'Zona Fans Throw Bottles, U of O Cheerleader Hit in Head

November 22, 2009

By Steve Andress

Tucson, AZ --- Following Oregon's thrilling 44-41 double overtime win at Arizona Saturday, a University of Oregon cheerleader was struck in the head by a full one liter bottle of water, thrown by an Arizona fan in the endzone near the Ducks locker room entrance.

Katelynn Johnson was carted off the field and taken to University Medical Center by police escort, after lying on the ground for about 20 minutes. Hospital staff said Johnson was discharged from the emergency room about 30 minutes after arriving. Another Ducks cheerleader told KEZI Johnson is a junior at U of O.

Johnson and the rest of the Oregon cheerleading team traveled back to Eugene Sunday. Johnson and the squad flew out of Tucson International Airport just after 6 A.M. Sunday morning. The entire squad said they were happy to hear University of Arizona police are conducting a full investigation, including reviewing tapes from ABC's broadcast of the game, to try and find the fans who threw bottles onto the field.

KEZI was also asked to give a witness account to University of Arizona police. KEZI Sports Reporter Steve Andress offered his statement and the video tape he used to record the events that transpired after the game. It is not certain how much this will be able to aid in the investigation.

Comments

Sun, 11/22/2009 - 9:27pm — redjag_1965

Cheerleader Injury

Interesting. Now, if it had been a football player who got beaned, it would make national headlines. Look at the hue and cry raised when Blount clocked another player. This reminds me of the good old days when the Husky fans used to throw garbage cans at the U of O marching band in Seattle. I guess if you're connected with the opposing team, you're considered fair game. Not surprisingly, it doesn't seem to have raised any eyebrows, or any cries of 'foul', or caused any demands for the head of the jerk who called himself an Arizona fan. Seems unless you're a player, no one really gives a hoot!

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Mon, 11/23/2009 - 12:04am — sandress

Oregon Player Was Hit

Javes Lewis, one of the Ducks starting defensive backs, was also hit in the head with a full water bottle. He was not injured. Lewis did yell to the crowd and raise his arms after he was hit.

That's when team captains yelled to the rest of the players to put their helmets back on as Oregon worked their way into the away locker room.

It took longer than usual for the Ducks to get into their locker room, because the primary entrance to the field from the visitor locker room at Arizona Stadium is via a single-file staircase.