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if(requestedWidth > 0){ document.getElementById('articleViewerGroup').style.width = requestedWidth + "px"; document.getElementById('articleViewerGroup').style.margin = "0px 0px 10px 10px"; } Freshman linebacker Casey Matthews won't be playing Monday, adding to Oregon's list of casualties suffered this season. Matthews was set to redshirt this year, but a string of injuries at the linebacker position changed those plans. He ended up playing in the first 11 games of the season until dislocating his shoulder.Matthews certainly has royal football blood. His father is 19-year NFL veteran and USC All-American Clay Matthews. His uncle is NFL Hall of Fame offensive lineman Bruce Matthews, who played for the Houston Oilers/Tennessee Titans from 1983 to 2000. His grandfather, Clay Matthews Sr., played in the NFL in the 1950s. And his brother, Clay, plays linebacker for USC. Obviously, Casey has a lot to live up to. "With the last name of Matthews, you always have high expectations," he said. But "The first thing is to get healthy. And get my shoulder to 100 percent, and I just need to get bigger for next year and get in shape, get faster." Elevation: Quarterback Justin Roper said the team was getting used to El Paso's elevation, which is significantly higher than that of Eugene, Ore.The elevation of Eugene is 430 feet above sea level, while El Paso's elevation is 3,695 feet. "It's a higher altitude, so it's a little different breathing-wise, so you've got to get used to that," he said. Long haul: El Paso-area fans may catch a glimpse of the semi that carries the University of Oregon's football equipment. The big rig is hard to miss, painted GetAd('tile','box','/sports_article','','www.elpasotimes.com','','null','null');
Oregon green and emblazoned with the words, "Keep on Duckin'" on the side. Driver Gene Christie said he departed Eugene at 5 a.m. Sunday and arrived in El Paso on Tuesday afternoon. In all, it took him 27 hours on the road and at more than 1,800 miles was the longest drive he made this year -- his first year driving for the team. The semi didn't make the (approximately) 2,500-mile trip to Ann Arbor, Mich., when the Ducks beat the University of Michigan, 39-7. Sack man: Defensive end Nick Reed needs one more sack to give him Oregon's single-season record. Ernest Jones set the current school record with 13 sacks in 1993.The 6-foot-2, 255-pound Reed finished the regular season leading the PAC-10 with 12 sacks. He also had 22.5 tackles for loss. Dixon feeling better: Injured quarterback Dennis Dixon said he's improving quickly from his torn ACL suffered in the first quarter of the Ducks' loss to Arizona. "It feels good," Dixon said. "I just had surgery last friday. It's been a lot of rehab -- a whole lot of rehab." Matt Johnson may be reached at mjohnson@elpasotimes.com; 546-6166. |
