Home Football Cal @ Oregon State

Cal @ Oregon State

198

Go Beavs.

People seem to think this is the Beavs’ best shot to win this game, but with maybe three Pac-12 level defenders and a thin rotation of MWC level talent behind the starters, it’s hard to pick them. I guess the rationale is Cal is bad, OSU is at home, etc. That would make sense if we were serviceable. Instead of rising to the occasion, I see the Beavs playing down to Cal’s level. Expect an ugly, low scoring game with two inept teams where the Beavs figure out a new way to lose to a slightly “less bad” team.

Cal 24, Beavs 20

Really hope to be wrong because the program has to show recruits there is a future here by snagging a win or two somewhere.

198 COMMENTS

  1. Seems like a lot of people are figuring the bears will be turning it over a bunch. Beavs have not forced many turnovers and put little pressure on the QB. I see a tight game in the 30’s. Beavs by 4. 35-31

    • Yeah the complete lack of fumbles despite the number of rushes against us is kinda weird. But our DBs just have stone hands, there won’t be many INTs coming I’d assume.

  2. Will be another close… but no cigar. Look for a new and creative way to bungle what should be a win against a less than mediocre Cal team. I’m thinking special teams will find a way to lose it like Nevada. Cal 38 Beavs 36. JB

  3. Beautiful weather, homecoming, mid-day game, retro benny uniform week, best chance at a conference win…..and nobody in the stands….

    I know I’m part of the problem by sitting at home, but just sad we can’t fill half of the stadium with these conditions. Imagine if it were rainy?

  4. I just never think the Beavs are going to get a stop in a 3rd down situation. It’s always a surprise if they can force a punt. Nice to see one

  5. Solid stop!

    It seems like most of our pressure on defense is generated by stunts, good job by the commentators to point that out.

  6. Run game ineffective so far. I’m thinking if Cal scores on this drive we need to see some Jefferson to see if he can get some solid carries to loosen up the pass game.

  7. I think both DEs were in the backfield to tackle Pierce on 3rd down. Sometimes our line seems decent but I think a lot of that is how good our RBs are. Realistically, I think our line is like a D+.

  8. This reminds me too much of the Arizona game. No offensive flow, it doesn’t even look like Blount wants to be out there. Get Coletto in or even a hobbled Luton at this point.

  9. FUMBLE ON THE TWO!!!

    Goddamn Cal is super bad. The fact that we’re down is crazy. The dropped passes and missed, open receivers alone. But two big plays(55 yard pass, QB sneak on 3rd and long) have been the difference so far.

  10. wtf is happening with our offense? One decent drive so far. Another 3 and out. I know it’s tough sometimes to run plays from within your 5, but still. That was pathetic, and not the first one.

    Is Cal’s defense good or what?

  11. How long until we fire Smitty? I think after 7 years without a bowl his seat might start getting a little warm. He’s the next Riley…we won’t fire him because he’s our golden boy and won the Fiesta for us. No chance for us to win any games other than Big Sky teams. I have absolutely no hope for the future of our program. Our athletic department is terrible at promoting our school to the level it takes to be able to compete in the PAC. Meanwhile the basement dwellers of the past have locked us down there and thrown away the key.

    Aside from that, the biggest takeaway so far has been the terrible play calling on offense.

    • Seems like a pretty drastic overreaction,

      Smith inherited very little talent and it’s his first year. You want to fire a guy before he gets even a single recruiting class in the door?

      Calm down.

      • Not saying now. I’m saying how long will it take before we fire him because this shit will continue to be accepted. Our fans, overall, accept mediocrity. Overhearing fans at the games makes me sick. “If we could get to a bowl in 4 years I’d be so happy!”. Way to set the expectations high. Such a joke that we needed a search firm to find our former QB who, throughout the coaching circles, was lauded as a “great offensive mind”. I’ll believe it when I see it. That being said, I fully support the team and never miss a game. I’m just fed up with the same mediocre, flat team taking the field every week.

