The Oregon Ducks have a very brief history on the gridiron with their new conference mates the Indiana Hoosiers. In the 20th century the teams only played a single home-and-home in 1963-64. Oregon defeated Indiana 28-22 in Portland (this was before Autzen so any game against a big school was played at Multnomah Stadium, now Providence Park). The return trip ended very similarly with another Ducks victory in Bloomington, 29-21.
The third meeting came only a little over 20 years ago on September 11,
2004. The Hoosiers were, as usual, not expected to make much noise in Big Ten Play. They had opened their season the week previously by blowing out Central Michigan 41-10, but were heavy underdogs against the #24 Ducks who were playing their first game of the season.
On the stat sheet Oregon dominated as much as expected, outgaining the Hoosiers 7.0 to 3.9 in yards per pass and 5.4 to 2.4 in yards per rush. The Ducks also converted 5-15 3rd downs as opposed to 3-17 for Indiana. Still, the Hoosiers came away with a major upset, topping their hosts 30-24.
While opening game jitters no doubt were much to blame, there is no scientific explanation for the stupendous display of ineptitude shown by Oregon’s offense. The Ducks committed 7 turnovers to Indiana’s 2 and went 0-2 on fourth down conversions as opposed to 0-1 for the guests.
In the first two quarters the Ducks longest drive was 7 plays moving 33 yards. The drive chart reads fumble, punt, fumble, punt, fumble, fumble, turnover on downs, punt, punt, turnover on downs. Indiana took a 23-0 lead into halftime as shellshocked fans couldn’t decide whether to boo or try to beat the traffic onto I-5. The defense had given up two touchdowns on short fields, but had otherwise held firm despite the offensive ineptitude.
Indiana had the ball to open the second half and DC Nick Alliotti’s unit did their part to spark a comeback with an interception at the Indiana 22. Quarterback Kellen Clemens, who would finish with one of the worst games of his career, gave the ball back with an interception on the very next play. The defense held and a touchdown pass to fullback Dante Rosario finally got Oregon on the board 7-23.
A long drive ending with a Jared Siegel field goal closed the gap to 10-23. Most major upsets include at least one special teams disaster and this game was no exception: Oregon immediately surrendered a 98 yard kickoff return to make it 10-30.
A long bomb to WR Demetrius Williams cut the deficit to 17-30 just before the fourth quarter began. Starting with Indiana the teams combined for 5 consecutive 3-and-out possessions. A long run from RB Kenny Washington led to another touchdown pass from Clemens to Rosario and it was a one score game at 24-30 with 9:04 left in the 4th quarter.
The Hoosiers went for it on 4th down in Oregon territory on the ensuing drive and were thrown for a loss. Oregon’s offense could only muster a field goal attempt in response and it was missed. Indiana had a chance to seal the game with a clock-killing drive but promptly fumbled the ball away only for Clemens to throw his second interception.
The Ducks were forced to use all three timeouts to have one last chance to tie or win the game on their final possession. Once again, the defense held firm and Indiana punted after going 3 and out. Oregon had 3:08 remaining and the ball at their own 47. A 6 yard run by Washington and 10 yard completion to WR Garren Strong put the Ducks in Indiana territory. Hope was palpable throughout the crowd… and then Clemens threw his third interception of the day. Indiana got the last first down they needed on the ground and it was all over.
The Hoosiers would only win a single game the rest of the season against (coincidentally) #24 Minnesota at home. Oregon would finish 5-6, the only losing season of head coach Mike Bellotti’s tenure. The inexplicable opening week loss kept the Ducks out of a bowl game for the first time since 1996. It also prompted a major shake up in the Oregon program. A “mutual” parting with offensive coordinator Andy Ludwig led to the hiring of Gary Crowton and the embrace of a spread offense with zone-read run concepts that has defined the program ever since. Many of the juniors who had endured the disappointment of 2004 would take the hard won lessons to heart and form the core off the 2005 “Redeem Team.”
So remember when those “Psi” helmets show up at Rich Brooks field tomorrow that the redemption will only be complete on the day when a Hoosier’s squad leave’s Eugene in defeat.
