No Bunk, it looks dead even
Dawgs may need Bunk Play against Ducks
By: Richard Linde, Posted 30 October 2003

This week, according to rumor, the ghost of Gil Dobie paid Oregon coach Mike Bellotti a nocturnal visit, reminding him of the Bunk Play he devised in 1911 to score a touchdown against Oregon by courtesy of the old “there-she-is-there-she-ain’t” gimmick. The UW won the game, 29-3.

As for the Bunk Play, imagine 11 Ducks chasing a "Sun Dodger" who has a helmet tucked under his arm--that is, QB Wee Coyle and his leather thingamajig. Meanwhile the center, Presley, laterals the real thingamajig to end Wayne Sutton, and he romps in for a TD. After the play, there is some excessive celebratin' goin' on.

Allegedly, Bellotti told Dobie that "we’ll be dancin' on your 'dubya'” on Saturday night, which was in reference to the Dawgs’ excessive celebration at Autzen Stadium that occurred after their 42-14 victory over Oregon last season, to the block “W” painted mid-field at Husky Stadium, and to the Bunk Play.

Rumors aside and for real on Saturday, the Huskies (4-4) and Ducks (5-3) resume their rivalry, which began in 1900. The Huskies lead the series 57-33-5 and have an average score against Oregon of 17-12.

During the first quarter of last year's game, before the rain began, Oregon jumped off to a 14-point lead, using a a variety of Bunk-like plays to confound the Dawgs. After the rain began in the second quarter, Oregon was forced to shelve its legerdemain and play some real Dobie-like football against the Huskies. The Dawgs owned them from then on, holding the Ducks to just 133 total yards for the rest of the game.

Pickett’s short drops and quick release worked to perfection under the rainy conditions, whereas, Jason Fife, out of Lake Elsinor, seemed to lose his rhythm and touch. "We didn't handle the weather well," coach Mike Bellotti said after the game.

The weather forecast this Saturday is for 47 degrees (daytime high) and partly cloudy conditions.

In the statistical categories listed below, both teams tie at 10 categories apiece. The Ducks have an averaging ranking of 5.45 in the Pac-10 compared to Washington's ranking of 5.5, where least is best. Statistically, the two teams are pathetically even. The Dawgs are a 1 1/2 point favorite.

RW Reggie Williams of Washington ranks tenth in the country in pass receptions, averaging 7.25 catches per game. CB Derrick Johnson, ranked 17th in the nation in interceptions, is averaging. .5 interceptions per game.

With WR Charles Frederick and RB Rich Alexis sitting out the game because of injuries, the Huskies’ half-dimensional offense, when compared with last year’s one-dimensional offense, has been cut again in half, so it would seem.

That means one of the Dawgs’ freshman wide receivers must come into his own on Saturday night to disperse the fan club that will surround Reggie Williams on almost every play.

Or perhaps, TB Kenny James will have an outstanding performance. But one running back can’t do it alone nowadays unless he’s a Steven Jackson; it takes a stable of running backs to batter the opposition. Shelton Sampson needs to prove he can hang onto the ball, a dicey situation for Coach Gilbertson. Last Saturday, USC showed how easy it is to win a football game with its running game--a thundering herd of running backs consisting of Reggie Bush, Hershel Dennis, Chauncey Washington and LenDale White. The Trojans could have won the game against the UW on the ground alone, its passing attack adding cosmetics to a formidable offense.

Collegio Football says that Oregon should be a 72% favorite to win the game; it ranks the UW sixth in the conference and Oregon fourth. In comparing common opponents, Oregon beat Nevada 31-23 and Stanford 35-0, while Washington lost to Nevada 28-17 and beat the Tree 28-17. The UW has won 3 of its last 8 games against Oregon.

Ted Miller of the P-I picks the Ducks, 31-24.

Because the Huskies' stats were skewed negatively by the hammering they took from USC last Saturday, we're picking the Dawgs, 35-32. The Ducks don't play USC this season.

Telecast: TBS, 7:00 PM, PST

 Table 1. How they stand in the Pac-10