It was as if Kenjon Barner had just won an Academy Award.
After scoring five touchdowns in No. 11 Oregon’s 72-0 rout of New Mexico on Saturday, Barner gave credit to the coaches, the offensive line, and yep, even his mom.
“Not too bad at all. I was remembering that the coaches had faith in me,” he said. “I have to thank my mother. The coaches told me to be prepared, but I didn’t know how many touches I’d get.”
Barner was making his first career start at running back for the Ducks, subbing for LaMichael James, who was suspended for the opener.
He scored on runs of 1, 25, 10 and 41 yards, before a 60-yard catch-and-dash from quarterback Darron Thomas. And that was all in the first half — Oregon rested him in the second.
Even Barner, a sophomore, seemed a little stunned by his stand-in performance.
“I didn’t ever imagine that’d happen,” he said. “They were all fun. I had five touchdowns in high school, but I never expected five in college, unbelievable.”
Barner’s five touchdowns matched a modern day school record set by Saladin McCullough in 1996.
He finished with 17 carries for 147 yards. With his scoring reception and returns, he contributed 225 all-purpose yards. The sophomore had 1,553 all-purpose yards last season.
Barner’s start came at the expense of James, who was among several Oregon players who had trouble in the offseason. James pleaded guilty to misdemeanor harassment stemming from an altercation with his ex-girlfriend.
Last season James grabbed national attention by rushing for a team-high 1,546 yards, setting a record for freshmen in the Pac-10. He averaged 6.7 yards and added 14 TDs to earn the league’s freshman of the year honors.
James watched from the sideline Saturday wearing an “O” T-shirt and khaki shorts. He will return to the Ducks next weekend when they visit Tennessee (TV ESPN2, 7 p.m.).
Along with James, quarterback Jeremiah Masoli also got into offseason trouble — so much so that coach Chip Kelly kicked him off the team.
The Ducks replaced Masoli with another first-time starter, Darron Thomas, who also performed well, completing 13 of 23 passes for 220 yards and two touchdowns. He was intercepted once.
Does the emergence of Barner give the Ducks a running back controversy? Hardly, said Kelly, who at times uses two backs in his spread-option offense.
“We’ve always felt that we’ve had 1A and 1B,” Kelly said. “We run the ball 40 times a game: one guy is not going to get all the carries. Hopefully that’s a good question to ask and we’ll split it up.”
Barner didn’t seem overly concerned.
“We’re ready to have LaMichael back,” he said. “He makes special plays, going to be special when we can run side by side again.”
Tennessee's signing class for 2012
Tennessee Lady Vols 60, South…
Signing day celebration at Neyland…
Scripps Interactive Newspapers Group
Comments » 30
ProwlinAndGrowlinSmokeyDog writes:
Just bring it, Quack Attack!!! WE ARE GONNA BE READY 4 U!!!!
Down_The_Field writes:
this game will won by the big uglies on the LOS.
RandRams writes:
“We’ve always felt that we’ve had 1A and 1B,” Kelly said.
That's good Coach Kelly 'cause DC Justin Wilcox (you remember 'ol JW, right??) has a solution for 1A, 1B, AND 1C...just in case the need may arise.
I love me some corn bread stuffed, orange-whiskey glazed roasted water-fowl. Here ducky, ducky...
LEXKYVOLS writes:
VOLS open as a 13.5 point underdog to Oregon this weekend.
bluetick writes:
Love it!
ProwlinAndGrowlinSmokeyDog writes:
Oregon being a 13.5 favorite suits me just fine because I love being the underdog...I hope all the "big boys" on our schedule take us lightly, and I know some of them already are doing just that.
vol94 writes:
The 13.5 spread will probably increase once "betters" realize our #1 WR and PR is out for the game. I cannot recall a game EVER that UT was a double digit dog in NEYLAND, especially out of conference.
volzcrushm writes:
LET'S GO DUCK HUNTING!!! NEYLAND IS GOING TO BE A BARNER BURNER!!! GBO!!
oskie_score writes:
Quack attack? Fear the fowl? Oh yeah. LOL! BRING IT!!
american_pitvol_terrier writes:
Time to put the women and children to bed and go lookin for dinner...
nocleats writes:
Lets hope not
tenndave writes:
QUACK Quack Quack, Chuckle Chuckle Chucle, Get ready they are setting their feet. Get ready boys, Okay Take EM!!!!
tenndave writes:
Bang Bang Bang, Good Huntin Boys, We gottem all.
Send the dog, now let's hunt gators
nocleats writes:
OK Vol Fans! This is a game where you leave the kids, elderly parents, the little Mrs. and your best customers who couldn't care less at home! Bring the loudest, rowdiest, craziest, most vocal Vol fans you know and raise some utter hail! NOISE, Take it to em and keep it there for 60 minutes, and if the breaks go against us... PUT ON MORE STEAM!! NOISE NOISE NOISE!!!
vol94 writes:
I know UT is struggling but I cannot believe tickets are avl. What happened to the day all of our games were a sell out before the season began and there was a waiting list for seaon tickets.?
BillyVol writes:
It will be sold out 99,123 fans for UTM proved that.
NW4life writes:
Oregon's O-line is every bit SEC size. And I have heard they are a pretty quick and athletic group.
