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Quacking mad Oregon can't forget Colorado's fake punt in last meeting
Posted: Saturday December 19, 1998 10:35 AM
EUGENE, Oregon (AP) -- Of all the plays in the 1996 Cotton Bowl, the Oregon Ducks can't seem to let go of one that was virtually meaningless to the outcome. It was January 1, 1996, and the Colorado Buffaloes had a 32-6 lead on the Ducks in the waning minutes. First-year coach Rick Neuheisel called for a fake punt on fourth down. It worked, and Colorado completed a pass for a long gain that set up a touchdown to seal a 38-6 win. The Ducks fumed, and coach Mike Bellotti, also in his first year, said: "Those things tend to come around on you." Well, here it is, nearly three years later, and Oregon hasn't forgotten. As the team prepares to leave tonight for Honolulu to face Neuheisel's Buffaloes in the Aloha Bowl December 25, that fake punt has been the primary motivational tool for the Ducks. "Our coaches really believe that was totally uncalled for," said quarterback Akili Smith, who had finished his first year at a California junior college when the Ducks were taking their beating from the Buffaloes. "That's something that doesn't really sit well in somebody's stomach, when you basically embarrass a team and try to rub it in on national television." Some players have been wearing their complimentary '96 Cotton Bowl T-shirts and sweats around campus, and not because they're comfortable. "It's just a little motivation for us. We're looking forward to getting back at them," said junior defensive back Michael Fletcher. "Deep down, Coach Neuheisel is probably a nice guy. But it was a bowl game. It was on national TV, and they just wanted to show they were dominating, to just pour it on." Back then, Neuheisel's defense was that he spotted Oregon in a punt-block formation, and that he wanted to get his reserves more playing time. Today he stands by his assertion that he meant no disrespect by calling the play. "It was never intended to show anybody up," Neuheisel told The Denver Post recently after returning from a speaking engagement, where he said the fake was the hot topic of conversation. "We were not trying to run up the score," Neuheisel added. "But I understand that people hold grudges, so if that's going to be there motivation, so be it." Bellotti said the bitterness of that cold January day has subsided, along with any ill will toward Neuheisel. "I have not talked about the fake punt," he said. "I'd like to defeat Colorado, simply because it's an opportunity for us to get our ninth win. Certainly, I'd like to avenge the defeat. But I remember more that we didn't play a good football game. "We're going to share the island of Oahu with three other football teams, and up until game time we need to be friends." The Ducks (8-3) and Buffaloes (7-4), playing the undercard of the first bowl doubleheader in college history, kick off at 10:30 a.m. local time at Aloha Stadium, followed by No. 16 Air Force (11-1) and Washington (6-5) at 3:30 p.m. in the Oahu Bowl. Even without wide receiver Tony Hartley, who was suspended Thursday by Bellotti for violating unspecified team rules, the Ducks have a quick-strike offense led by Smith, a likely NFL first-round pick. Colorado has the Big 12 Conference's best pass defense, but Oregon is favored by five. The Ducks hope they're the ones in position to pile on the points. "Who's to say that we won't pull a stunt like Colorado did?" running back Kevin Parker said. "But we pride ourselves on not doing something like that."
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