Old sledge' still knocking around.

Byline: NOTEBOOK By Rob Moseley The Register-Guard

STANFORD, Calif. - Oregon's sledgehammer made another halftime appearance Saturday during the Ducks' game at Stanford Stadium, but it didn't touch the home turf.

The sledgehammer, which was a staple of UO coach Mike Bellotti's halftime speeches in recent seasons, has come out of the locker room this fall.

Jeremiah Johnson first brought it onto the turf at Michigan Stadium, and smashed the corner of an end zone for a group of Oregon fans sitting in that section on Sept. 8.

Last week, Kwame Agyeman used the hammer to smack the turf at midfield in Autzen Stadium. And Saturday, Johnson led the Ducks out of the tunnel at halftime carrying the sledgehammer. But rather than hitting the turf, he ran across the field to Oregon's sideline and handed the hammer to a team manager.

A Pac-10 spokesman said the appearance of the sledgehammer doesn't violate any league rules relating to football games. It's up to host event personnel to decide whether its use is acceptable for road games.

Johnson, Padilla didn't make trip to Stanford

Injured receiver Brian Paysinger, whose leg injury will be re-evaluated in the next few days, was not the only regular contributor to remain in Eugene for Saturday's game.

Safety Marvin Johnson didn't make the trip to the Bay Area after being bothered by a hamstring injury this week in practice. Freshman placekicker Daniel Padilla did not travel after sharing time with Matt Evensen in the three nonleague games, and backup running back Remene Alston was left behind as well.

Saturday's game was the first of the season in which Oregon had to abide by the limit of 64 players for a Pac-10 Conference road trip. Among those who made the cut was safety and special teams contributor Caleb Tommasini of Winston. Tommasini plays on the punt team.

Pflugrad makes Duck

debut, nets first catch

Receiver Aaron Pflugrad became the 10th true freshman to play for Oregon this season when he took the field to begin the Ducks' second offensive series in the first quarter.

Pflugrad, a Sheldon High grad, dressed for the first three games but had yet to play. He wasn't scheduled to travel to Stanford until Paysinger was injured in practice Thursday.

Pflugrad got his first career reception on the next series, catching a two-yard screen pass.

The Ducks had used nine other true freshmen through three games, including receiver Drew Davis, who had his first career reception in the first quarter Saturday. Of those nine, only Padilla didn't travel to Stanford.

Ducks mix-and-match

uniforms for Stanford

The Ducks used a mix-and-match uniform combination for the first time this season, pairing white jerseys with green pants. They wore their traditional green helmets.

In the three previous games this season, Oregon had worn tops and bottoms of the same color. It was all green for Houston, white for Michigan and black for Fresno State.

The Ducks wore white jerseys and green pants two times last season. They used that combination in a 31-24 win at Fresno State and a 34-23 loss at Washington State.

Tschirgi back into

offensive line rotation

Josh Tschirgi returned to the playing rotation after missing most of the past two games with a back injury.

Tschirgi, who started 21 games at left guard the last two years, opened this season there as well but hurt his back against Houston. He took just seven snaps at Michigan, and didn't play against Fresno State as Pat So'oalo replaced him in the lineup.

So'oalo started at Stanford, but Tschirgi took the field for the third possession.

Cardinal get in their kicks in second quarter follies

After Stanford's touchdown to get within 21-17 in the second quarter, the Cardinal had to kick off four times before the Ducks finally took over on offense.

On the first attempt, UO returner Jonathan Stewart was stopped at the 13-yard line, but Stanford was offside and had to rekick from the 25. The ensuing kick went out of bounds, the Cardinal was moved back to the 20.

The third attempt was also fielded, by Andre Crenshaw, who returned it to the UO 45. But Stanford was whistled for illegal procedure and Oregon committed a hold, offsetting flags that forced another kick. That one was clean, returned by Stewart to midfield, but not before the Cardinal called timeout to extend the "drama."