Canidate honored for 180-yard performance
The Arizona running game, led by junior Trung Canidate's 180 yards, dominated the Oregon defense Saturday evening. As a result of the annihilation of the Ducks, Canidate was named offensive player of the week in the Pacific 10 Conference.
Also garnering honors this week was Southern Cal cornerback Antuan Simmons on defense and Oregon State kicker Jose Cortez for special teams.
Canidate rushed for his 180 yards and a touchdown on 17 carries in the Wildcats' 38-3 victory. He had runs that went for 71 yards and 61 yards. The 71-yard rush was for the touchdown. This is the first time this season an Arizona running back has won the offensive weekly award.
Simmons led the defensive charge for the Trojans against Washington in the 33-10 USC victory by picking off two of UW quarterback Brock Huard's passes and running both of them back for touchdowns. Both interceptions took place in the fourth quarter and helped seal the victory for the Trojans, who won their sixth game of the season. The two interception returns for touchdowns ties a Pac-10 single-game record and Simmons is also the first person to do it since 1978. He was credited with eight unassisted tackles and six passes broken up.
Cortez, a senior for the Beavers, converted on all four field goal attempts of 30, 55, 21 and 46 yards. Despite this effort the Beavers still fell to California, 20-19. His 55-yard field goal is the longest in the Pac-10 this year and it is his fourth field goal of 50 yards or more this season.
Also nominated for the offensive award were receivers Dameane Douglas of Cal and Troy Walters of Stanford, quarterbacks Ryan Kealy of Arizona State and Carson Palmer of USC and running back Kevin Brown of Washington State.
On defense the nominees were defensive backs Chris McAlister of Arizona, Wille Daniel of Arizona State, Larry Atkins of UCLA and Armon Hatcher of Oregon State, as well as linebackers Matt Beck of Cal and Grady Emmerson of Washington State.
Nominated for special teams were Ignacio Brache of Cal, Tod McBride of UCLA, Dennis Northcutt of Arizona and Kareem Anderson of Washington State.
At the beginning of the college football season, the Southern Cal starting quarterback job was Mike Van Raaphorst's to lose.
Eight games later, he did just that as true freshman Carson Palmer got the nod Saturday.
Against Washington on Homecoming day at USC, Palmer started his first collegiate football game, and also got his first win 33-10.
He went 18 of 31 for 279 yards and also had a 57-yard touchdown pass to Billy Miller for the Trojans' first score. In his limited playing time this season Palmer has completed 52 of 106 passes for 832 yards and four touchdowns.
He is the first true freshman to start for the Trojans since Rob Johnson, now playing for the Buffalo Bills.
In a postgame release, USC coach Paul Hackett commented on his quarterback situation.
"I talked to Mike Van Raaphorst first about it (last Monday). I told him I felt Carson deserved the opportunity to see how he could do as the clear-cut leader," Hackett said.
After Palmer's performance in the blowout victory over Washington, Hackett talked about the future plans of his freshman quarterback.
"What I've tried to do (with Palmer) is bring him along, give Mike an opportunity, and then make the change. His presence (Palmer), I was delighted with," Hackett said. "I think Carson will play and Mike will be available."
Palmer came off the bench against Washington State three games ago, leading USC to 28 unanswered points after Van Raaphorst became ill. He was 8 of 16 for 143 yards and a touchdown.
Two games ago at Oregon, Van Raaphorst started but Palmer saw action in the second quarter, the end of the third quarter and all of the fourth quarter. He was 10 of 19 for 179 yards in the 17-13 loss.
In the postgame release, Palmer commented on when he found out he was the starter.
"He told me Tuesday night. I was excited. I couldn't wait. He (Hackett) said, 'Don't let this out. I don't want Washington to game plan on you.' During the week we planned on them blitzing and then stuck with the game plan. I think I did all right. The middle was wide open all day. I thought I'd be nervous, but I wasn't."
Next week Palmer will get his second start as the Trojans travel to Stanford.
Pac-10 Heisman Watch
With Stanford only a fumble away from knocking off Cade McNown and the UCLA Bruins, Arizona demolishing Akili Smith and the Oregon Ducks, and non-Pac-10 player Ricky Williams running through the Nebraska defense in the Longhorns' 20-16 win, the Pac-10 Heisman contenders' hopes have all but fizzled away.
Dan Rosen can be reached via e-mail at Dan.Rosen@wildcat.arizona.edu.
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