  12. I’m starting to come to the realization that Jefferson is better than we thought and he makes a really really shitty offense look decent. When he’s not in the game it’s an absolute disaster.

  13. If Jefferson is too “banged up” off a bye week to play in what appeared to be a winnable game I worry about his long term durability

  14. @BlackBandits

    The only improvement I see is Smitty getting mad at calls and clarifying with the refs. Hmm…what else? Play calling started out being an improvement and now it’s just give the ball to Jefferson every play. Which works until they stack the box and force our platoon of inept D2 QB’s to make throws. You seem to be mad at people being critical of the team. Go ahead and be happy with this supposed year 3 bowl game in El Paso.

    • Lol, dont worry Saban 2022 just for you. I love that you expect a pac12 championship run after the last 5 years of recruiting and a first time head coach. And i thought Nebraska fans were delusional, you take the fucking cake.

      • Yes, I said I expect a championship run in year 1. Can you read? I said we should expect to win every game. I’m not saying we will but the expectation has to be there. Those fucks in Eugene were just as terrible as us historically but their fans expect to win. Did PJ Fleck decide when he was coaching at WMU that he couldn’t win there? No he fucking recruited his ass off and won games. Enjoy our Sun Bowl appearance if we get there. But I won’t be booking my flight to El Paso anytime soon, neither will you given how our team looks currently.

    • There’s no zip on anything he throws…maybe some strength training will help.

      This Oline may get someone killed before the year is over, and aren’t three of them seniors? Next year Gebbia may never get to throw, he’ll be running for his life every down.

    • He got two carries, one of which he characteristically broke for 30 yards. He looked fine on that run but I don’t think he ever saw the field after that.

      This would have still been a loss but it wouldn’t have been a curb stomping. AP looked pretty good for knocking off the rust but he’s much better on the outside than he is bruising it up the gut.

  15. I guess he was only 50/50 30 minutes before kick-off apparently. He broke off a huge run but was clearly injured or slow or something. Maybe he got nicked up and warm ups?

  16. 49-7, WTF?!? Did any player show up? Heard early Jefferson was being held out so figured that would hurt the team, but geez…. Blount must have really struggled?

  17. This program has officially returned to the level of the 1971-1998 era. Basically we are totally outclassed on offense, defense, special teams, coaching, facilities, and frankly pride in the program from the students, alumni, administration, and potential fan base throughout the state.

    The Mike Riley era, despite its very real flaws and shortcomings is looking better the further it recedes into the past. Unless there is a real change in attitude and commitment OSU football will remain an afterthought on not only the national radar but the regional and local scene as well.

    • The Sunvegas Bowl is fun and all. But family will take priority over anything that doesn’t start with Rose or whatever the second place invite is from now on.

      And those bowls/seasons don’t look any better. They just are what they are… a bunch of lost opportunities.

      • I think we would be in the same boat if he stayed maybe not in the zero win column but definitely not going to bowl games. And all that money saved from a buyout from having to fire him.

  18. I totally get the frustration over the idea that the peak OSU football can aspire to is low level bowl games that the Mike Riley era produced most of his seasons, however stop to think for a second……..the very worst of Riley’s season results were better than anything OSU produced from 1971-1996 before he arrived the first time, and infinitely better than we have shown the past four seasons since he left for Nebraska. I have been following football at OSU since Giant Killer days and was a student there in Craig Fertig era and can tell you honestly Riley brought that program back from lower than the grave to get to level where we could expect to get to a Vegas Bowl or better most years.. No other coach in America would have taken than job in 1997 and none would have done as well.

    I agree he and his staff had serious shortcomings and recruiting dropped off dramatically after 2008 and the game was passing him and his staff by, but compared with what things were before and what they have been since his record looks pretty good, and I would sure rather have a season which ended at a low level bowl than the 1-11 we are likely looking at today. Those low level bowl seasons should be something we try to build on and improve, not disparage.

