STILL HAS GOOD SHOT AT PLAYOFF ➡ H AY D E N

K I M , @ H AY D AY K I M

Last season, I walked out of Autzen Stadium following Oregon’s Thursday night loss to Arizona thinking there was no way this team was making the inaugural College Football Playoff.

Flooding the exits all around were justifiably discouraged fans, who seemed to have lost all hope of seeing their team make one last run with eventual Heisman-winner Marcus Mariota.

That defensive lapse against an Anu Solomon air raid, which led to 31 points for the Wildcats, took place in the first week of October.

Keep in mind that Oregon had beaten a No. 7-ranked Michigan State team at home to start that season with Mariota’s heroics.

Duck fans know that Oregon immediately got it together and later dominated that same Wildcats roster in the Pac-12 title game at Levi’s Stadium. Soon after, it handed Jameis Winston his only loss of his career and ended Florida State’s 29-game winning streak in the Rose Bowl. Ultimately, the Ducks had the opportunity to win the firstever national title in the playoff era and their first in school history.

Heading into the playoff, Oregon boasted

P H OTOG R A P H B Y A DA M E B E R H A R DT

a 13-1 record.

While it’s nearly impossible to compare last year’s historical run to this year’s 1-1 start – Oregon is now ranked No. 12 in the AP Poll following its 31-28 loss at Michigan State – the Ducks are still very much in the hunt to make a second-straight appearance in the College Football Playoff.

Look at it this way: Vernon Adams Jr., whose jump to the FBS hasn’t reached its one-month mark, was one pass away from potentially winning one of the most talked about non-conference matchups of the year.

It was later reported that he played the game with a broken index finger on his throwing hand.

Oregon’s defense, which was blasted for giving up 42 points to FCS opponent Eastern Washington in week one, responded in the biggest moments of the Michigan State game. With an inexperienced secondary — but a veteran, savvy front seven — the unit can only improve as the season moves on.

So, regardless of what Duck fans may be thinking, here is the bottom line: If the Oregon wins the Pac-12 title, it’ll be hard for the committee to keep it out of the postseason, especially if their lone loss came

in mid-September in East Lansing.

Of course, this doesn’t neglect the fact that an undefeated Baylor or TCU or a second SEC or Big-10 team has just as good a chance. The chances of the Pac-12 sending one team to the playoff is still very much alive, though. Mark Helfrich can thank No. 7 USC and No. 10 UCLA for keeping the conference relevant in the nation’s eyes.

While at the Phoenix airport, I passed by the College Football Playoff’s black and gold advertisement for this season’s Jan. 11 national championship game and thought: I don’t know if this Oregon team has all that it takes – tackling will have to tremendously improve – to make another playoff run. But I do know that it’s September. I do know that Oregon will eventually return Pharaoh Brown, Devon Allen and Darren Carrington to an offense that, at times, looks more loaded than last year’s.

It’s not time to panic. It’s time to see if this team can run the table and refute the notion that one loss will be the difference. Only time will tell if Ohio State was the exception to the rule.

