The resurgent Oregon Ducks have spent their first ten games trying to ditch the quitter’s moniker they justifiably earned in 2006. They got the national media to buy into their sham and even their players did their best to show that a leopard could change their spots. But the crumbling of Dennis Dixon’s left knee proved to be a metaphor for who the Ducks really are.

Faced with real adversity for the first time this season, Oregon decided to hide in the corner rather than come out and fight. When their Heisman hopeful hobbled off the field and was reduced the tears, his team