127 COMMENTS

          • I asked Hampton at the Gazette and he said CR was “deciding whether to red shirt him or not” and playing time would ruin the red shirt possibility. Sounds like a little more going on behind the scenes. I actually liked Brown’s energy a couple of times last year when nobody else was playing worth a shit, but it sounds like he does not have long range potential. Moreland should become a superstar anyway.

          • Moreland has a long way to go to be a superstar. Anyway I think having Brown in addition to Moreland and Gomis is too much redundancy. I think Ostling will bring something different then the rest of the posts. Not necessarily better but a different kind of tool in the shed. Maybe Coach Rob was just pulling the redshirt thing to try and force the kid to transfer. Either way I take it as good news and hope Brown can play next year and find success.

          • IF he develops like I think/hope he will, Moreland will be the second coming of Dennis Rodman with four more inches and better offense by the time he is a senior. How ‘s that for a prediction?

  1. Watching Boise State embarrass Arizona State and noticed that they have apparently lost the cartoon horsey on the side of their helmets and have some kind of big horse design that takes up the whole side of the helmet. Not bad.

      • I saw that when I briefly switched to see the score. THAT’S what I’ve always talked about when I said we should have the numbers in the same font as the jerseys up on one side of the helmet. It’s unique, and it’s just sharp. I’m not sold on the graphic on the other side, and I love the Steelers black helmet with one whole side blank. But that’s pretty much what I’ve always wanted. It’s old school and modern at the same time.

    • That’s not a very flattering photo of Banks, looks like he’s not missing many meals. I like my DC’s lean, mean and stressed out trying to figure out a way to stop the opposition.

      • For the record, change for the sake of change is not good. I don’t know why the pollyannas want to attach this condition to just plain ol’ change.

        Well… yes I do. It’s because they want to marginalize rational arguments by making them appear irrational. Or it’s because they are irrational themselves, and this is the only way they can translate legitimate criticism.

        Change is good. I don’t care if they come with the same or new people, but the ideas need to change stat.

        • Nothing wrong with change just for the hell of it sometimes. Once a business or a program is no longer hitting previous benchmarks or goals at least the need for some change should become self-evident to it’s leaders.

          One of my business mentors always said results should be measured in threes, that establishes a trend and if it’s negative concrete actions should be happening to reverse that trend. I guess MR and staff are heading into the final year of that negative trend. Don’t know if BDC sees it the same way though????

  2. Anyone else heard the Ryan Katz transfer stuff about San Diego St and San Jose St.? I had a thought, I wonder if Paul Chryst would consider him at Pitt? Katz came up through Pro-style system, Pitt was a spread option team under Graham. Pitt had pretty said QB play this year. Just a thought, maybe Ryan is limiting himself to the west coast.

    ASU was awful tonight. Dennis looked absolutely burned out. I wonder if he will coach again?

    • I’m sure Burton got Katz to at least listen to him. SDSU and SJSU were always the noise, but UNLV is the new addition.

      Pitt’s actually not a bad idea. Their expectations during an offensive scheme change (assumed) might give Katz the freedom to loosen up a bit and do some nice things for them.

    • I thought the red-shirt explanation I got from Hampton over at the Gazette Times as to why he hadn’t left the bench made sense and then the next day Brown was gone! I think his prospects for playing time over the next three years looked pretty dismal barring injuries to those ahead of him. Didn’t CR reference something last year about Brown getting more minutes when he gets in better shape? Maybe he never did?

    • There’s really not much more… and maybe even less. There were rumors of a dog house type situation, but they never really rang true. What’s most likely is that Coach Rob made an assessment of Chris and his future with the team, and he had a talk with Chris about it. He probably told him that there wasn’t much Chris was going to do for this team now or in the future besides riding the pine. And you just can’t have people taking up space on a team. They need to be progressing or find another home.

      And it’s not always that the kid is being forced out because he doesn’t work out, which my gut says is the case here. Sometimes that talk happens and the coach tells the kid that he can stick around for another year to see if he pans out. But these guys are still competitive players who want to just play, and they leave for somewhere they can do just that.

