Let the excuses begin. The games isn't even until Saturday, and the Fresno Bee is already making excuses for the Bulldogs:
The game is at Autzen Stadium in Eugene, site of one of the most erroneous officiating calls in recent history. And the officiating crew on the field and in the replay booth again is affiliated with the Pac-10 Conference.
The combination likely has every visiting coach, player and fan on high alert.<...>
One year earlier, a Pac-10 crew assessed visiting Fresno State 16 penalties for 155 yards to the Ducks' six for 60 yards. Bulldogs coach Pat Hill fumed afterwards.
Give me a freaking break. Is that one bad call in that one game going to serve as the excuse for every visiting team that ever comes into Autzen again? How about this: play well enough that a single call doesn't have to opportunity to take the game away from you. I guarantee you right now that Fresno is going to be called for more penalties than Oregon. And it has nothing to do with the officials. Pat Hill might want to look at himself, because the reason Fresno is called for so many penalties is that they are a dirty team.
Fresno also has some injuries to deal with this weekend. While tailbacks Lonyae Miller and Ryan Matthews will indeed play Saturday. However, both starting guards, Adam McDowell and Cole Popovich will miss the game with injuries. That's good news for our run defense.
Although the Ducks are fairly healthy, there is one injury note for the Ducks. Matthew Harper will play, but will wear a brace on his hyper-extended left knee.
GO DUCKS!!!
--Dave