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McEwen thrives as Oregon reserve Ex-North standout eager for shot to shine at Sun Bowl By RANDY HAMMERICKSEN Former North Medford High football player Seth McEwen has special plans to usher in the millennium. McEwen is going bowling with the Oregon Ducks on New Year's Eve in El Paso, Texas. McEwen, 20, will be one of approximately 105 Oregon football players to converge on El Paso to meet 13th-rated Minnesota in the Sun Bowl. A 6-foot-5, 250-pound redshirt freshman, McEwen is listed as the Ducks' No. 2 right defensive end. He will be part of an Oregon defense that will try to control an explosive Minnesota offense led by quarterback Billy Cockeram and tailback Thomas Hamner. "They have a tough offense to prepare for because they have so much speed," says McEwen. "They're a prototype Big Ten team. They're a big and powerful team that can run outside or inside and hurt a defense. "Their quarterback (Cockeram) can run outside and make big plays, and he can hurt you with the pass." McEwen says Oregon's defense is ready for the challenge of facing the Gophers' big-play attack. "Our defense has improved a lot," says McEwen. "There's a lot of heart in that defense. This year, we're determined to do what it takes to win. "I'm not sure we played with that same heart last year. It's something new." Minnesota has some heart of its own. "Defensively," says McEwen, "they are probably the best group we will have seen this season. They're big and physical." Minnesota's defense is led by strong safety Tyrone Carter, who was named winner Thursday of the Jim Thorpe Award, which goes to the nation's top defensive back. Offensively, Minnesota runs the ball behind the dynamic duo of Cockeram and Hafner, who combined to rush for 2,167 yards in 11 games. " "The key for our defense is to concentrate on doing our jobs," says McEwen. "All we have to worry about is playing solid." Don Pellum, Oregon's linebackers and defensive ends coach, says McEwen has worked as hard as any player he coaches and carries a good attitude into practice and games. "He's a heck of a kid," says Pellum. "I'm happy with his improvement this year. He plays hard and competes hard all the time. "Seth plays behind a great player (defensive end Terry Miller)," says Pellum. "That limits his time, but he's gotten in there in several games." McEwen's playing time depends on the flow of the game. "If we need a fresh pass-rusher," says Pellum, "or we need to get Terry out, we go to Seth. I have confidence in Seth because he plays hard and never lets down." McEwen says playing with aggression and intelligence helped him play in four games. "I try to concentrate on my job and on not making mistakes," says McEwen. "I try to be aggressive. The coaches seem to like my aggressiveness on the field." McEwen plans to fly from Medford to El Paso on Christmas night in time to join his teammates for final Sun Bowl preparations. "It's a great reward to get to go to a bowl game, especially for the seniors," says McEwen. McEwen says playing behind junior Saul Patu, the Ducks' other starting defensive end, and Miller, a senior, has pushed him to improve. " I'm a tough player," says McEwen. "I don't fall to injuries, and I push hard all the time. Terry and Saul gave me a good example to follow." Today's Sports Index Mail Tribune Copyright� The Mail Tribune 1999, Medford, OR U.S.A.