      I was frustrated that Coach Rob played the JJ players, but I always understood why they were kept instead of going for a wholesale roster change. It was a two part method. First, our APR needed to be raised to a comfortable place. Second, Coach Rob wanted to see them succeed regardless of their mental foundations. Now that the APR is in a good place, he can manage the roster like every other NCAA coach does.

      And the nice thing was that Chris keeps his redshirt intact, so he can go somewhere and be eligible to play after one full academic term, which means this time next year he could already have a couple games under his belt. The dick thing to do would have been to play him in garbage time, waste a redshirt then have that talk with him… or to do so and wait until after the season to deal with it.

      • Why does one poster on the O-live site speak of “incicents” and describe Brown as “to put it nicely, a knucklehead” (I think I got that right)? It sounds to me like he wasnt behaving well in practice and at the university.

        There have been garbage times in games and Brown still didnt play.

        • I think I remember Brown actually tweeted at one point that he was in Coach Robinson’s doghouse. For something reason, I don’t think publicly announcing that type of thing would help his case much. Could be he just didn’t respect Robinson’s authoritah!

    • I like that the Wiscy staff is being raided right now. They’re still going to be really good next year, but I like our chances better without half the coaches they had this last year.

  3. Hey, if Chryst needs a pro-style OC, he could always reach out to Landgdorf!

    I hope Chryst did his due diligence, the Pitt administration never really explained what happened with Wannsedt, then botched the follow up hire and Graham didn’t think twice about staying. I’m not sure it’s that great of a job. Maybe Chryst can make them somewhat relevant again, but I would think it’s going to take a couple of years to change from spread to pro.

  4. There’s still hope. This is a step up for both Chryst and Smith, but it’s to the weakest AQ conference. They’re gonna get great experience at this next level, then after a few years who knows, maybe Riley will be closer to retirement and we’ll welcome back these guys for his replacement.

    • Which browser? I use FF, and under Tools/Options/Security there’s a Password option which allows the browser to remember passwords for all sites (and an exception list if you need it). And under Tools/Options/Privacy you have the option to set your browsing history protocols. If they’re set to clear your cookies when you close your browser, then you can adjust them to be kept until they expire and still clear your history when you close your browser… if you want.

      I’m sure Chrome has the same sort of tools options, and I don’t care about IE# whatever.

  5. Did anyone else watch the Maco Vegas Bowl last night, Boise State vs Arizona State, and notice the ingenuity, and the creative play calling from Boise State?

    Even when they were ahead 35-10, Boise still kept ASU’s defense off balance and never let off the throttle. And imagine this……. They were really fun to watch! (Even whenever the Beavers win, they are painful, and not very fun to watch, and they hold on for dear life.) I know it is something we will never see at OSU, but one can dream right? I mean, imagine Oregon State with the players they currently have running the same plays at the same tempo as Boise State. Would OSU score more points? Yes. Would they win more games? Yes. It would be amazing if our coaching staff stole a few pages from their playbook! Will they even think about doing this? No.

    Boise State doesn’t play in a BCS “AQ” conference, they don’t have facilities as nice as OSU. But what they do have is innovative, energetic coaching, players that were recruited under the radar, players that execute to perfection, players that play with an attitude “us against the world” with a chip on their shoulder, and they are very fun to watch! Boise State wins the Big games on the Big stage. They beat Virginia Tech in their backyard in Washington DC, they beat Georgia in the Georgia Dome. If they had a decent kicker, they might have been in the BCS Championship game? They are winners, not whiners. Just think 15-20 years ago, Boise State was a glorified community college! Kellen Moore finished his career at Boise State 50-3!!! Kellen Moore wanted to go to OSU, yet when he attended a summer football camp at OSU, he was ignored by Langsdorf and Riley because he wasn’t 6’4 to 6’5! Grant Hedrick and Gabe Linehan (both from Oregon) got a pass from OSU, so did Jared Zabransky! (That is a discussion for another time.)

    It is just sad to think what OSU could be with the right mindset, attitude and focus. I HATE the defeated mindset that OSU currently has. I think the fans are finally fed up with the status quo, and it is beginning to backfire on Bobby DeCarolis. Before OSU wins Big in football, they must first change the mindset, to a winning mindset.

    • Your last sentence sums it up. Success breads a certain mindset. Beavs don’t have it, Boise does. It’s the whole hoping to win vs expecting to win thing.

