Duck’s Football Week In Review

Last week saw a surprising change,  a player invitation and a ticker tape parade f0r the Ducks football team.  Let’s do the rundown.

According the Duck’s Football Organization, Safety Javes Lewis has decided to skip his senior year and go straight to the NFL.  Lewis withdrew from UO and soon thereafter filed papers to enter the draft in April.

With one year left of eligibility, Lewis, who is originally from Tustin, Ca. was pushed back on the sidelines after starting 12 games during the 2009 season.  This move saw the rise of CB Cliff Harris.  According to dailyemerald.com, the 6-foot-1, 190-pounder was frustrated with his playing time this year after seeing so much action during his sophomore campaign.  He would have been in a similar situation this year as well and that might have been a huge factor for him to pack his bags early in order for him to begin training in Arizona. We will have to wait as to whether or not Lewis will be drafted come April.  During his 39 appearances with the Ducks, he posted 122 tackles and three interceptions.  Whether or not Lewis will be drafted come springtime remains unseen.  In any case, he will finish up his senior year at The University of Phoenix.

Oregon Linebacker Casey Mathews will join the ranks with Oregon State DL Stephan Paea and USC WR Ronald Johnson for the Under Armour Senior Bowl. He was named one of thirteen PAC-10 conference football players that will be participating.   Mathews had 79 tackles last season and 245 total tackles in all during his time with the Ducks.  The Contest will be held on Jan. 29 at the Ladd-Peebles Stadium in Mobile Alabama. All practices will be televised on the NFL network.

Various Ducks athletes and school clubs including the UO a capella Sing Off finalists, On The Rocks, got warm wishes from its fans this past Saturday at the first annual “Celebrating Champions” parade.  Thousands of fans were elated to line the streets of Eugene.  There were 49 entries in the procession that were featured included marching bands, rodeo cowboys and the Oregon Slug queen.

The icing on the cake though, was seeing the Ducks football team, who received a harrowing welcome from its fans.  Even though they lost to Auburn in the Jan. 10 BCS National Championship games that didn’t matter to the die-hard Oregon fans.  Registerguard.com reported that Banners adorning both trailers indicated the football program isn’t dwelling on the team’s 22-19 loss to Auburn. They read: “2010 Pac-10 Football Champions” and “12-0” — the Ducks’ won-loss record before the title game.  Apparently, there were so many fans on hand that two large jumbo screens had to be set up so that all of the fans could revel in the enjoyment.  That is what I call dedication.