Josh Wilcox is going over the the middle for the Civil War game this week.

As the Ducks head into the Civil War, visitors to DuckSportsNews.com are throwing ideas at Josh to see what happens. Even we don’t know what’s going to happen, but we know it’s going to be honest.

Now it’s time to send Wilcox over the middle…

Marty in Bend, OR wrote:
My best Civil War memory is…

Josh:
My best Civil War memory is…One of my fondest memories of the Civil War is actually not even playing in it. I can recall listening to it on the radio when the Ducks used to go play the Beavers in the early to mid 80’s. I would be helping my dad, more than likely getting in the way, stealing his Pepsi’s, cleaning the basement, and listening to every call on what was going on. “Latin Berry, up the middle, TOUCHDOWN DUCKS” they would scream. Of course as I got older and was able to go to the games and watch I can remember seeing us stuff Erik Wilhelm, and the Air Express. And senior day when Bill Musgrave was the QB, that was pretty amazing. He certainly does not get enough credit for what he did for this football tradition, he was Joey before Joey. He was the man. Clinching the Pac-10 title in Corvallis was nice, but I much rather would have done that in Eugene. Winning in 1996 my senior year when we went in there playing for a bowl berth, which we did not get, and our pride. We did just that.

Marty in Bend, OR wrote:
My worst Civil War memory is…

Josh:
My worst Civil War memory is…There are a few actually. One has to be my first civil war. 1993, we just had a disappointing loss to Stanford and the Beavers were coming to town. It had so much to do now with pride and beating the beavers. I was so excited to actually get to play in my first civil war. The closed practices, the old players coming back and telling you what it meant to be a Duck and be a part of the Civil War. We went out and stunk up the joint, bad. We stunk. I was devastated. I don’t think everyone was, but I know a lot of young guys saw how some of the older guys were acting and vowed not to be like that. I would also saying falling on my rear end in the 1994 Civil War ranks up there but that is more embarrassing than anything. Other civil war moment(s) I can recall as not being to pleasant were the games some of the home games in the early to mid 80’s, the 0-0 tie game, and another game with snow, ice, and Jack Frost nipping at my nose. Wish we would have had skyboxes back then.

Wally in Eugene, OR wrote:
As Pac-10 commissioner, I would…

Josh:
As Pac-10 commissioner, I would…Wow. That would be like me getting a cool chemistry set from Santa on Christmas morning. You play with it for about 5 days, then figure out this is way too complex. First thing of order would to place a lifetime ban on “Slick Rick” from ever coaching in the Pac-10 again. Secondly, I would require that each Pac-10 school play at least two non-league games with schools from other BCS conferences or teams consistently going to bowl games. What I mean is not playing a 1-AA school more than once or twice, and then a team like a Duke, who has had a tough go of it for a while. Third, I would examine the BCS thoroughly to see what the repercussions would be of expanding the Pac-10 to include two more teams. And then I would examine a championship game, just to see what benefit it would be to the Pac-10. I would also put in by-laws preventing Rick Neuheisel from ever coaching in the Pac-10…Oh did I already say that? I would also require each team to have throwback uniforms. I would look into the possibility of forming a Pac-10 network, with available on demand games from the past. Just think of watching Oregon defeat BYU and Ty Detmer, or Akli Smith torch Michigan State, or Chris Miller to Lew Barnes. I would make sure there is a focus on academics and recruiting players who will be productive in society and the classroom, not just the on the field.

Rick in Berkeley, CA wrote:
Beating OSU this weekend would mean…

Josh:
Beating OSU this weekend would mean…a chance to have the state bragging rights, and an opportunity to play in a great bowl game! What else can one ask for? Lets not forget that we were doing back flips and cart wheels about 20 years ago when if we beat the beavers we might get to go to lovely Louisiana. Granted it was not for the National title, but going to the Independence Bowl to play Tulsa and make a name for Oregon, that got guys on a team with less overall talent to play hard and win. Let’s see what happens. I mean depending on how it plays out but a chance to either go to the Holiday Bowl, or Sun Bowl, both places where we could redeem ourselves after our previous performances in each prospective bowl games! A win also proves to the nation these kids won’t quit.

John in Longview, WA wrote:
The Ducks’ current situation is…

Josh:
The Ducks’ current situation is…not uncommon to the program. If you go back and look at the programs in the 80’s and early 90’s, this was something Oregon was always facing. They were facing it to the magnitude that this year’s team is facing, but they were facing similar issues. Losing QB’s, having players injured, the offense struggling. The difference now is that we have the depth and talent to overcome some of those issues and still be competitive. At least we do on paper. We have so much more talent top to bottom than in the past. But the guys now who are playing for those who are hurt, have no experience. Now comes the time as a player and coach you get to see what you and your teammates are made of. It is extremely disappointing what they went through. They did lose the heart and soul of the team when Dennis went down. Now Leaf is down. Stewart is banged up; receivers are down, linebackers banged up. But that is why you play the game. It is not easy. But if you can not get excited to play in the Civil War against your rivals less than 60 miles away and a bowl game, then quit right now. Same for the fans, if you can not support the Ducks and if you can not realize that the ball does not always bounce your way then support another team. But if that is not you and you want to stay on the wagon, it might get bumpy. But it will feel good when the ride is over, because we’re all in it together. GO DUCKS!

