In an attention deficient world those short, quick, memorable phrases that simply recapture the essence of a more complex moment are useful to our sports conversations. When those conversations are about the Ducks it's "The Pick". 'Nuff said - no need to describe how Kenny Wheaton baited Damon Huard to make the throw. How he took the interception in stride with one thought in mind. How he sidestepped Huard's feeble attempt at a tackle, nor how Rich Brooks was screaming "get down" so the game would end. All of that - in two words. The Pick.
Add another -- "The Drive". Maybe someone will craft a clever identifier to differentiate it from the originating Denver Broncos (Drive NineTwoFive???? - suggestions welcome) - but it was a work of art.
A tough, fast California defense and self inflicted wounds had short circuited the Oregon offense all night when the Ducks get possession on their own 20 yard line with 9:25 left in the game. Clinging to a tenuous 15-13 lead, does Oregon drive the field to score, and then hold off Cal's last gasp drive? Or does Oregon have to punt and count on the defense - which had played very well - to keep the Bears out of field goal range.
Neither. With the game in their own hands, the Ducks grind out a 69 yard, 19-play drive to the California 11 where Darron Thomas takes two snaps in "victory formation" to exhaust full time.
Chip Kelly said it best as the offense prepared to take the field: "This is the drive you are going to remember and tell your grandkids about when you're old and bald".
So be prepared for Duckvision to show "The Pick" and roll right into "The Drive" on the highlight reel leading up to kickoff.
Perhaps an overlooked moment of the battle in Strawberry Canyon was a play by a senior backup defensive back who just got his scholarship a couple of months ago.
Cal has a 1st and 10 at the Oregon 12-yard line with 1:11 left in the 3rd quarter. Bear quarterback Brock Mansion throws the quick post and Chad Peppars quickly closes and bats the ball away cleanly at the goal line. Unwilling to test the pass defense again, Jeff Tedford called for the ball to be handed off to Shane Vareen twice before settling for what he assumed would be three points and a 16-15 lead.
Although the kick was true, Cal is called for motion on the field goal attempt when kicker Giorgio Tavecchio stutter steps before the snap. On the retry from five yards deeper, Tavecchio misses wide right and Oregon retains the two point lead.
Without Peppar's pass break-up, Cal gets seven on that drive and the question becomes can Oregon's offense respond with a touchdown - which would have been a tall order given their first three quarters of play.
It is games like this that beg the question why can't the Bears, who have as much talent as any program in the Pac-10, win consistently? The Cal trend is to open the season with impressive performances against perhaps over rated opponents. The pollsters take notice giving them a decent early season ranking. Then in conference play Cal stumbles to the middle of the pack.
Undefeated at home but only 3-3 on the year, Cal had the double motivation of a stinging defeat in Autzen last season that sent the Bears reeling and the chance to knock off the #1 team in the country. The Bears weren't having any part of this "don't get mad, get even" stuff - they were intent on returning the favor and if they got a little ticked off in the process, well that's fine too.
But give the Ducks due credit, they stared directly into the eye of Ossi, and didn't blink. Setting aside the struggles of the previous 50:35, Oregon goes out and creates a defining moment - whatever it comes to be called.
NEXT UP:
The Ducks have a bye week to heal the physical bumps and bruises and to restore their emotional gas tank. Their fans need it too - exhale, breathe deep, exhale again slowly.
As I was typing last week's prediction it crossed my mind how mind bending these prognostications have become. On the road?? Cal??? 48-13??? But that's what Oregon has done all season long so at that moment it held the trend. Just a further example of how confounding this conference can be.
Oregon rebounds and finds their offensive groove back on home turf. It's Senior Day, the last home game this season and a trip to the National Championship Game is on the line. The Autzen roar is over the top and so are the Ducks on both sides of the ball. Oregon 48, Cats 17.
