* Please consider signing up for the Hotline newsletter. It’s free, publishes M/W/F and is your guide to all the developments — both on the field and off (medical, legal, media, financial, etc) — that shape the present and future of the Pac-12 …
Oct. 20, 2001: Stanford 49, Oregon 42
I was in Autzen Stadium that afternoon and won’t ever forget what transpired.
Undefeated and No. 5 Oregon, with Joey Harrington in charge, was on course for a shot at the national title.
Unranked Stanford was the spoiler.
Not only that, but a spoiler with an injured starting quarterback and 14-point fourth-quarter deficit.
Yep, the Cardinal rallied from two touchdowns behind in the fourth quarter, behind a backup quarterback, Chris Lewis, to stun the Ducks.
All it took was a miracle.
Oregon extended a seven-point lead to 14 late in the third quarter on Onterrio Smith’s 96-yard kickoff return.
But the Cardinal blocked two punts in succession — the second led to a touchdown pass from Lewis to receiver Luke Powell.
Oregon’s lead was down to seven.
Then came a brilliant onside kick, resulting in a Stanford recovery and, eventually, a touchdown run by Kerry Carter.
Oregon’s lead was down to one (Stanford missed the extra point).
Even then, with Autzen Stadium growing anxious, it felt like Harrington, who had orchestrated so many fabulous finishes, would seal the Ducks’ 24th consecutive home win.
But on third-and-one, the Ducks called a pass play. Harrington was hit in the pocket. The ball pooped loose — and into the hands of Stanford’s diving defensive lineman, Marcus Hoover.
The Cardinal took over at the 33, and with 70 seconds left, Carter scored on a short run to give Stanford the lead.
Shellshocked, the Ducks got as close as Stanford’s 37, but a series of incomplete passes ended the game. Capt. Comeback was unable to pull victory from defeat.
It would be Oregon’s only loss, and it was a killer: It kept the Ducks out of the BCS title game. Instead, they hammered Colorado in the Fiesta Bowl to complete one of the best seasons in school history.
Stanford, meanwhile, would challenge for a Rose Bowl berth until the final weeks but end up in the Seattle Bowl.
Oct. 20, 2001: Washington 31, Arizona 28
Meanwhile, five hours up I-5, the Huskies enjoyed a little Cody Pickett magic and produced yet another fourth-quarter rally in a season stocked with ’em.
Pickett spent the week getting treatment for a separated throwing shoulder, then produced a stat line that was both brilliant and awful: 29-of-49 for 455 yard and three touchdowns … and four interceptions.
He also ran for a touchdown — the winning touchdown, in fact: A short run with 13 seconds left that capped a 55-yard drive.
It was UW’s fifth victory of the season and fourth by less than a touchdown.
The Huskies would win the next two and climb to No. 8 nationally under Rick Neuheisel, before a late-season fade.
That fade included a 65-7 loss at Miami.
Arizona staggered through its first season under John Mackovic, an experiment that was doomed from the start and would last three miserable seasons.
Why we need your support: Like so many other providers of local journalism across the country, the Hotline’s parent website, mercurynews.com, recently moved to a subscription model. A few Hotline stories will remain free each month (as will the newsletter), but for access to all content, you’ll need to subscribe. The good news for Hotline faithful: I’ve secured a discount: 12 cents per day for 12 months. Click here to subscribe. And thanks for your loyalty.
*** Send suggestions, comments and tips (confidentiality guaranteed) to pac12hotline@bayareanewsgroup.com
*** Follow me on Twitter: @WilnerHotline
*** Pac-12 Hotline is not endorsed or sponsored by the Pac-12 Conference, and the views expressed herein do not necessarily reflect the views of the Conference.
