OREGON DAILY EMERALD MIGRATING DUCKS Attending GameDay at USC? Get there at 6 a.m. to show support dai LYE M E ra L D . C O M GAME DAYVOL. 112, ISSUE 40 FRIDAY, OCTOBER 29, 2010 PREVIEW FORECAST 66 degrees, rain likely AT A GLANCE Who: No. 1 Oregon at No. 24 USC What: Week 9 Game When: 5 p.m., ABC Where: Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum SUMMARY Oregon (7-0, 4-0 Pacific-10 Conference) gets its first road test as the nation’s top-ranked team against Pac-10 foe USC (5-2, 2-2). The Trojans are 23-6-1 against the Ducks at Memo- rial Coliseum, but Oregon has won seven of the teams’ past 12 matchups overall. INSIDE GAME PREVIEW Oregon fans look to take over the Coliseum as the No. 1 Ducks look to stay perfect against No. 24 USC PAGE 2B OREGON NOTES IVAR VONG PHOTO EDITOR Junior offensive tackle Mark Asper has taken an interesting route to Eugene. Asper, an Idaho native, spent two years on a religious mission in Spain before joining the Ducks in 2007. After The Ducks’ defense wants struggling to readjust to the game of football after years away, Asper showed the potential that made him choose Oregon. He’s now a part of the Ducks’ offensive assault. to stop Matt Barkley and finally get the recognition they truly deserve REMAINING PAGE 3B USC NOTES Can the Trojans become FAITHFUL the first team to find an Mark Asper is a consistent presence for both the Ducks and his most loyal fans back at home answer for Oregon’s dazzling, fast-paced offense? LUCAS CLARK roster and has been associated with Duck football since remembers most about their initial time together. SPORTS EDITOR making his first official visit on Nov. 8, 2003. That night, Originally recruited by former 27-year Oregon PAGE 3B Even when the Oregon football team had a week Oregon hosted the California Golden Bears in a game assistant head coach Neal Zoumboukos, Asper toyed off, junior offensive tackle Mark Asper found himself that is mostly remembered for a 23-minute delay when with the idea of attending Brigham Young University, shouldering a different work load. the lights on the south side of Autzen Stadium went out. but decided playing for the Ducks would be a better fit. It was the first college football game Asper ever CATCHING UP “He was telling me over the bye week, he was Once Asper inked his letter of intent, he departed for attended, which ended in a 21-17 Oregon victory. Like carrying her around all weekend,” senior guard C.E. Barcelona, Spain, on a two-year religious mission. most recruits, Asper was paired with a player-host on Freshman linebacker Kaiser said. “... his back was kind of sore and his arms Asper spent time spreading the word of his faith and his visit. His happened to be a 6-foot-5-inch, 345-pound Boseko Lokombo talks were kind of sore. That’s just the kind of stuff he does.” became enmeshed in the local culture. sophomore by the name of Haloti Ngati, who was Upon his return to Oregon, Asper enrolled as a about the Ducks’ bye week, Asper, an Idaho Falls, Idaho, native, used the down recovering from a season-ending knee injury. Spanish major with the hope that he would not lose the video games and American time to be with his wife, Michelle, and their daugh- “From my hometown, I was the biggest guy around,” ter, Makayla, who finds comfort in the arms of her language he had grown so fond of. football in Canada Asper said. “So it was fun to hang around with him.” 6-foot-7-inch, 322-pound father. Ngata showed Asper the ins and outs of campus ASPER PAGE 7B At 25, Asper is one of the oldest players on the Oregon life. It was people’s reaction to Ngata’s size that Asper CONTINUED ON PAGE 3B 2B OREGON DAILY EMERALD FRIDAY, OCTOBER 29, 2010 GAMEDY A GAME PREVIEW Oregon Daily Emerald 1222 E. 13th Ave., #300 Eugene, OR 97403 541.346.5511 NEWSROOM Delivery Richard Griscom Editor in chief x325 Brian Leeson Nora Simon Chris Massaad Managing Editor x324 Kyle Scott Lauren Fox Molly Simas Sports editor x322 Administrative Assistants x301 Lucas Clark Ritchie Benevedes Jason Lohman Sports reporters Andy Drukarev ADVERTISING Robert Husseman Co-advertising directors x303 Patrick Malee Donovan Mack Copy chiefs x323 Michael Raz Celia Darrough Manager Kenny Ocker Lacey Becker Copy editors Executives McKenna Brown Alyssa Adkisson David Lieberman Daniel Bonner Design editor x326 Diane Grewe Emily Papp Niki Naboulsi Photo and Web editor x327 Jake Mattews Ivar Vong Ben Roan Photographers Garrett Scarvaci Aaron Marineau C