Oregon and UCLA News -

Jury convicts Pratcher of first-degree murder - CONTRA COSTA TIMES

A jury today convicted Darren Pratcher of first-degree murder in the 2004 shooting death of former De La Salle football standout Terrance Kelly

Pratcher, 17, faces up to 50 years to life in state prison.

When the clerk read the verdict, Pratcher's head fell toward the desk in front of him and he interlocked his fingers behind his neck. His hands shook.

Nelson's approach: Hit first - Oregonian

During a recent team meeting, Oregon coach Mike Bellotti stressed that an away football game is similar to a business trip.

Free safety J.D. Nelson responded by saying, "Yeah, it is. And I'm in the business of hitting people."

Laughter ensued.

"It was really funny," Oregon defensive backs coach John Neal said. "It's sort of his feeling about how he wants to play and be known."

Nelson, a senior and three-year starter, has filled a highlight reel with crushing hits during his career. Nelson believes that his intimidating style has had an impact on opponents.

"A lot of times I feel, really as of late, that they really don't like to go to the middle that often," said the 5-foot-11, 219-pound Nelson.

Oregon Preview - MSNBC

If these Pac-10 teams perform as they did last week, Oregon may lose its spot in the rankings to UCLA.

The No. 18 Ducks are coming off a demoralizing defeat as they host a Bruins squad which is playing very well following its lone loss.

Hard work paying off for Kent - Statesman Journal

After practice early this week, one Oregon receiver remained for extra work. Senior Jordan Kent, with one arm at his side, hauled in pass after pass with his right hand and then his left.

The drill might not seem significant, but for a guy who has played organized football for little more than a year, every opportunity to work on the game is important.

Kent, who has made a name for himself in basketball and track and field, is coming off the best game of his career, with six catches for 113 yards in Saturday's 45-24 loss at California.

Ducks Look to Rebound Against Bruins - Salem News

The University of Oregon football team (4-1 overall, 2-1 Pacific-10 Conference) returns home this weekend to host the UCLA Bruins (4-1, 2-1) at Autzen Stadium in Eugene in a battle to break a four-team deadlock for third place in the league standings.

A Tough Spot for Cowan - LA Times

Oregon's Autzen Stadium is considered one of the most difficult places to play because of deafening noise from the Ducks' fans. It only adds to the challenge for UCLA, which will have sophomore quarterback Patrick Cowan making his first career start Saturday.

Cowan is a quiet storm - The Daily News

Television cameras, microphones and tape recorders were jammed in Patrick Cowan's face. He stood with his head held high and his helmet in his hands behind his back. His mannerisms suggested he was uncomfortable, and his answers brought as much excitement as paint drying.

This is largely the public image of UCLA's new quarterback, a 6-foot-4 redshirt sophomore who lost a quarterback derby six weeks ago, but is now the starter for at least a month while Ben Olson's left knee heals.

And while confidence doesn't ooze from Cowan like it does from Olson, teammates say Cowan's persona is the polar opposite of what he portrays publicly.

With Olson down, others step up -

With Ben Olson sidelined for an undetermined length of time and the team coming up against its roughest patch of the schedule, points will be at a premium for the Bruins.

Enter redshirt senior kicker Justin Medlock.

Going up against three ranked teams in four weeks, UCLA will be scrapping for every point it can, meaning Medlock may be an even bigger factor than he has been now that Olson is out.

Oregon's opening statements fall flat - Register-Guard

Oregon has reason to fear its first offensive play of the game Saturday against UCLA.

The sum of opening plays by the 18th-ranked Ducks through five games is a lost fumble, an interception, two incomplete passes - though one should have been intercepted and another was originally ruled a lost fumble - and, here's the positive, a two-yard gain on a running play.

"Our first plays have not been outstanding successes," UO coach Mike Bellotti acknowledged.

In the opener against Stanford, it took an official challenge by Bellotti to overturn the ruling on the field of a lost fumble by the Ducks, making it an incomplete pass. At Fresno State, the Ducks did lose a fumble on their initial play.

Home is where Byrd's heart is - Register-Guard

While the father was off playing in the NFL, the son - the baby of the family - naturally gravitated to his mother.

Gill Byrd Sr. would get a taste of just how close they were after coming home from practice, first as a player with the San Diego Chargers and later a coach with the St. Louis Rams. He would spend time with his youngest son, Jairus, and then sit down with his wife, Marilyn, to talk about how the boy was doing.

Verdict can't salve Ducks' sorrow - Register-Guard

There was no joy for the Oregon football team Wednesday upon the news of a guilty verdict in the shooting death of former recruit Terrance Kelly.

Kelly, 18, was shot and killed in his hometown of Richmond, Calif., on Aug. 12, 2004, just days before he was to move to Eugene for the start of his first fall camp with the Ducks. On Wednesday, in a Contra Costa (Calif.) County courtroom, a jury found 17-year-old Darren Pratcher guilty of first-degree murder.