You think the Oregon-Boise State trash talking has died down with kickoff fast approaching. Well, you ain't heard nothing yet.

You think it's only Oregon - and those sore-loser Ducks fans - that keeps talking about last year's 37-32 Broncos victory and the late hits contained within. Not so fast.

You think Ellis Powers' status as Public Enemy No. 1 in Eugene is safe. Well, Jeron Johnson, who ranks No. 2 on that list, has something to say about it.

Actually he has a lot to say. And he plans on talking and talking and talking throughout Thursday night's bitter rematch with the Ducks at Bronco Stadium.

ESPN better have its 8-second delay button ready if it plans on using those giant field-level microphones that pick up the sounds of the game.

Earmuffs.

"Parental advisory, definitely. There's going to be some very foul language going on on both ends," said Johnson, smiling broadly at the very thought of it.

The hard-hitting safety and linchpin of the Broncos' pass defense was a second-team All-WAC pick last year. He is a first-team All-World trash talker, a skill he is just as proud of as his tackling abilities.

"That's part of my game. I'm gonna talk trash. I know exactly how to even it up," Johnson said. "If you're a guy who doesn't necessarily talk trash and you get to talkin' trash and you mess up, that's going to take you out of your whole game plan. Now you're worried about talking trash to this guy. You just want to do your job and play your role. That's me. I've been doing it forever."

Seems like the Ducks have been doing it for months, too. They haven't forgotten - how could they? - the late hits by Powers (on quarterback Jeremiah Masoli) and Johnson (on tight end Ed Dickson) in last year's game in Eugene. Johnson was ejected for his hit.

Funny how Ducks fans never mention the blatant spearing of a Boise State defensive back when discussing those dirty Broncos or the game's outcome.

Dickson told The (Portland) Oregonian that Boise State is "one of those teams that really doesn't rub right with me."

Johnson isn't surprised. One gets the sense that he respects the Ducks more for their willingness to mix it up verbally.

"We came out with the upset. If somebody beats you up, the next time you see them and you fight them, you're going to want to (pause) you know," Johnson said.

Johnson didn't finish the statement. He didn't need to. The Ducks did it for him.

"We owe that team an ass-whuppin'." star tailback LeGarrette Blount told Sports Illustrated after seeing the late hits again.

"Those emotions come out when you see that stuff," Blount later told The (Eugene) Register-Guard.

The emotions will be flowing again Thursday night. The atmosphere at Bronco Stadium will be electric. The trash talk - from Johnson and others - will be non-stop.

But it comes with a balance. Balancing that emotion with football smarts and discipline could well be the difference in this meaningful matchup of top-16 teams.

Among the jewels bestowed on the winners: the right to talk all the trash they want.

Brian Murphy: 377-6444