'That was our opportunity to see if we were good enough': On Michigan State, 10 years later

The I-5 Corridor spoke with Ifo Ekpre-Olomu about one of the biggest games in Oregon history.

PORTLAND — You all remember Ifo Ekpre-Olomu’s interception.

But when reminiscing about that Michigan State game 10 years ago, what excites the former Oregon All-American cornerback is something few people remember.

He got to return three punts.

Coming into the game, Ekpre-Olomu was known for a lot of things. He was, then, a two-time All-Pac-12 first-teamer, one who turned down an opportunity to leave for the NFL to return for his senior season with Oregon. Along with the return of Marcus Mariota and Hroniss Grasu, Oregon’s talent and experience made the Ducks a trendy pick for the new College Football Playoff, which would pit the best four teams in the country against each other.

Ekpre-Olomu’s defense was expected to be a key part of that run, but Oregon special teams coach Tom Osborne needed more than that from his senior. In the spring, Oregon punt returner Bralon Addison went down with a knee injury. And while the Ducks would eventually transition true freshman Charles Nelson into the role, Osborne called upon Ekpre-Olomu to carry the load for the season’s first two games.

"Last year Bralon fielded the ball better so he was the guy," Osborne said then, "but he doesn't have the speed that Ifo has or maybe the change of direction Ifo has."

“I always felt I just need the ball. I want the ball,” Ekpre-Olomu reflected. “As a DB, good DBs are itching for the ball all the time.”

Twice Ekpre-Olomu went out to return punts in Oregon’s season opener against South Dakota. Twice he called for a fair catch.

The stakes were considerably greater a week later when Ekpre-Olomu positioned himself around his own 35-yard-line with Michigan State lining up for a punt. The No. 3 Ducks were hosting the No. 7 Spartans in one of the most anticipated games in Autzen Stadium history. And though this may have been in the thick of Oregon’s Win the Day and faceless opponent era, Ekpre-Olomu now admits there was something different in the air that Saturday for the players, too.