6ft7 320
6ft4 305
6ft5 295
6ft4 305
6ft5 300
RoadTrip writes:
Last time I checked Victor Thomas was around 300 lbs as was Arthur Jeffrey. Add in Montori's 310+ with Rae Sykes at around 280 lbs. Plenty of beef in the middle, folks. It's the speed, stunts and angles from the rest that creates the chaos we need to blow up the Quack Attack.
tennesseebee writes:
THERE'S NO NEED TO FEAR! UNDERDOG IS HERE! Big Orange does very well when counted out. LaMichael: Thank you shoe shine boy. You're humbled and not-so lovable!
VolGrad writes:
Yep and those coaches are no longer here. Actually the last one is your head man now. Good luck with the plague and blight of Lame and Coach O.
GBO!!!
VolGrad writes:
Uh, the "zero" left K-town suddenly several months ago. You are stuck with him now.
txsvol#372416 writes:
Emeril Lagasse's Classic Duck a l'Orange Recipe:
2 cups freshly squeezed orange juice
6 oranges, rinds reserved
1 Oregon (5#)cleaned, with innards, wing
tips, and excess fat removed
2 oranges, zested
2/3 cup sugar
1 tablespoon Peychaud Bitters
1 1/2 cup chicken or duck stock
2 tablespoons arrowroot dissolved in 2
tablespoons cold water
1/2 cup Grand Marnier liqueor
Preheat oven to 500 degrees. Place the roughly chopped orange rinds in the cleaned duck cavity. Place the stuffed duck on a baking rack over a baking sheet with 1/2 " water. Bake until the skin turns golden brown and crisps, about 30 minutes. Then reduce temperature to 300 degrees and continue cooking about an hour, or until the internal thermometer reaches 170 degrees.
In a medium heavy saucepan combine the zest, orange juice, and sugar over medium high heat and reduce to 3/4 cup. Add Peychaud Bitters and set aside.
Add hot duck stock to reduced orange gastrique and simmer over medium low heat to reduce. Add arrowroot mixture to thicken.
Remove the duck from roasting pan and discard the fat from the pan. Remove the orange rinds from the cavity, and let rest for 10 minutes.
Add the Grand Marnier to roasting pan and place over two burners on medium high heat. Deglaze pan, scraping continuously with a wooden spoon. Reduce for 5-10 minutes. Pour the orange sauce in the pan into a gravy boat, and serve with carved duck. Or, if you must, just baptize by immersion into your deep fryer, until the internal temperature reaches 170. Make sure that you show the visiting Oregon fans the trouble that you have gone to to enjoy them. There may even be a few duck carcasses in the freezers from last year's hunting.
RECIPE FOR A GOURMET TAIL GATE PARTY. I hope that at least a few Ternnessee Tailgaters enjoy duck a l'Orange using Emeril's (or some other) recipe, and offer some of it to the Oregon Duck fans. I'd probably go for wild, long-grained rice, but maybe a side dish should be ramps or leeks (usually found in the spring). But, let the left coast fans realize that like Hannibal Lecter, we eat our symbolic victims. Failing such gastronomic sophisticatin, then lets still pluck and shuck that Oregon Duck. Bon apetite! And, Go Vols! Remember, if you burn the duck, it will be quite dry, but the Gran Marnier will help salvage the carcass. SAVol
andy112382#209793 writes:
Wow, a SoCal fan talking after his team squeaks past Hawaii and gives up over 500yds...but like you said, you coach couldn't even get by a lousy UCLA team last year with that defense or his playcalling.....Thankfully Chaney isn't being restricted by Kiffin any longer.
Go Vols!!!
BustaRhymes writes:
Hey Coach Kiffin - Seems like you should be spending your time coaching USC and dealing with the NCAA - instead of posting on Vol message boards. Don't worry about the Vols - we'll be AOK - USC's future? Hmmm... time wil tell...
volsfan74 writes:
I watched some highlights of the Oregon game, they are FAST. Those running backs took of like rockets! IMO they may the fastest (on offense) team we play this year! Coach Wilcox will need to find a way to slow them down.
TKO writes:
New Mexico players were slower than dead men. A middle schol team would have looked quick. Slowest secondary I have seen in Div I in a long time. Don't give the mallards all of the credit, give some to New Mexico.
TKO writes:
Here is your "we: shizz after the game.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dWamxE...
NW4life writes:
New Mexico was slow; but they do have some Div 1A talent and a hand full of future NFL players. We can't say the same for Tenn Mart. The truth is that N.Mex is bigger and faster at just about every position than the Div 1AA Seahawks or whatever you call them.
RandRams writes:
This from a desert rat. Your ongoing drivel is evidence of the ill effects of too much sun and ganja.
The_Rabid_Duck writes:
Actually, us "snotty little fans" are pretty stoked about playing a solid UT team in such a historic stadium. There is a great deal of tradition surrounding your program...a class act (though not all the fans are apparently).
It will be all the sweeter when we run for 300+ on you guys. See that bookie by the way and if you have a wife and kids to take care of, bet Oregon...for their sake.
Quack!!!Quack!!!
Share your thoughts
Comments are the sole responsibility of the person posting them. You agree not to post comments that are off topic, defamatory, obscene, abusive, threatening or an invasion of privacy. Violators may be banned. Click here for our full user agreement.