Beavers have eight days left to prepare Wednesday, August 25, 2004 DOUG BINDER CORVALLIS -- Eight days are all that remain before the Oregon State football team boards a plane bound for the Bayou to play defending Bowl Championship Series champion Louisiana State before a national TV audience. Beavers coach Mike Riley and his staff have a busy week ahead of them, making final decisions on starting roles, as well as which freshmen to bring for the Sept. 4 opener in Baton Rouge, La. Riley listed three priorities after Tuesday's practice at the Merritt Truax Indoor Center: First, there is the matter of arriving at a starting lineup. Competition remains close for open spots on the offensive line, and at receiver and kicker. The role of backup to quarterback Derek Anderson remains a dead heat between senior Adam Rothenfluh and freshman Ryan Gunderson. "We've got some real personnel decisions to make," Riley said. There is a scrimmage scheduled for Thursday, but Riley said that it won't carry any more weight, in terms of determining starting jobs, than any other daily practice. "Every day is part of it," he said. "We're practicing every day at a really high intensity." Second, the team still is figuring out its identity in the post-Steven Jackson era. "We're continuing the refinement of what we do, and then working to do those things at a high rate of efficiency," Riley said. Finally, the Beavers are continuing to work on situational pieces, such as the two-minute drill and special teams. http://www.oregonlive.com/beaversfootball/oregonian/index.ssf?/base/sports/1093435032273600.xml Riley still unsure who will start at left guard Saturday, August 21, 2004 PAUL BUKER When Oregon State opens its season at No. 4 Louisiana State on Sept. 4, quarterback Derek Anderson's blind side will be protected by two new starters. Sophomore Adam Koets appears to have taken over at left tackle, but 10 days into camp the Beavers are still undecided about the left guard position. "It concerns me a little bit that we don't know," OSU coach Mike Riley said. Jason Fyda, a junior, was listed No. 1 on the depth chart at left guard when camp started, but backup center Brent Bridges has switched over and is working with the first team. Sophomore Josh Linehan also has moved to left guard along with freshman Jeremy Perry. Linehan got snaps with the No. 1 unit in OSU's first scrimmage. "I would hope that in the next few days we would be able to solidify at least some depth -- maybe not the starter but the depth," Riley said. "We're trying to get the best players out there." Running backs: Dwight Wright is the incumbent, with Ryan Cole and Yvenson Bernard giving chase. Riley said the team's first scrimmage Tuesday provided no clear-cut answers, although Wright and Cole both broke off nice runs against the Beavers' No. 1 defense. Kickers: There is less hand-wringing over kicking. Junior college transfer Sam Paulescu looks as if he can handle the punting job. Junior John Dailey and redshirt freshman Alexis Serna are making it hard for Riley to choose a starter. Dailey has the stronger leg, but Serna is extremely accurate from midrange. Notes: Sophomore left end Brandon Scales, listed No. 1 on the depth chart when camp started, returned to practice after being gone a few days for personal reasons. . . . Offensive linemen J.C. Ronnfeldt and Whitfield Usher and wide receiver Kevin Swanigan have not been cleared to play. . . . Defensive end Joe Rudulph was back on the field this week, making plays, but senior middle linebacker Kevin Davidson, Trent Bray's backup, has a hamstring injury. . . . Starting left cornerback Aric Williams (knee) missed the first scrimmage but returned Wednesday. . . . Freshman cornerback Keenan Lewis (knee) is out for an undetermined time. . . . LSU's scrimmage Tuesday was closed to media, and no statistics were released. http://www.oregonlive.com/beaversfootball/oregonian/index.ssf?/base/sports/1093089883215830.xml Sorry if any of this is a repost. :geaux:
One other interesting tidbit. In preparation for the OSU-LSU game, I guess some of these Beaverses and Buttheads want to compare USC v. LSU. Feel free to chime in and tell them what you really think. But if you do, be prepared to be insulted. http://www.oregonlive.com/forums/beaverfootball/ Post #11041
:shock: Uh ohhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh! Fresh meat in the Tiger pen ... Everyone knows we're gonna blitz past these kids on the left side and eat 'em alive ... OSU is gonna have to put a FB to block on that side if they wanna "hope" to keep Anderson upright on passing downs :wink:
Id be concerned just a tad bit as well. 10 days to go and 2 new boys on the left side but not quite sure which? 3 words: OH....MY....GOD.
Yeah ... especially because of the way Melvin likes to get in there and slap the bitches around :shock:
This is perhaps the most encouraging thread about the season opener I have read thus far! Wow, offensive line starters un-decided. Oliver, Spears, and the gang are salivating.
Hmmm - I see the Beaverses and Buttheads are getting cranky on their forum. Imagine the irony. People from Oregon calling people from La. "rednecks." I don't know about you guys, but I find that really funny. And some of these hillbillies think they can show up at Tiger Stadium to fight? Wow. You have to pity these fools. They have no idea what they are getting into. They can either come out and enjoy the hospitality, or they can act like idiots and get the living snot knocked out of them by some drunk coullion! :thumb: :lsup:
those poor OSU fans. the hype of LSU tailgating and drinking all day. I think those fans are worried. 92000 in Tiger Stadium....I think they hold 35K. I hope they come down and have fun take the lumps and go back home with an L.
Not only that, there is no real tailgating in Oregon. It just isn't allowed. People are not allowed to have fun in Oregon. I am not making this up. The government runs interference on your life to a repressive extent. Go to any Oregon public venue serving alcohol. Guess what you'll see? "Alcohol Monitors." These people wear t-shirts that say just that. They watch you drink alcohol. First sign of drunkeness, they'll throw you out of the venue, even if you aren't drunk or even buzzing. Resist and you will be arrested and have a permanent record in Oregon. It's ridiculous. Now some might say that this is good. That it keeps crowds under control. Well, I disagree. They get you under control before you can even really start to have fun. There is no fun. People in Oregon simply cannot handle it. I know people at Death Valley can get unruly. My opinion is that you should let people have fun and then deal with them when they can no longer have fun without interfering with others who are trying to have fun. Basically, Oregon sucks. Beautiful state, but there is nothing else you can say about it. Oh, the beer is good, too.
