EUGENE -- Without warning, a confused Jeremiah Masoli felt his legs leave the Autzen Stadium turf as Oregon fans lifted him above their shoulders.
The mild-mannered quarterback's first reaction was to ask to be put down for fear of falling. He also wanted to get back to the Oregon locker room as soon as possible to celebrate the Ducks' 47-20 win over USC with his teammates.
But the longer he floated in the grips of his fellow students, the more student-like he became. All around Masoli, fans reached up toward him in a crowded circle, snapping photos with their cell phones and yelling encouragement.
Masoli revved the masses even more when he fully relaxed and enjoyed the ride. Grinning, Masoli lifted both of his arms to his sides, curled his hands into fists and struck a flexing pose.
"Moments like those, you'll never get again," Masoli said this week. "I mean, when you beat SC and fans lift you up, I don't think I'll ever have that kind of moment again. I definitely soaked that one in.
"I was up there, man, looking at everything."Hard to believe it was a year ago this week that some members of an Autzen Stadium crowd of 58,013 sent a chorus of boos in Masoli's direction after he misfired on several throws during Oregon's game against Stanford.
Masoli turned those jeers into cheers when he guided a 74-yard game-winning drive in the closing minutes to help the Ducks record a 35-28 comeback victory over the Cardinal.
"It was one of those days you don't want to look back on," Masoli said of being booed by his own fans. "But it happened and it made me better for it."
Many viewed the end of that Stanford game as a defining moment for Masoli, who excelled in Oregon's remaining victories against Arizona (55-45), Oregon State (65-38) and Oklahoma State (42-31).
The 5-foot-11 junior's next challenge is to perform well near his hometown (Daly City, Calif.) when the seventh-ranked Ducks play at Stanford at 12:30 p.m. Saturday.
In Oregon's rain-filled 26-16 loss at California last season, Masoli completed 7 of 21 passes for 44 yards and two interceptions while playing before a large contingent of family and friends. The performance was reminiscent of fellow Bay Area native Dennis Dixon's struggles at California in a Ducks loss in 2006.
As with Dixon, Masoli's running and passing ability has helped him blossom in his second season as the starting quarterback of a high-octane spread-option offense.
Still, Masoli struggled early this season, playing poorly in his first three games, before drawing an unwanted comparison to Dixon a month ago. After suffering a knee injury against Washington State on Oct. 3, Masoli was limited in practice and didn’t dress for the Ducks’ game at UCLA on Oct. 10.
Despite Oregon coach Chip Kelly insisting that Masoli was "day to day," many couldn't help but think that another potentially special season could be derailed because of a serious knee injury. (Dixon suffered a torn anterior cruciate ligament in 2007 and the Ducks went from national title contenders to the Sun Bowl.)
With a custom-fitted brace on his right knee, Masoli quelled all fears in Oregon's 43-19 win at Washington on Oct. 24 and was named the national player of the week by the Walter Camp Football Foundation for his 386 yards of total offense against USC.
"I may put him up for comeback player of the year after reading all the newspaper accounts about him being done for the year," Kelly quipped this week. "It's probably a credit to our training staff that they could get him back from such a catastrophic injury. And it's amazing that he actually was day to day."
Masoli handled the drama about his knee in stride, offering optimistic updates in a laid-back manner befitting his persona.
Since signing with Oregon in May 2008 after a stellar season at the City College of San Francisco, Masoli's outward demeanor has hardly changed. But he calls himself a drastically different player because of his increased confidence and leadership skills.
"When Jeremiah came here last year he was pretty nervous," said senior defensive tackle Simi Toeaina, Masoli's cousin. "I've seen a big difference now. He's pushing players harder and always pushing himself to be the best player he can be."
Masoli, who is 55 yards away from breaking Dixon's UO record for career rushing yards (1,208) by a quarterback, also knows how to have a good time. Senior tight end Ed Dickson said Masoli is prone to blast reggae music at opportune times to help raise spirits.
"He's a very fun, laid-back guy," Dickson said. "Everybody in the locker room will be sad because we got yelled at by coach or something and then he'd come in and play some reggae and say, 'Guys, we've got to step it up.' Break the ice for everybody and start dancing."
But Masoli isn't one to dance in the end zone after a touchdown or crave the spotlight. During a Sports Illustrated cover shoot in July, Ducks center Jordan Holmes remembers being impressed by how nonchalant Masoli acted while posing behind him.
Holmes said Masoli's approach to the game has permeated throughout the Ducks' offense, helping them focus on the task at hand amid the flurry of activity during games.
"When you have a calm quarterback, everybody else is going to stay calm," Holmes said. "He keeps an even keel."
That was what new offensive coordinator Mark Helfrich first noticed when he sat down with Masoli for a preaseason meeting. Helfrich, who is also the quarterbacks coach, spoke at length with Masoli about his Polynesian heritage and his career goals.
"A very quiet guy by nature and a very likable kid," Helfrich said. "As he continues to grow and mature, he can be more and more dangerous."
Masoli insists that he hasn't let the hype go to his head. But he's also quick to point out that he's "not stupid," and is well aware of where Oregon is ranked and the lofty bowl games that remain at stake.
That's why, as each game grows in importance, Masoli will make sure to cherish the night his legs unwillingly left the ground in an unwavering show of support by his peers.
