Columnist Ron Kantowski: Oregon not bad choice after all

Monday, Dec. 22, 1997 | 10:07 a.m.

WITH ALL due respect to Oliver Barrett III, who played both ends of the ice for the Harvard hockey team in the movies, it's being a sports columnist -- and not in love -- that absolves one of having to say he is sorry.

But in retrospect, the Las Vegas Bowl committee deserves at least a pat on the back for bringing Oregon to town when Michigan State played itself into a bigger bowl (by beating Penn State) a couple of weeks ago.

These Ducks weren't so lame after all.

In fact, based on what Oregon showed in Saturday's 41-13 rout of Air Force, it's hard to fathom how it lost five games this season.

On Saturday, it was Duck and Cover. Oregon entered as a small 4-point favorite but had that number covered in the first 30 seconds.

Almost as impressive was the way the Eugene faithful turned the east end of Sam Boyd Stadium into the world's largest Duck blind. The stands were teeming with green-and-yellow clad Ducklings, contributing to a record Las Vegas Bowl crowd of 21,514 that appeared larger than reported.

From all reports, the Oregon fans were a classy bunch. Unfortunately, you couldn't say the same about the Oregon players, who were penalized a whopping 19 times for 166 yards. Many of the flags were for late hits and other unsportsmanlike conduct.

But the most grievous display of the latter didn't even cost Oregon 15 yards. The officials must have been looking the other way when several Ducks lined up and saluted -- mocking the Falcons -- following a second-half touchdown.

Other leftovers from Las Vegas Bowl VI and elsewhere:

There was one Las Vegan representing Oregon on the field Saturday -- but she didn't take it until halftime. Kelly Colosimo, one of three drum majors in the Oregon marching band, is an Eldorado High graduate. ... There were roughly 100 officers-in-waiting on the Air Force sidelines Saturday but as the crack Oregon sports information office pointed out in its extensive pregame notes, the Ducks have produced their share of decorated military personnel, including a retired admiral and vice chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff (David Jeremiah) and a retired Air Force brigadier general (Stephen Mannell). ...

Whether by design or by accident, Sunday afternoon has become a showcase for women's college basketball. Whereas No. 3 Duke (vs. Mercer) and No. 15 Iowa (vs. Puerto Rico-Mayaguez) were the only members of the men's top 25 in action, 12 of their women's counterparts hit the hardwood Sunday. If the women are looking to carve a little deeper visibility niche, Sunday afternoon isn't a bad place to start. ... It used to be if you were a parent and wanted your kid to become rich, you put a tennis racket or pitching wedge into his hands at an early age. But based on this week's Sports Illustrated, you might be better off teaching him/her to milk a cow. There are 10 full-page ads featuring various athletes and their milk moustaches.

You might say both sides have milked that campaign for all it was worth.