      • Yep. He WAS a great coach about a decade ago. Things change. Now he is a terrible coach. I’m not sure why some people can’t get this. Do they not believe their eyes?

        • I think everyone does get this. Read his final paragraph and its quite clear he gets this.

          This site is just so sensitive to anyone even remotely giving Riley any credit for anything that anyone who does so gets blindly attacked.

          • Riley had a couple decent years and was a mediocre coach before 2010. 2012 notwithstanding, he is now not up to even that mediocre level.

            I’m not sure what “credit” is due him. He was a placeholder coach who held his place. OSU did more for him than he did for OSU… twice.

          • Fine, guess what? The conference is weak right now and OSU can’t win a game in it.

            Again, it’s okay to not want Riley as coach and still respect that he did in fact accomplish more at OSU than just about anyone else in our lifetimes.

          • Ah, so it’s Riley’s fault they can’t win. Got it

            Btw. Even if that’s true why is it literally impossible for you to acknowledge the fact that Riley had more success as coach than all but Erickson?

            Admitting reality doesn’t mean you have to accept that Riley is the best that can happen. But it’s still reality.

            I mean, you were all about Andersen so your opinion ain’t exactly infallible

          • And honestly, calling Smith Riley’s protege is ridiculously dishonest.

            He’s got more connection to Erickson and Peterson as a coach than Riley but I get it, “it’s Riley’s fault” is your thing, it’s all you got.

          • While the blind attacks are unwarranted in the sense that drawing comparisons between 9 and Riley or even conflating the two are weird (except for the re-rehire), what did Riley really do besides have a string of winning seasons?

            He didn’t build anything. He just took what he was given, had a couple pretty good seasons, some okay seasons and some confusing and maddening seasons (apart from the reasonable downturns). Then he just handed it back in a lesser condition than he received it.

            There was no expectation that OSU even incrementally advance the program coming from the program itself. Beth Ray, may she RIP, did more for the program with her work as a mentor to OSU students, which led to the Beth Ray Center. And then, when he up and quit over the phone, Bobby D realized the malaise under which OSU had lived wouldn’t work if we were to compete in the coaching market.

            The culture that was built under that malaise even tried to halt that which Bobby D built, simply because GA was a major factor in its successful completion. It’s that malignant disregard for OSU that pisses me off. Apparently some people had grown so comfortable with their privileges, they thought their personal politicking superseded OSU’s benefit.

            One could argue they still do.

    • Sentence 1:

      … the very worst of Riley’s season results were better than anything OSU produced from 1971-1996 before he arrived the first time, and infinitely better than we have shown the past four seasons since he left for Nebraska.

      untrue–There were years in the 26 years that were better than 1997 and 2011. And 2005, 2010 and 2014 were years of anger and backward thought and extree excuse-making that equaled the moods of those bad years.

      Sentence 2:

      … and can tell you honestly Riley brought that program back from lower than the grave to get to level where we could expect to get to a Vegas Bowl or better most years..

      DE did this–Bikey took an 8-5 program and made it a five to seven win program. Bikey also never beat the bushes to advance the facility enhancements begun by DE… well, begun by Barnhart when Mike Riley up and ditched OSU like we were a pile of shit. So don’t even try to explain away the fact that he should have never been re-hired in 2003. Just let that lost opportunity go so you can make up your lies.

      Sentence 3:

      No other coach in America would have taken than job in 1997 and none would have done as well.

      Oooh!! Look at that. Those are two whoppers in one sentence. Nicely done. Don’t forget to say that no coach who led us to two straight losing seasons, our 27th and 28th in a row, would stick around to actually do their job.

      Sentence 4:

      …but compared with what things were before and what they have been since his record looks pretty good….

      This one’s a little fuzzy, but it relies on your lies above. You’ve comletely contorted the circumstance of his first stint, ignored the circumstance of DE’s tenure and miraculously concluded that Bikey created something he did not create… because you think we’re stupid?