"I'm a college kid, no matter what," he said. "It was just a fun day."
The mild-mannered quarterback's first reaction was to ask to be put down for fear of falling. He also wanted to get back to the Oregon locker room as soon as possible to celebrate the Ducks' 47-20 win over USC with his teammates.
But the longer he floated in the grips of his fellow students, the more student-like he became. All around Masoli, fans reached up toward him in a crowded circle, snapping photos with their cell phones and yelling encouragement.
Masoli revved the masses even more when he fully relaxed and enjoyed the ride. Grinning, Masoli lifted both of his arms to his sides, curled his hands into fists and struck a flexing pose.
"Moments like those, you'll never get again," Masoli said this week. "I mean, when you beat SC and fans lift you up, I don't think I'll ever have that kind of moment again. I definitely soaked that one in.
"I was up there, man, looking at everything."Hard to believe it was a year ago this week that some members of an Autzen Stadium crowd of 58,013 sent a chorus of boos in Masoli's direction after he misfired on several throws during Oregon's game against Stanford.
Masoli turned those jeers into cheers when he guided a 74-yard game-winning drive in the closing minutes to help the Ducks record a 35-28 comeback victory over the Cardinal.
"It was one of those days you don't want to look back on," Masoli said of being booed by his own fans. "But it happened and it made me better for it."
Many viewed the end of that Stanford game as a defining moment for Masoli, who excelled in Oregon's remaining victories against Arizona (55-45), Oregon State (65-38) and Oklahoma State (42-31).
The 5-foot-11 junior's next challenge is to perform well near his hometown (Daly City, Calif.) when the seventh-ranked Ducks play at Stanford at 12:30 p.m. Saturday.
In Oregon's rain-filled 26-16 loss at California last season, Masoli completed 7 of 21 passes for 44 yards and two interceptions while playing before a large contingent of family and friends. The performance was reminiscent of fellow Bay Area native Dennis Dixon's struggles at California in a Ducks loss in 2006.
As with Dixon, Masoli's running and passing ability has helped him blossom in his second season as the starting quarterback of a high-octane spread-option offense.
Still, Masoli struggled early this season, playing poorly in his first three games, before drawing an unwanted comparison to Dixon a month ago. After suffering a knee injury against Washington State on Oct. 3, Masoli was limited in practice and didn’t dress for the Ducks’ game at UCLA on Oct. 10.
Despite Oregon coach Chip Kelly insisting that Masoli was "day to day," many couldn't help but think that another potentially special season could be derailed because of a serious knee injury. (Dixon suffered a torn anterior cruciate ligament in 2007 and the Ducks went from national title contenders to the Sun Bowl.)
With a custom-fitted brace on his right knee, Masoli quelled all fears in Oregon's 43-19 win at Washington on Oct. 24 and was named the national player of the week by the Walter Camp Football Foundation for his 386 yards of total offense against USC.
"I may put him up for comeback player of the year after reading all the newspaper accounts about him being done for the year," Kelly quipped this week. "It's probably a credit to our training staff that they could get him back from such a catastrophic injury. And it's amazing that he actually was day to day."
Masoli handled the drama about his knee in stride, offering optimistic updates in a laid-back manner befitting his persona.
Since signing with Oregon in May 2008 after a stellar season at the City College of San Francisco, Masoli's outward demeanor has hardly changed. But he calls himself a drastically different player because of his increased confidence and leadership skills.
"When Jeremiah came here last year he was pretty nervous," said senior defensive tackle Simi Toeaina, Masoli's cousin. "I've seen a big difference now. He's pushing players harder and always pushing himself to be the best player he can be."
Masoli, who is 55 yards away from breaking Dixon's UO record for career rushing yards (1,208) by a quarterback, also knows how to have a good time. Senior tight end Ed Dickson said Masoli is prone to blast reggae music at opportune times to help raise spirits.
"He's a very fun, laid-back guy," Dickson said. "Everybody in the locker room will be sad because we got yelled at by coach or something and then he'd come in and play some reggae and say, 'Guys, we've got to step it up.' Break the ice for everybody and start dancing."
But Masoli isn't one to dance in the end zone after a touchdown or crave the spotlight. During a Sports Illustrated cover shoot in July, Ducks center Jordan Holmes remembers being impressed by how nonchalant Masoli acted while posing behind him.
Holmes said Masoli's approach to the game has permeated throughout the Ducks' offense, helping them focus on the task at hand amid the flurry of activity during games.
"When you have a calm quarterback, everybody else is going to stay calm," Holmes said. "He keeps an even keel."
That was what new offensive coordinator Mark Helfrich first noticed when he sat down with Masoli for a preaseason meeting. Helfrich, who is also the quarterbacks coach, spoke at length with Masoli about his Polynesian heritage and his career goals.
"A very quiet guy by nature and a very likable kid," Helfrich said. "As he continues to grow and mature, he can be more and more dangerous."
Masoli insists that he hasn't let the hype go to his head. But he's also quick to point out that he's "not stupid," and is well aware of where Oregon is ranked and the lofty bowl games that remain at stake.
That's why, as each game grows in importance, Masoli will make sure to cherish the night his legs unwillingly left the ground in an unwavering show of support by his peers.
"I'm a college kid, no matter what," he said. "It was just a fun day."
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