Oregon Rivalry a Way of Life

Friday, November 17th 2000, 12:00 am

By: News On 6

EUGENE, Ore. (AP) â€” Like every other Oregon player, Saturday's Civil War game against Oregon State means everything to Joey Harrington. But few other players have the same connection with the rivalry that he does.

The Oregon quarterback learned all he needed to know about Oregon-Oregon State from his father, who played for the Ducks. John Harrington, mostly a backup quarterback from 1967-69, never played on a winning team and never knew the pleasure of beating the rival Beavers.

``I'm sure that doesn't sit well with him now,'' Joey Harrington said. ``As an Oregonian, this is the game you dream about.''

The younger Harrington will be going for his second straight Civil War victory Saturday, when the No. 5 Ducks play the No. 8 Beavers, with a shot at the Rose Bowl as the prize.

It's always difficult for a son trying to measure up to his father's accomplishments, to make a name for himself. But in this case, Joey Harrington not only has eclipsed his dad, but has joined the list of other great Oregon quarterbacks like Norm Van Brocklin, Dan Fouts, Bill Musgrave, Danny O'Neil and Akili Smith.

John Harrington's career numbers were modest: He completed 81 of 203 passes (just under 40 percent) for 1,130 yards, eight touchdowns and 12 interceptions. Joey, a junior, has completed 255 of 488 passes (52 percent), with 30 touchdowns and 11 interceptions.

Joey said his father doesn't talk about football much, because he doesn't want to overshadow him or his two brothers, who also play the game. This makes the elder Harrington laugh.

``There's no way I could overshadow him,'' John said. ``I saw my stats in the paper one day, and my youngest kid said, `Geez, Dad, how embarrassing.'''

Michael Harrington is the starting quarterback at Portland's Central Catholic High School, which is 10-0 and contending for the state title. His younger brother Nick, a sophomore, is the team's long snapper, with Michael doing the punting. Both have fun with their father about his playing days.

``There was an article in USA Today after Joe threw for 382 yards against USC, and then my Dad against USC threw for 45 yards, so we gave him grief the whole week,'' Michael said. ``He was like 2-for-7 for 45 yards ... the game has changed.''

The most important statistic for Joey Harrington is that the Ducks are 15-1 when he's been in the game, and 13-1 when he's been the starter. He has led his team back from a deficit seven times, including four times this season. He threw six touchdown passes against Arizona State, two in the last 3 1/2 minutes of regulation, to help the Ducks win a 56-55 game in double-overtime.

Harrington admits he gets too emotionally high for games, and many of his passes are behind his receivers or over their heads. In a 14-10 victory over Arizona, he was just 9-of-22 for 123 yards, but he threw two perfect passes to Marshaun Tucker â€” touchdown passes of 25 and 20 yards â€” in the first half to provide the winning margin.

``He's going to have his bad days and when he does, it's up to us to make him look good,'' said Tucker, who calls Harrington `the General' because of his leadership ability. ``But the one thing about Joey â€” he might have a bad game, but he knows how to suck it up. He doesn't get mentally down.''

Perhaps affected by the pressure of playing in front of family and friends from Portland, has completed 49 percent of his passes for 971 yards and eight touchdowns in six home games, compared with 54 percent, 1,390 yards and 12 touchdowns in four road games. Saturday's game is in Corvallis.

``I think I've done better lately, not letting my emotions get the better of me,'' he said. ``But on the other hand, I think there have been times when I could have been more emotional, more animated. I constantly struggle to find a balance between being too excited and not excited enough.''

John Harrington saw that kind of intensity, and some other special qualities, early on with his oldest son.

``I guess looking back, he was terribly competitive at a young age,'' said John, now the principal at David Douglas High School in Portland. ``He's always seemed to have that intangible. You can't quite put your finger on it, but he seems to play better when the game is on the line, and he makes the people play better around him, and that's always the mark of a good quarterback.''

Of the Civil War, Joey Harrington said he'll either ``cherish it for the rest of my life, or it will haunt me.'' Win or lose, though, he'll still go home for Thanksgiving dinner, and the only rule is no talking about football.

``I guess he told my Mom, and she's already spread it through the family, that when he comes home for Thanksgiving, no football,'' Michael said. ``He's sick of it.''