EREATIV SERVICES Jack Hunter Director Michele Ross x330 BU SINESS Supervisor Publisher x317 Brianne Beigh x329 Mike Thoele Designers Manager x302 Keith Chaloux Kathy Carbone Taylor Engel Michelle Keele Emma Silverman The Oregon Daily Emerald is published by the Oregon Daily Emerald Publishing Co., Inc. at the University of Oregon, Eugene, OR. The Emerald operates independently of the University with offices in Suite 300 of the Erb Memorial Union. The Emerald is private property. © 2010 DJ KAST DAILY TROJAN Head coach Lane Kiffin and sophomore quarterback Matt Barkley will have their hands full against Oregon on Saturday. The Trojans, ranked 24th in the country, are looking to avenge a 47-20 in Eugene on Halloween last season. Barkley leads the Pac-10 conference in passing efficiency and touchdown passes. No. 1 Oregon looks to invade Coliseum The Ducks — and their fans‘‘ — are ready to prove “It’s just comical to me that 48-14 blowout win over Cal there’s this misnomer that and a bye week to prepare for that Oregon can bring their best away from home these guys are this struggling the Ducks. Oregon’s zone-read ROBERT HUSSEMAN the Matt Barkley tweet. Let’s unit,” Oregon offensive spread-option offense is a SPORTS REPORTER show them that this is a big coordinator Mark Helfrich said. cause for concern, with last It’s Facebook official — game for us as well,” the event Sophomore quarterback year’s 47-20 loss in Eugene on Taco Tuesdays ish. With the spotlight on the description said. Matt Barkley leads the Pac-10 Halloween not yet forgotten. 2 tacos & a Pacifico $7 Trojans, Duck fans are hoping The Ducks (7-0, 4-0 Pa- in efficiency and has completed “The Tampa 2 isn’t exactly to crash the party. cific-10 Conference) have his- 65.4 percent of his passes. The what you shut down the triple That is, if the event “Oregon torically fared poorly in the Newport Beach, Calif., na- option with,” Kiffin told Econo Pint Wednesdays Takes Over College Game Day” Coliseum. And USC (5-2, 2-2 tive is a Davey O’Brien award the Los Angeles Times this semifinalist and a likely week. “That’s for a whole All draft beers only $2.50 lives up to its guest list. Pac-10) is 23-6-1 on its home According to the Pit Crew’s turf against Oregon, last losing Heisman candidate. different deal.” event, more than 1050 Duck in 2000. “One thing that I “They are so explosive,” Drink Wheel Thurdays football fans will be ready The Trojans may also benefit noticed about him is he’s USC head coach Lane Kiffin in Los Angeles on Saturday, from their newfound identity really poised,” Ducks line- told ESPN.com’s Ted Miller $2.50 drink specials starting at 10pm Oct. 30 at 6 a.m. for the ESPN this week. “The style they play pre-game show before is like something we haven’t “The national audience does not know how well seen. Or probably anybody’s No. 1 Oregon’s clash with Duck fans travel. Let’s show them.” No. 24 USC. ever seen.” After posting a dominant of- Pit Crew created the event OREGON PIT CREW FACEBOOK EVENT DESCRIPTION fense performance in a 60-13 Been to yet? with the challenge of having win over UCLA in front of a the most away team fans at national audience last Thursday, an ESPN College Game Day PACIFIC NW FARE WITH HISPANIC AND ASIAN INFLUENCES Helfrich is looking to simply show — ever. as conference spoiler. Banned backer Boseko Lokombo said. pick up where the Ducks 1461 East 19th Avenue • 541.485.8887 “Sure, there are a few fans from bowl games for two years “He has a really quick release. left off. in the front row wearing their by the NCAA, a sixth win this He’s good at going through 27244 www.agatealley.com “We’re always kind of team’s shirt, jersey or hat. But season will amount to nothing his progressions and he’s chasing perfect — it’s I’m talking about a full blown more than pride. got a cannon.” something we always talk NEWS NOW. NEWS NOW. NEWS Duck invasion on the Colise- Nevertheless, sanctions, USC’s defense ranks just about,” he said. “Our guys um ... The national audience scholarships and a coaching 87th in total defense (402.57 NEWS NOW. NEWS NOW. NEWS have taken to that. (Darron) does not know how well Duck change have overshadowed yards per game) and 60th in just needs to keep doing what NEWS NOW. NEWS NOW. NEWS fans travel. Let’s show them. the fact that USC has a very scoring defense (24.29 points he’s doing. Taking care of the We’ve been hearing about how good — and very talented — per game) but has several NEWS NOW.