PAC-10 Notebook
By Daily Bruin Staff
Oct. 30, 2001 9:00 p.m.
Cardiac canines
Warning: if you are a Washington fan and have a heart condition,
do not attempt to watch Husky football games.
Washington amassed a 6-1 record, but can’t seem to win
before the final seconds of a game.
Cody Pickett’s heart-stopping heroics continued last week.
He positioned the Huskies for a 30-yard field goal as time expired
to beat Arizona State 33-31. “We had a third and 10 in the
opening portion of that final drive and he pulls a Houdini act and
gets himself a first down,” said Washington head coach Rick
Neuheisel.
“On third down and two he pulled a real Marques Tuiasosopo
type of play by jumping over someone on an option and pitching to a
guy and having us all gasping for air on the sidelines.”
The victory against ASU marked the fifth time in six victories
where Washington has come from behind in the fourth quarter.
Pac-ked at the top
Last Saturday began with two undefeated teams. By the
day’s end, there was none. Losses by Washington State and
UCLA created a five team log jam at the top of the Pac-10
conference.
Oregon, Stanford, UCLA, Washington and WSU all have one loss and
are ranked 16th. With five teams trying to cram into one place in
the standings, something’s got to give.
Four of the top five will clash again this weekend. UCLA travels
to WSU and Stanford plays at Washington on Saturday.
“You don’t have to look back very long to realize
that this conference is nip and tuck all the time,” Neuheisel
said. “It is a conference where you have to bring your best
every week if you are expecting to be successful.”
Sanford travels north
Stanford, who has defeated two Top-10 teams, Oregon and UCLA,
has another highly ranked school waiting in the wings.
Stanford travels to Seattle on Saturday to play No. 10
Washington. The Huskies have a ten-game home winning streak against
the Cardinal. Washington has won 14 of the last 15 meetings between
the two.
Players of the Week
Offense: RB ““ Onterrio Smith, Oregon. Smith rushed 26
times for an Oregon school record 285 yards and three touchdowns.
Smith also returned three kickoffs for 57 yards, giving him a
school record 342 all-purpose yards.
Defense: CB ““ Kris Richard, USC. Richard returned an
interception for 58 yards for a game winning touchdown at
Arizona.
Special Teams: PK ““ John Anderson, Washington. Anderson
kicked a game-winning 30-yard field goal as the clock expired.
Notes compiled by Scott Bair, Daily Bruin reporter.