      Sentence 5:

      Those low level bowl seasons should be something we try to build on and improve, not disparage.

      Finally a truth. You’re preaching to the choir on this one. But we can’t do it from here, ten years after. It has to be done in the moment. Recruit better players in the moment because you’ve shown that you’re “this close” to breaking through.

      Instead, we’re just standing here, holding our identities in our hands.

      • I know people will bring up Bikey leaving for the NFL as some reason not to “blame” him. I don’t know where blame ever comes into play. It just is what it is. Fine, you chose your personal goals/salary/whatever over OSU. We will survive and move on.

        But don’t you ever again tell me that OSU is your primary driver, objective or duty. Every singe time you say that, I know you’re lying. And every time you lie, you disrespect OSU.

        Fool me once, shame on you. Fool me twice, it’s okay because I’ve turned into a zombie fan who will argue tooth and nail that neato is awesome and that those really don’t look like bras and really won’t be embarrassing.

        • And unlike Riley, DE actually said one of his biggest regrets was leaving OSU for the NFL.I don’t think the Riley ever said anything about regrets. In fact when he was challenged to make changes and improve, he pouted and then somehow got Nebraska to hire him as his escape.

          And it’s too bad DE always had wanderlust for the NFL, he could conceivably still be at OSU with a few P-12 championships under his belt by now.

  19. So much for the fightin phils heisman hopeful, they are about to go down to a #25 but I bet they don’t drop much in the polls, good loss and all that jazz

  20. I still think we should revert to the Angry Beaver logo (see my avatar). You know the one that reminds Jack of the brown streak in his underwear.

    We went to a lot of bowl games with that logo. None with the Nutria!

    Just sayin’

    • The brown streak in my underwear was only known by you before now. And you said it was bee-you-tiful… which, in hindsight, might explain your wont to forgo taste for tenuous reminders of mediocrity.

      cj: “Remember when we went to nothing bowl games because we came in third in the conference a couple times? We can try to believe in the hocus pocus of a poop smear, because it coincided with all those years of spinning our wheels. We might look poopy, but at least our play will be slightly above poopy for six or so games every year.”

    • What’s hard to understand is that the Beavs had their two crappiest performances by far against the two P-12 teams, they should have been semi-competitive against. Is that on the coaching at all or still just a talent issue?

      • After 2 weeks off, there is lots of blame to go around after a game like this. Starting with coaching staff. I’m all in for Smith, but he and his staff should take a hard look at themselves first before evaluating players. They were outplayed, and out coached from the opening kickoff.

      • As I wrote in the post, they seem to play to the level of their opponent to some degree. I had a feeling they’d lay an egg against Cal for this reason, though I had no idea it would be that bad. This is a mental issue. Also, they really have no talent on D, so there’s that.

        • And when the offense is less than mediocre, like yesterday, then it gets ugly fast. The defense has no ability to pick them up.

  21. Well, I’ve moved on.

    Bought my women’s basketball season tickets last night. Looking forward to watching a Beaver team that wins.

      • It has been confirmed that Acquino is in fact red shirting this season due to an undisclosed medical issue. That’s really unfortunate because she appeared to be a key contributor to this year’s team. Even without her, the Beavs are very, very deep and talented. Apparently. Grymk (sp) improved dramatically in the off season too.

  22. Wow, do my two alma maters suck at football. Hard to believe that putting an oar on the helmet was not the missing ingredient to football greatness.

    Congrats to the Cougs and Boilermakers. Loved to see Urban Liar’s pained expressions.

      • I was certain of the loss but surprised by the the spread. We won the meaningful game against Neb. yesterday, the volleyball match. We attended that and watched two great teams with great players slug it out like an old fashioned title fight. 2.5 hours of total intensity ending with a season sweep of the defending national champs. It was really awesome. Huskers probably as disappointed with that as happy their bad football team beat a worse one.

