2011
SCHEDULE BY LUCAS CLARK, ANDY DRUKAREV AND PATRICK MALEE
Don’t miss a game this year with this season preview, complete with game dates, key players and team analysis Oregon vs. LSU
Saturday, Sept. 3, 5 p.m. ABC Series history: Oregon and LSU will meet for the fourth time in series history at Cowboy Stadium in Arlington, Texas, with LSU holding a 2-1 advantage all time. The Ducks and Tigers also matched up in 1932, 1934, and 1977, but this time they’ll be playing in the highly anticipated “Cowboys Classic” in the home of the NFL’s Dallas Cowboys. Key losses: Last year’s offensive captain and a 2010 firstteam All-SEC selection by the conference coaches, Stevan Ridley left a noticeable hole in the Tigers running game when he forewent his senior season and was chosen 73rd overall in April’s NFL Draft. Ridley led LSU with 1,147 yards and 15 touchdowns in 2010. Key returners: Senior quarterback Jordan Jefferson is expected to be one of the elite playmakers in the nation in 2011, despite a relatively modest junior season statistically. Jefferson was the Tigers’ leading passer, with 1,411 yards, but threw just seven scoring passes all season. As a team, the Tigers reached the end zone just 10 times through the air all season. Outlook: Make no mistake about it, this season-opening showdown in Arlington will prove to be a defining moment for both teams’ title hopes. Projected to be in the top five nationally, Oregon and LSU have expectations of reaching BCS bowls at the end of the season, but a first-week loss will surely put a damper on those hopes from the outset.
Nevada vs. Oregon
Saturday, Sept. 10, 12:30 p.m. FX
Duck Season | Oregon Daily Emerald
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jack hunter emerald archives Junior quarterback Darron Thomas comes into 2011 with high expectations, as he has been placed on watch lists for the Davey O’Brien Award, Maxwell Award and Walter Camp Award.
Series history: Oregon leads the alltime series 5-0. The teams last met back in September 2003, when the Ducks edged Nevada 31-23 in Eugene. Key losses: Quarterback Colin Kaepernick, linebacker Dontay Moch, and tight end Virgil Green were each chosen in the NFL Draft. The departure of Kaepernick, an ideal quarterback for Nevada’s quirky pistol offense, could be particularly tough for the Wolf Pack to overcome. Record-setting running back Vai Taua also saw his eligibility expire. Key returners: Linebacker James-Michael Johnson, guard Chris Barker, and wide receiver Rishard Matthews were all named to pre-season award watch lists. Senior quarterback Tyler Lantrip is expected to replace Kaepernick. Outlook: Several key pieces to last year’s highly ranked Nevada squad have graduated to the NFL; as a result, the Ducks will be heavy favorites. The Wolf Pack’s patented pistol has baffled Pac-12 opponents in the past, but with a new quarterback, it’s uncertain whether the pistol will fire true. Nevada’s defense should be solid, however, and could be the key to another successful season.