Taking on a new role.

Byline: Rob Moseley The Register-Guard

The last time Cal visited Eugene, UO tight end Tim Day emerged from the darkness of a blacked-out Autzen Stadium to score a game-changing, and season-turning, touchdown.

He'd like nothing more than to forge a similar comeback against the Bears this weekend, and turn around a season in which he has accepted a change in roles from a featured weapon in the Oregon offense of 2004 to one of many cogs in a powerful - and successful - system this season.

After tying for the team lead in touchdowns last season, Day has yet to find the end zone this year. But he scored three times in the Ducks' past two meetings with Cal, which has Day relishing the chance to face the Bears at 12:30 p.m. Saturday at Autzen Stadium.

"You definitely are," Day said. "You look to have those big games once again. You start to relive some of the things that happened in the past, and it makes the game even more exciting."

Indeed, both of Oregon's top two tight ends will try to build on past success against the Bears this weekend.

In 2003, Day's 31-yard touchdown catch was the defining play of Oregon's season, as the Ducks beat Cal to begin a three-game winning streak that propelled them into the Sun Bowl. That same day, Dante Rosario, then a true freshman playing fullback, posted his best numbers of the season, rushing six times for 29 yards.

Last year, Oregon suffered a one-point loss in Berkeley after leading at halftime due in part to two touchdowns by Day, who didn't play in the second half with lower leg injuries. One of the Ducks' other two touchdowns was provided by Rosario, still a fullback but lined up at tight end for a play that resulted in a 38-yard scoring reception.

This year, with Rosario having moved to tight end, the duo has combined for 25 catches for 256 yards and two touchdowns, both by Rosario. The Ducks have switched to a spread offense and are taking advantage of a deep, talented group of wide receivers.

That has meant fewer touches for the tight ends, with more emphasis on pass protection. But they'd love to work themselves into the passing game again Saturday against the Bears.

"There's always that mind-set that you want to top what you did last year or the year before that" against a particular opponent, Rosario said. If ever he was ready for a breakout week, he said, "this would be the game."

Having just moved to tight end this season, Rosario has had an easier time accepting his role in the new offense. Oregon's 7-1 start to the season has certainly helped, both he and Day said.

But Rosario has stayed remarkably focused throughout the season - of his 12 receptions so far, nine resulted in first downs for the Ducks.

"I go out there with the mentality I'm going to catch 10 balls per game, so when the time does come, I'm ready," Rosario said. "But if I'm not catching the ball a lot, I'm going to make sure my blocking is exceptional, or my play on special teams. Whatever it is I'm doing, (make sure) I'm contributing as much as I can."

Day also seems to have taken that mindset, although it was a tougher adjustment in light of the numbers he posted in past seasons.

"After the year I had last year, it's a big difference," said Day, who caught 35 balls for 457 yards and tied for the team lead with eight touchdowns a year ago. "You just have to accept your role. In this offense, we've got so many good players and so many people to get the ball to, some games you might not have a catch, some games you might."

It's been a trying year all around for Day, a 6-foot-4, 265-pound senior. He was hampered in spring while recovering from surgeries on both calf muscles. Then, just as fall camp opened, his father passed away. Day left the team briefly to grieve, and he was still trying to master the new offensive scheme when the season began.

It has all added up to a frustrating year for a player who still hopes to project as an early-round NFL draft pick next April.

"Somewhat, yeah," Day said. "But we're winning games. This year they want me to be a role player, and that's the role I have to take on. As long as we're winning, I have no problem with it"

The adjustment, he acknowledged, "took a while, but this is my last year, so I can't dwell on things that happened in the past. I just try to enjoy it for what it's worth and just go out and win. You never really accept it, but you've just got to try and work with it."

No receiver or tight end will ever deny wanting as many passes thrown his way as possible. It makes the acceptance by Day and Roasrio of their limited roles even more impressive.

"I'm very proud of the way the guys have handled themselves this year," UO tight ends coach Neal Zoumboukos said.

With the familiar blue and yellow helmets of Cal coming to town, spurring memories of past success against the Bears, maybe the patience shown by Day and Rosario will pay off Saturday.

"I'm just waiting for it to come my way, and hopefully eventually it will," Day said. "Hopefully this week."

OREGON FOOTBALL UPDATE

Video games: As the Ducks prepare for California by reviewing video of other games, Oregon has paid particular attention to the visit the Bears made to New Mexico State.

Surprised Oregon would care that much about a 42-13 victory by Cal over a still-winless opponent?

`New Mexico State uses similar formations to what we do,' UO coach Mike Bellotti said. The Ducks also concentrated on the past two Cal games, a loss to Oregon State and a win over Washington State, though Bellotti said there was only so much information to be learned from how the Beavers beat the Bears.

`We're not Oregon State,' Bellotti said, in reference to offensive and defensive styles of play. `You look at everything and try to visualize the matchups, because nobody's attacked (Cal) quite the way we hope to.'

Out this week: Reserve tight end Dan Kause won't play against California due to the knee injury he aggravated last week in practice, Bellotti said. He could possibly be ready to play Nov. 12 at Washington State, the coach added.

A.J. Tuitele, who started Oregon's first four games at linebacker before missing October's four games with a knee injury, will definitely play against Cal, but `I don't know if he's going to start,' Bellotti said. `He's made steady progress ... we'll probably look at a three-person rotation' at the two inside linebacker positions of Tuitele, Brent Haberly and Blair Phillips.

Next game: Saturday against California at Autzen Stadium at 12:30 p.m. TV: Live telecast on ABC (KEZI in the Eugene-Springfield area).

CAPTION(S):

Oregon's Tim Day has had two of the best days of his career against California in the past two seasons.