T H U R S D AY, S E P T E M B E R 1 7 , 2 0 1 5

EMERALD

PA G E 1 3

đ&#x;“… ROSTER

GEORGIA STATE ROSTER

1 Bobby Baker S 6-2 200 JR 1 Nate Simon S 6-1 195 SR 3 Tarris Batiste S 6-1 210 SR 4 Nick Arbuckle QB 6-1 215 SR 5 Mackendy Cheridor DE 6-5 250 SO 5 Nyiakki Height WR 6-1 190 SR 6 Giovanni Lugo QB 6-1 190 FR 6 Joseph Peterson LB 6-1 225 SR 7 Robert Dowling CB 5-10 185 JR 8 Joel Ruiz TE 6-4 240 SR 9 Donovan Harden WR 5-11 175 SR 10 Brett Sheehan QB 6-2 180 SO 10 Chandon Sullivan CB 5-11 185 SO 11 Kaleb Ringer LB 6-1 235 JR 11 Aaron Winchester QB 6-2 175 FR 12 Emiere Scaife QB 6-2 218 FR 12 Deion Wilkins WR 5-9 164 JR 14 Cloves Campbell DB 6-1 205 JR 14 Demarco Davis CB 5-11 175 FR 15 Todd Boyd WR 5-11 180 SO 16 Collins Jones DB 5-10 185 SO 16 Jerome Smith CB 5-10 165 FR 17 Glenn Smith WR 6-1 185 SO 18 Penny Hart WR 5-9 170 FR 19 Robert Davis WR 6-3 198 JR 20 Bryan Williams S 6-3 200 JR 21 Antreal Allen CB 5-11 180 SO 22 Taz Bateman RB 5-8 185 SO 22 Jonathan Jean-Bart RB 5-11 200 JR 23 Dexter Andrews WR 5-8 154 JR 23 Kendrick Dorn RB 6-1 205 JR 24 Marcus Caffey RB 6-1 195 SR 24 Anthony Valverde LB 5-10 210 FR 25 Kristian Collins WR 6-2 176 JR 25 Kyler Neal RB 5-11 218 SO 26 Dartez Jacobs S 6-1 200 SR 26 Demarcus Kirk RB 6-1 190 FR 27 Bruce Dukes CB 5-10 195 SR 28 David West DB 6-1 175 FR 29 BJ Clay CB 6-1 180 SO 29 Grant Drakeford QB 5-10 170 FR 30 Kyndall Phillips DB 6-1 185 FR 31 Ronald Peterkin S 6-1 170 FR 32 Malik Ricks LB 6-1 230 SO 33 Kight Dallas LB 6-1 230 SO 34 Niemus Bryant LB 6-1 220 FR 37 Trent Hill S 5-10 185 JR 38 Alonzo McGee LB 6-1 220 JR 38 Jameel Spencer LB 6-1 215 JR 39 Chase Middleton LB 6-2 225 FR 41 Michael Matthews PK 5-9 165 FR 42 Trey Payne LB 6-1 230 SO 43 Matavius Scott WR 6-2 206 SO

PA G E 1 4

EMERALD

T H U R S D AY, S E P T E M B E R 1 7 , 2 0 1 5

44 Michael Shaw LB 6-4 222 FR 45 Keith Rucker TE 6-3 235 JR 46 Hunter Atkinson TE 6-5 250 FR 46 Jonathan Lytle FB 6-1 240 SR 47 Ed Curney LB 5-11 220 FR 48 Johnathan Griffin RB 5-10 190 JR 49 Aundre Johnson RB 5-10 185 SR 51 Andrew Everett LB 6-5 240 SR 52 Tevin Jones DE 6-4 270 JR 53 Tanner Strickland DE 6-3 270 JR 54 Daniel Zeigler LS 6-5 240 SO 55 Carnell Hopson DE 6-2 268 JR 56 Juan Orozco DL 6-0 290 -- 56 Alex Stoehr OL 6-2 300 SO 57 Justin Otiwu LB 6-1 225 SO 58 Jah-Mai Davidson OT 6-4 290 JR 59 Garrett Gorringe G 6-4 295 JR 61 Mitch Word OL 6-5 275 JR 62 Will Cunningham DL 6-1 280 SO 63 Davis Moore OL 6-4 300 SO 64 Akil Hawkins OL 6-2 282 JR 65 Taylor Evans OL 6-4 305 SR 66 Seth-Patrick Holman LS 5-11 185 FR 67 David Huey DT 6-2 290 SR 68 Kelepi Folau OL 6-3 305 SR 69 Lucas Johnson OL 6-4 285 FR 70 Steve Wolgamott OT 6-6 315 SR 71 Jacob Nesmith OL 6-3 240 JR 72 Gabe Mobley OL 6-2 275 FR 73 Derrick Cannon DL 6-2 244 SR 74 Sebastian Willer OT 6-5 279 SO 75 Michael Ivory OT 6-5 340 JR 77 Tyler Simonsen OL 6-3 305 JR 78 Dom Roldan OL 6-6 350 JR 79 Madison Bell OL 6-3 280 SO 80 Avery Sweeting WR 5-8 160 SR 81 Marquan Greene WR 5-10 180 FR 82 Clay Chastain TE 6-4 215 JR 83 James Traylor LB 6-3 220 SO 84 Bill Teknipp TE 6-4 235 SO 85 Shawayne Lawrence DE 6-4 270 JR 87 Octavious Andrews WR 6-1 180 JR 88 Ari Werts WR 6-4 225 FR 89 Kam Myers WR 5-8 175 JR 90 Nich Long DL 6-5 294 FR 91 Julien Laurent DL 6-4 325 SO 92 DeQueszman Kelley DL 6-1 285 SO 93 Brandon Wright PK 5-10 160 FR 95 Marterious Allen DL 6-2 240 FR 96 Wil Lutz PK 6-1 190 SR 97 Jalen Lawrence DT 6-1 285 JR 98 Nate Paxton LB 6-1 245 SR 99 Melvin King LB 6-3 225 SR

