Another week, another must win for the Ducks. A 1-2 hole will leave little margin for error the rest of the season. Yet, a win puts the Ducks in a good position heading into the Pac-10 schedule. On to today's quack!
- There's been a lot of talk about leaders stepping up, and Walter Thurmond has been doing just that. He's always had the ability to make plays, but he's now stepping up off the field as well. Thurmond has always been a hard worker, but he's taken that to the next level, and he's leading a team that knows that they must work hard and never let up if they want this season to be a special one.
- In injury news, T.J. Ward is still sidelined with an ankle injury. As much as I want Ward to play, I hope that he is not rushed back until absolutely ready. We need him for the Pac-10 schedule, so another week of rest is likely better in the long run. Eddie Pleasant has been hampered with a quad injury as well, though with the depth and talent at linebacker, that isn't as concerning.
- Coach Kelly and the rest of the team are not taking Utah lightly, and know that Utah will be not be fazed by Autzen Stadium. And Utah is not focusing on the environment, only on the Duck players. Though, they have been practicing with artificial crowd noise to simulate the Autzen environment. However, with the issues both teams have had, this game could just come down to who fights harder. With a lot at stake for both teams, this is sure to be a very hard fought game.
- Lastly, Jason Vondersmith of the Portland Tribune has a feature on Oregon graduate assistant and former linebacker Peter Sirmon. It's great to have him back in Eugene and working with our young group of linebackers.
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