Bellotti, Willingham leave rivalry's animosity at the door.

Byline: Rob Moseley The Register-Guard

In what is sure to be dismaying news to Northwest rabble-rousers, the coaching staffs at Oregon and Washington, which only a few years back could barely contain their contempt for each other, are talking of friendship and respect this week.

Asked Monday if the intensity of the UO-UW rivalry has waned recently, Ducks coach Mike Bellotti said it had.

"Yes, to a degree, because I don't think the personalities of the coaches have fueled any of that," Bellotti said.

Instead of answering questions about potentially offensive graphics on Oregon's MegaVision scoreboard, or Huskies players dancing on the Ducks' logo at midfield in Autzen Stadium, coaches from Oregon and Washington are discussing the rivalry in rather tame terms entering their game Saturday afternoon in Eugene.

Contrary to his relationships with past Huskies coaches Rick Neuheisel and Keith Gilbertson, which could at times be contentious, Bellotti appears to be on excellent terms with first-year UW coach Tyrone Willingham.

"I have great respect and admiration for coach Willingham," Bellotti said, adding that the two are "great friends and golfing buddies, when we get the opportunity."

Great friends? Golfing buddies? What the heck happened to the Ducks and Huskies?

The easy answer is the presence of Willingham, a no-nonsense man if ever there was one.

Will he get bent out of shape when he sees Kenny Wheaton's interception from the 1994 UO-UW game played on the Autzen scoreboard Saturday?

No, because he'll be seeing it for the first time.

According to Willingham, he has no idea of the play's particulars.

"I would imagine it was something very positive for them, and something very negative for us," he offered in speculation.

This isn't a coach who allows himself to get caught up in all the extracurriculars that were associated with the Oregon-Washington game under past regimes.

And particularly not with the Huskies 1-4 this season, having been edged 21-17 by UCLA before sitting out with a bye last week.

This season, at least, the pregame drama will have to be supplied by fans.

"When you talk about the intensity, it always depends on who you're speaking to," Willingham said.

"There's a certain segment of our fans that feels this is the most important rivalry we have.

"I've kind of handled myself accordingly, and understand that this week, this is the most important rivalry we have."

Of greater concern for Willingham is getting another victory. After an 0-2 start with losses to Air Force and Cal, the Huskies beat Idaho, then lost to Notre Dame and the Bruins.

Asked if he sees Washington's glass as half-empty or half-full at this point in the season, Willingham scoffed.

"You're talking to the wrong person," he said. "My glass is always half-full. As a matter of fact, it's probably three-quarters full. Each of those for us have been great learning experiences."

For the Huskies, it's a matter of learning how to win, and then repeating the lesson.

Willingham compared their situation to that of golfer John Daly, who on Sunday missed a short putt to lose a golf tournament to Tiger Woods in a playoff.

"I know he's made three-footers to win tournaments before," Willingham said.

Of getting the Huskies on the right track, Willingham said "it's an ongoing process. ... It's a discipline, it's a habit, and what we've got to do is acquire that habit."

One thing that doesn't appear likely for Willingham and the Huskies is the chance of catching Oregon napping.

The Ducks are 5-1, having won two straight Pac-10 road games to earn a top-20 ranking nationally. But given the fact that Saturday brings the Washington game, with the Huskies coming off a bye and having played better than their record indicates, Bellotti said, UW has Oregon's attention.

"This is our biggest game of the year," Bellotti said.

He still wants badly to beat the Huskies. It's just that this year, with Willingham at the helm in Seattle, it's nothing personal.

OREGON FOOTBALL UPDATE

Ducks honored: Oregon linebacker Anthony Trucks and kicker Matt Evensen were honored as the Pac-10 players of the week for defense and special teams, respctively. Trucks, who had 10 tackles including four for lost yardage, is the second UO linebacker honored this season by the league, following A.J. Tuitele, and Evensen, who kicked three field goals, including one from 51 yards, is the second UO kicker selected for the Pac-10 award after Paul Martinez won it the first two weeks of the season. The Pac-10 offensive player of the week was UCLA running back Maurice Drew.

Selected by the Ducks as their players of the week were tailback Terrence Whitehead and the entire offensive line on offense, Trucks and rover Patrick Chung on defense and Evensen and Nick Reed on special teams.

Oregon's scout team players of the week were Sean Cullen and Matt Bramow for offense, Devlin Bayne and Jairus Byrd for defense and Titus Jackson and Josh Thomas-Dotson for special teams.

Ignored by TV: Oregon's game at Arizona on Oct. 22 wasn't selected for a live telecast by any of the networks doing Pac-10 games. Chosen for telecasts on Oct. 22 were USC at Washington by ABC at 12:30 p.m., Oregon State at UCLA by TBS at 4 p.m. and Washington State at California by FSN at 7:15 p.m.

Next game: Saturday against Washington at Autzen Stadium at 12:30 p.m. TV: No live telecast.