Football Practice Report: Dec. 26

Venue: Trinity University
Format: Full pads

Ever since he wore No. 23 as a high school football player, that number has had special meaning for Travis Dye, and for the UO running back's girlfriend, Erin.

So it was only fitting that Dye chose the 23rd of December to make Erin his fiancée — the two got engaged two days before Christmas, and two days before Dye joined his Oregon teammates in San Antonio for Wednesday's Alamo Bowl (6:15 p.m. PT, ESPN).

"It was just a nice moment," Dye said, adding quickly: "I was very, very nervous."

Dye proposed at the couple's home, where they're raising three dogs together. If Dye felt a step quicker at Oregon's practice Sunday, maybe it was because the pressure of the proposal was no longer there — once he got the answer he was hoping for, of course.

"It was difficult to do, but it felt like a weight lifted off my shoulders after I did it," Dye said. "I'm glad she said yes."

Travis Dye Trinity University Practice

His future with Erin secured, Dye turned his focus to Wednesday's Alamo Bowl matchup with Oklahoma. Dye enters the game as Oregon's feature back, having run for 1,118 yards this season — much of that since his fellow junior and early season starter CJ Verdell was injured in late September.

"It was nice that guys looked at me to step up after CJ went down; it was just nice to put in the work and have the results come out the way you want it to — the way any running back wants it to," Dye said. "But all I care about is winning, and the rest of the stuff will come."

Indeed, the final score Wednesday will be the only statistic that truly matters to Dye. But with 42 rushing yards against the Sooners, Dye will become the fifth back in UO history to run for 3,000 yards in his career.

The other four are Royce Freeman, LaMichael James, Kenjon Barner and Derek Loville. Dye can join that exclusive club Wednesday, and on the heels of his engagement and then Christmas, what a week that would make for Oregon's standout running back.

Donte Thornton Trinity University Practice

Donte Thornton Trinity University Practice

Practice highlights: The defense remained undefeated this postseason in competitive periods to close out practices. Sunday's scrimmage situation was a best-of-three series of two-point conversion attempts; the offense forced a winner-take-all rep on a nice conversion by Ty Thompson to Dont'e Thornton, but the defense won the tiebreaker and thus the drill. … Another of Oregon's young quarterbacks, Robby Ashford, had a strong day. In a period of 11-on-11, Ashford had a pair of really nice throws on consecutive reps, rolling out to hit Tevin Jeannis and threading a ball through the defense to Moliki Matavao despite backpedaling. …

Cross Patton was involved in two of the biggest collisions of the day, taking on Dontae Manning and later Verone McKinley III and popping the pads at Oregon's "thud" practice tempo. … Anthony Brown and Isaah Crocker had a good connection working, with a couple of long completions on the day. … Brandon Dorlus is an exceptional defensive lineman, which is why the offensive line was so fired up to see Marcus Harper II fight him to a stalemate in pass-rush drills.

DJ Johnson Trinity University Practice

Other observations: The early portion of Sunday's practice was open to media, who observed that Jackson Powers-Johnson and DJ Johnson were working with the defense. Powers-Johnson is providing depth for a defensive line hurt by injuries and opt-outs, and Johnson is back on defense after playing primarily tight end the last few weeks. … Following Sunday's practice, players had the option of attending an amusement park or an NBA game in the evening.