  23. The OSU took the retro theme too far.
    Benny on the field and helmets was great.
    Bringing back the ‘83 Joe Avezzano team to play the game was too much.

  24. My apologizes to the special teams units. I predicted the blame for yesterday’s debacle would fall on you. As it turns out every other unit contributed mightily. More than enough ineptitude to go around.

    PS: Buddy of mine left at halftime. Due to no-readmission policy was told, “You know you can’t come back.” He said “Good.”

  25. Obviously, the defense is the largest of many sore spots on the season. So, where do they go from here?

    1. I know our current commits are mostly defensive players, but are they going to be able to make an impact next season as freshman?
    2. Tibesar: Do we really not have the players, or is it possible he may not be that great of a D-coordinator? How much of a leash has JS given him? At this point in the season, you’d think you would see some improvement in our defense.

  26. Cougs up to #14, Ducks drop to #19.

    RE: UO QB Herbert, reports at this pont are he will likley return for a senior season…curious if he was solid to UO from the start as a HS player? Was he noticed or heavily recruited by the PAC and/or OSU?

    • He would have been highly recruited if he hadn’t been a dead lock for the hometown team and decent enough to let everyone know beforehand.

      I’m sure if Nikegon hadn’t offered by a certain date, he would have opened up to contingencies.

    • I remember something about him being injured for his junior year, so when he started playing well as a senior, it was a little too late to get noticed by many teams because most teams had already found their QB by that time. Then Oregon offered and it was pretty much set in stone.

      I know people keep saying this guy is going to stay for his senior year, but he’s also being talked about as a potential #1 draft pick (I don’t see it, other than the athletic ability, he makes some pretty head scratching decisions)
      I don’t see a guy outside of maybe Andrew Luck, taking a chance on keeping draft stock high for a 2nd straight year. Especially with better QBs coming out next year, like, Tua Tagovailoa. That chance to be the #1 pick is pretty rare and seems like a huge gamble to not seize it, even if he has an insurance policy.

      • I was thinking the same thing. This year he’d be the #1 QB and it would be between him and Bosa for the #1 pick. Next year he has Tua and Fromm from GA to compete against for the #1 spot. If the NYG get the pick, how can you turn down playing with OBJ and Barkley for the next 10 years?

        • OBJ would be tough for a rookie…unless the HC and/or OC are going to manage OBJ….. : )

          He could be attempting to reduce distractions for the team this year too.

  27. OT, some NFL Beaver:

    Rough day for Derek Anderson yesterday in a loss to the Colts:

    “Anderson went 20 of 31 with 175 yards, three interceptions and lost a fumble in his first start since December 2016.

    ”I just have to be better with the ball, have better awareness,” Anderson said. ”I’m not going to pout about it. I expect more from myself. I came here to help this team win football games.”

    Cooks back on the field for Rams, has a TD. No more concussions for Cooks please…

  28. OT: R.I.P. Earl Bakken. You may have never heard the name but if a family member has ever had heart surgery or had a pacemaker, you owe him thanks. For me it is personal, as my older sister was the twenty third patient in the world to have heart surgery to repair a septal defect at age six. At that time it was a certain death sentence by her teen years. She is a former professor at OSU, and the reason I attended the school. The surgery was pioneered at the U of Minnesota and the confluence of two great minds and innovators happened by pure chance. While a surgery went late past normal working hours a piece of electrical equipment failed. They found the name in the phone book of an electronic repair guy nearby who agreed to come in to look at it. Dr Lillehei and Bakken hit it off and he ended up designing some of the equipment that made open heart surgery possible. Bakken had studied EE at the U of M but had dropped out to start his shop. The shop turned into Medtronic and helped the Twin Cities become one of the epicenters of the Med Technology industry.

    • Not only the first portable pacemaker but also at the forefront of insulin pumps which makes the life of type 1 diabetics just a little bit better. And the company he co-founded, Medtronic will be one of the leaders in developing the artificial pancreas, while not a cure is a milestone for diabetes care.

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