- Josh Wilcox

Would you like to send “Wilcox Over The Middle”? If so, go to OneClickSportsNews.com or leave a comment and throw one to Josh to see where he goes with it.

Josh Wilcox, a Junction City, Oregon native was a four-year letterman with Ducks. In the Rose Bowl Season of 1994 against Arizona, Danny O’Neil threw 15 yards to Josh for the game’s only touchdown early in the fourth quarter as Oregon came from behind to win 10-9. Arizona was ranked No. 11 by The Associated Press and ranked 23d by The New York Times computer. Josh went on to catch 11 passes for 135 yards against Penn State in the 1995 Rose Bowl. After finishing his career at Oregon, Josh went on to play for the New Orleans Saints in the NFL.

Welcome to “The 4|4 with Peter Sirmon”, the UCLA Edition. Each week visitors to DuckSportsNews.com ask Peter four questions and he answers them. If you would like to ask Peter a question for next week’s CIVIL WAR edition, leave it in the comment section or send Peter an email.

Here’s the by-week edition of “The 4|4 with Peter Sirmon”.

Is this 2007 Ducks team the best football squad in Oregon history? - Jason, Chicago

Peter: I think there have been four teams in the last thirteen years that would argue that. The 1994 Rose Bowl team, 1998 Aloha Bowl Team(you might not agree with this one), 2001 Fiesta Bowl Team, and 2007 yet to be determined bowl game. The 1994 Rose Bowl team really played well together. Danny O’Neil, Josh Wilcox, Jeremy Asher, Rich Ruhl, Chad Cota, Alex Molden, and Kenny Wheaton were all excellent college players. The 1998 team could have really done something if not for injuries. I have never seen a quarterback play as well as Akili Smith did that year. He was simply amazing. Reuben Droughns broke his ankle playing UCLA. Several other players were also lost to injury that year. But, it would be tough not to put the Fiesta Bowl team as Oregon’s best ever. You judge the teams based on results and they only had one loss that year. The most interesting thing about these teams is that senior quarterbacks led them all.

Is Dennis Dixon more Vince Young or Antwaan Randle El? - Brian, Vancouver, B.C.

Peter: Dennis Dixon is more Vince Young. Antwaan Randle El was a gimmick in college. He was a good player, but never a true quarterback. He has had a nice pro career playing receiver and returning kicks. If he had gone to one of the elite colleges there is a good chance that he never would have even played quarterback. The problem that I think Dennis Dixon is going to run into is the fact he only produced big numbers for one year. I really like him as a player, but scouts do a great job in tearing players down and finding negatives in their careers. That is what he will have to overcome. When teams make first round selections they need to see a productive career, not just one season.

If you were Dennis Dixon’s teammate, would you have wanted to know about his injury before the Arizona game? - Steve, Seattle

Peter: I personally would have wanted to know. I respect the fact that he wanted to play and go as long as his body could hold up, but the psyche of a team can be very fragile. When he went down you could see the concern on the faces of all his teammates. Had they known in advance they would have been prepared for him coming out of the game and it wouldn’t have shocked them. It might have even inspired them to go out and play for him because it meant so much to him that he was willing to go out with no ACL. I admire him for even trying. When I tore my ACL in 2004 there was no way I could have tried to play.

Are you actively involved with some parts of the Ducks recruiting? If so, what do the coaches ask of you? - Jonathan, Beaverton

Peter: I am not involved in Oregon recruiting at all. I have mentioned Oregon to some high school players that are being recruited around the Nashville area. I talk to them as a proud alumni, nothing more. Oregon is starting to gain national prominence. When kids in Tennessee start taking notice to Oregon, you know goods things are happening. The success of the team is first and foremost, but the facilities and the uniforms are what grab the attention of these young men. When we see the articles and see some of the price tags that go with these upgrades it makes you gasp. But, never forget that recruiting 17-18 year olds is more of a mystery than a science. What the young men see is an innovative and cutting edge program that is dedicated to doing whatever is possible to give the athletes the best chance of winning every game. Without strong recruiting the program has little chance of success.

Again, thanks for the great questions. Keep them coming and join me next week in preparation for the CIVIL WAR.

- Peter Sirmon, No. 44