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Tailgaters make the difference for Ducks By Kris Henry Seventeen straight. Can the Ducks make it 18 consecutive wins at Autzen Stadium this Saturday against sixth-ranked Washington? The answer rests mainly on how hungry and thirsty Oregon fans are once halftime rolls around. Most would have you believe devising a scheme to stop Huskies quarterback Marques Tuiasosopo is the key. Others would say the Duck offense finally needs to click on all cylinders. I say tailgaters hold the key to Oregon�s success. Those legendary figures who treat a dusty, rock-based parking lot as if it were their home-away-from-home. The ones who arrive hours before gametime, sharing a cocktail and pregame analysis. The ones who make Autzen Stadium one of the loudest venues in the Pac-10 Conference. The ones who quickly spill out of the stadium moments before halftime and return to their seats midway through the third quarter. You want proof, then look no further than last weekend�s 29-10 romp over then-No. 6 UCLA. A pumped up Autzen crowd had the Bruin offense so out of tune that they picked up a false start penalty on their first play from scrimmage and had to call a timeout before their second play. That same group of rowdy Duck supporters helped force three straight false start penalties during another UCLA series. Then came halftime, and a slow returning crowd in the third quarter. Taking advantage of the lull, the Bruins scored their 10th point as the tailgaters finally sank back into their stadium seats. From that point, Oregon left UCLA in the dust as the crowd roared to life and so did the Ducks. Sound a bit circumstantial? Then ask the man responsible for setting up Oregon�s defensive attack. "Our fans are outstanding," says Nick Aliotti. "They truly are our 12th man. The only advice I would give them is to get back sooner in the third quarter from their tailgating. They seem to be a little bit slower and not moving as fast after celebrating at halftime. We need them back sooner." Sure his words were tongue-in-cheek, but they can�t be discounted. The deafening roar has played a big part in Oregon boasting the fifth-best current home win streak in the nation. "This crowd is crazy," says Oregon tailback Maurice Morris, whose first year at Autzen has already been one for the memory banks. "Even though you�re on offense sometimes the crowd�s so loud you forget the play," he says, half-laughing and half-frightening at least one reporter. With bitter rival Washington coming into town Saturday, the Ducks are counting on even more from their fans this week. "Anybody who comes into our house is going to be a little bit nervous," says defensive end Saul Patu, who is more than ready for his hometown team to experience Autzen in full glory. "I plan on them not hearing anything so they�ll be working off the silent snap count, and that works in our favor. We want to treat them like anyone who comes down here and not give them an inch." Hopefully Patu and crew will get by with a little help from their friends. Reach reporter Kris Henry at 776-4488 or e-mail [email protected] Obituaries | Sports | Business | Classifieds | Tempo | Prime Times | So Oregon Sites | Outdoor Journal | Subscribe | Contact | Movies | Advertise | Real Estate Showcase | Archive | Editorials | Letters to the editor | Religion | Wake-up Call | NIE | Cyber Chef | Job Network | So Oregon Weather | WSJ Northwest | Forums | AP Wire | AP Money | F.A.Q. | Awards Ottaway Newspapers, Inc. The Community Newspaper Subsidiary of Dow Jones & Co, Inc Copyright �The Mail Tribune 2000, Medford, Oregon USA