Proud O’Hara Parent and Supporter

the Oregon Bach Festival

Wisdom Teeth Dental Emergencies Dental Implants Oral Surgery 2233 Willamette Street Building G Eugene, OR 97405

Phone 541.484.2136 Fax 541.484.0960 eugeneoralsurgery.com

Board Certified Diplomate of the American Board of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery

Fellow of thenear American College Conveniently located UO.of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgeons

Student discounts available and most insurances accepted.

2233 Willamette Street Building G Eugene, OR 97405 Phone 541.484.2136 Fax 541.484.0960 eugeneoralsurgery.com

John E. Villano, DDS, PC

NOW ADDITIONAL PARKING BEHIND CAFE YUMM. NOTE: There is no longer parking across Broadway.

GLUTEN FREE PANCAKES!

6am-2pm MON-FRI 6am-3pm SAT & SUN

OPEN SINCE 1965

541-343-7523 • 782 East Broadway, Eugene Corner of Alder & Franklin Blvd.

Walking distance from campus!

startatlane.com T H U R S D AY, S E P T E M B E R 1 7 , 2 0 1 5

EMERALD

PA G E 1 5

75004

OUR FUNDS HAVE A RECORD LIKE A BROKEN RECORD.

TIAA-CREF: Lipper’s Best Overall Large Fund Company three years in a row. For the first time ever. How? Our disciplined investment strategy aims to produce competitive risk-adjusted returns that create long-term value for you. Just what you’d expect from a company that’s created to serve and built to perform.

1

Learn more about our unprecedented, award-winning performance at TIAA.org/Perform BUILT TO PERFORM. CREATED TO SERVE.

5021A0058 C24849B Fall B2C Print BROKEN RECORD_10x5_nwsprnt_2.indd Cyan Magenta Yellow Black

PA G E 1 6

EMERALD

T H U R S D AY, S E P T E M B E R 1 7 , 2 0 1 5

1

The Lipper Awards are based on a review of 36 companies’ 2012 and 48 companies’ 2013 and 2014 risk-adjusted performance.

The Lipper Award is given to the group with the lowest average decile ranking of three years’ Consistent Return for eligible funds over the three-year period ended 11/30/12, 11/30/13, and 11/30/14 respectively. TIAA-CREF was ranked among 36 fund companies in 2012 and 48 fund companies in 2013 and 2014 with at least five equity, five bond, or three mixed-asset portfolios. Past performance does not guarantee future results. For current performance and rankings, please visit the Research and Performance section on tiaa-cref.org. TIAA-CREF Individual & Institutional Services, LLC, Teachers Personal Investors Services, Inc., and Nuveen Securities, LLC, members FINRA and SIPC, distribute securities products. ©2015 Teachers Insurance and Annuity Association of America– College Retirement Equities Fund (TIAA-CREF), 730 Third Avenue, New York, NY 10017. C24849B 1

Consider investment objectives, risks, charges and expenses carefully before investing. Go to tiaa-cref.org for product and fund prospectuses that contain this and other information. Read carefully before investing. TIAA-CREF funds are subject to market and other risk factors.