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Ex-Caver set tone for Ducks Commentary By RANDY HAMMERICKSEN Middle linebacker Matt Smith of Grants Pass was a menacing presence for Oregon's defense during the Sun Bowl game on New Year's Eve. It was a typical Smith performance: Eight tackles and two sacks in addition to harrying Minnesota tailback Thomas Hamner and hurrying quarterback Billy Cockerham. Smith's physical dominance set the tone for Oregon's hard-fought, 24-20 comeback victory over the 12th-ranked Golden Gophers at El Paso, Texas. The rally enhanced Oregon's newfound reputation as a team that won't give up. Smith may have started the trend with his 81-yard interception for a touchdown that rallied Oregon from a 34-10 deficit against UCLA. The Ducks didn't win that one, coming up 1 yard short on the final play in a 34-29 setback. More rallies followed: The win over the Gophers marked the fourth time Oregon won in the final quarter. "I'd like to think that play (the interception against UCLA) turned it all around," says Smith. "I believe it did. We had more confidence after that. It was like we wouldn't lose." As a senior next season, Smith will be one of the team leaders, Oregon linebackers coach Bob Foster says. "Matt has all the ingredients to be one of the best linebackers we've had here and join some of the big names from the past," says Foster. "We need him to become more of a leader and help the younger players." Smith's trademark in Oregon's defense comes as a hitter. "There's no doubt he hits harder than anybody on our defense," says Foster. "You can ask anybody on the offense about that. They'll all tell you it's Matt, without a doubt." As a hitter, Smith is fearless, Foster contends. "He has such tremendous hip explosion," says Foster. "He's not the fastest linebacker in the country, but he's not slow either. He has that hip explosion that seems to get him where he's going fast." Smith, who has been a hitter since he stalked high school backs for Grants Pass High, says being compared with Jeremy Asher, Rich Ruhl, Peter Sirmon, Dietrich Moore and other great Oregon linebackers of recent vintage would be nice. But that isn't what drives him. "I'm not a rah-rah kind of guy, but I would like to be more of a leader," says Smith. "I do it more by example on the field." Smith, who started preparing for his senior season with the Ducks on Wednesday with team winter weight training, is adamant that 2000 will be another successful year for the Ducks. "We have everything going for us -- experienced players, a lot of talent, new talent coming in -- and the coaches are out recruiting hard," says Smith. "The bowl win should really help our recruiting." Smith says the Ducks spent five days in El Paso preparing for the Sun Bowl and savoring another successful season that led to Oregon's eighth bowl in 11 years. "We had a good time, and the people were great down there," says Smith. "We got to go to some bullfights. We even had a chance to fight a bull, but nobody wanted to. The coaches were saying no because they didn't want anybody to get hurt. "It was a nice time down there, but practices were still real intense." Randy Hammericksen is the Mail Tribune's sports columnist. He can be reached at 776-4499. Today's Sports Index Mail Tribune Copyright� The Mail Tribune 2000, Medford, OR U.S.A.