Quote:
Originally Posted by Saluki  |
Actually, Yes..... He played here last year (See article) and he may be playing in Qualcomm in the near future at the Holiday bowl. wonder if he'll get a good reception....
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Oregon QB dodges comparison to former Charger
By: BRIAN HIRO - Staff Writer
SAN DIEGO ---- He will be playing in his first Holiday Bowl this week, but Oregon quarterback Brady Leaf is quite familiar with San Diego.
His older brother, Jeff, attended San Diego State five years ago. His cousin, Matt Kegel, was the quarterback for Washington State when the Cougars knocked off No. 5 Texas in the 2003 Holiday Bowl.
Oh, yes, and Leaf's oldest brother tossed a few pigskins for the Chargers back in the day. You might have heard of him ---- fella by the name of Ryan.
Brady Leaf, a dead ringer for Ryan at a wide-shouldered 6-foot-5, probably wishes you hadn't.
"Our physical attributes are similar. I mean, we come from the same parents," Leaf said. "But I'm my own person. We have different personalities. I'm Brady Leaf, not Ryan Leaf."
In San Diego, where Brady Leaf and the No. 6 Ducks will face unranked Oklahoma on Thursday at Qualcomm Stadium, that no doubt is a good thing. Five years after he took his last snap for the Chargers, Ryan Leaf remains the most villified figure in franchise history, the poster child for the arrogant and immature professional athlete.
Famously drafted second overall in 1998 after the Indianapolis Colts seriously contemplated picking him ahead of future Hall of Famer Peyton Manning, Leaf flamed out in only three years. The time went by quickly only for those who weren't exposed to his frequently loutish behavior, which made his errant passes somehow seem worse.
Released by the Chargers after the 2000 season, Leaf had brief trials with a few more teams before his career ended with scant notice.
Brady Leaf said his brother has moved back to his native Montana ---- the family is from Great Falls ---- after returning to Washington State to complete coursework toward his degree.
"He's back home, happy. He's not really sure what he's going to do yet," Leaf said. "Now that he's done playing, he says I can have that spotlight. But I really don't need it, either."
The youngest Leaf has spent much of his 21 years trying to cut a path different from that of Ryan and dodge the public eye. Now, however, it appears destined to find him. The redshirt sophomore is one of two reserve quarterbacks who helped keep the Ducks afloat after starter Kellen Clemens was lost for the season with a broken ankle in Oregon's eighth game, Oct. 22 at Arizona.
Sophomore backup Dennis Dixon replaced Clemens that day but himself went down four plays later with a concussion. Thus the task of rescuing the Ducks fell upon Leaf, who to that point had barely seen the field except as the team's holder. He completed only 5-of-10 passes for 53 yards and an interception, but his calming influence was cited as a major factor in Oregon's 28-21 victory after the Wildcats had tied the game 21-21.
Two weeks later, Leaf took over for Dixon and threw the touchdown pass in overtime that clinched a victory over Cal. And on Nov. 12, with Ryan in attendance at his alma mater in Pullman, Wash., Brady connected on 12-of-17 attempts for 99 yards with a touchdown and interception in relief of Dixon to help the Ducks rally from an 11-point deficit for a 34-31 victory over the Cougars.
"Gradually, Dennis has somewhat separated himself, and athletically it's hard to match what Dennis can do," Oregon coach Mike Belotti said. "But I think Brady brings things to the table that we like. There's a poise and a gamesmanship there that is awesome and deserves an opportunity, too. So (the Holiday Bowl) will be a similar situation. Both will play."
The Washington State game was particularly special for Leaf, who grew up wanting to play for the same school as his brother and cousin before Oregon swayed his allegiance when he was an all-state senior QB at C.M. Russell High in Great Falls.
He loves his oldest brother. But he's not Ryan Leaf.
"It's difficult to see someone very close to you struggle like that," Brady said. "There was some poor decision-making on both sides and in all areas. But that's part of life, and that type of stuff happens. I try not to think about it; he tries not to think about it. You can't change the past.
"Me and my family, we're moving on."
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