      The hoops team is starting to expect wins. Nice to see.

      • I didn’t watch Boise play once this year, so I don’t know if last year’s measure means anything. but Boise is a bunch of cheap shot shits with about as classless a fan base as you can find outside of the Nikegon fans outside Autzen who like to give kicking parties on sucker punched fans.

        There was a vid up on youtube earlier with some fucktard asking DE how it felt to go out a loser. That pretty much told me I was right not to watch that game.

        • There were also some BSU players holding onto ASU’s WR’s ankles and just bear hugging them after the play so they couldn’t walk away to try and get the other guy to retaliate. It’s crap like that that annoys me about BSU.

    • Dennis looked sad and pathetic. He had utterly no control over his team.
      I was feeling sorry for him as the game winded down.
      It’s really too bad that they allow teams in transition with marginal records play in the lower bowl games. JB

  6. In an article posted yesterday, Cliff includes a new quote from Riley about Banker:

    “Hawaii was very smart in having him in the pool, but I didn’t want to start working to replace Mark
    Banker,” Riley said. “I have so much respect for him. He’s a truly loyal person, and a true Beaver. He’s totally committed to what he does. I was excited for him, but I didn’t want to start looking to replace him, so I held off until we got word.”

    http://www.gazettetimes.com/sports/osu-football-notebook-players-getting-surgeries-out-of-way-sooner/article_17206ab6-2c6b-11e1-bf67-001871e3ce6c.html

    Riley couldn’t be clearer on what he values: friendship, loyalty, commitment. Interesting omissions from Riley’s evaluation criteria: innovation, creativity, resourcefulness, results.

    Abandon hope, ye who expect change from Mike Riley. Clearly, it’s going to be the same coaches and the same schemes so long as MR (and BDC) remain in power. The only hope for improvement in short-term results for OSU football will need to come from better recruiting and better players, since nothing else will be changing until BDC and/or MR decides to leave….

    • I don’t know. I think Riley has a competitive bone but fell into the same stupid mentality our whole country slumped into during the last decade… one of appointment and delegation rather than leadership with direction. We always hear how he will make suggestions once in a blue moon which aren’t really suggestions… like the nickle package that was fought forever by Banker.

      I think he can make an honest assessment and make some changes within the scheme itself. There’s not going to be much need for any stupendous offensive changes (other than play-calling) since the o-line will be upgraded and Mannion will be an upgrade over Mannion.

      But the defense needs a lot of work… or not so much if we go to a 3-4… which we won’t.

      • ….so….you are saying there is no hope? Riley has become a zombie and his coordinators do what they want, which is totally unimaginative? But a few games this past season showed offensive imagination. Where did that come from?

        I dont see Riley with any competitive bone. During game day disasters he is on the sidelines, smiling. He is not disturbed in the least with getting blown out, not even being competitive.

        Maybe he is on some heavy meds nowdays and just walking around in a fog. In interviews he never sounds sharp — he sounds slow of mind. Was he always that way?

    • Nice, thats a much needed get was worried when I heard WSU was pressing him. Just when I thought the class was sputtering to the end. this is a much better class than in the past, of course it should be because the coaches have nothing else to do. Still can’t figure out the DT’s…

      • Very glad to hear Shelton chose to be an Oregon St. Beaver. The guy looks like a natural talent who can be effective at DB. I consider this an area of need because if you have a weak link on the isalnds teams will pick on it for too easy of scores. One key to defense is getting teams in more 3rd and long situations and Shelton should help that cause.

    • So is he a safety that’s going to bulk up, or a safety that’s moving to CB?

      Sounds like a good signing to me. This class is addressing the o-line, db’s (a few of those look like reaches for the sake of numbers), landed a surprise RB for christmas….lacking the DTs obviously.

    • Of all the positional signings, DB’s to me are the most frustrating from a coaching standpoint, because it seems like the staff is going to spend 2-3 years devolving them and you have to hope a kid acts like Poyer starts looking for the ball and making plays.

      QB’s are probably next, takes too damn long to get them effective, though I think Mannion will be a rare exception. I’m hoping Harrington gets a good shot next spring/fall. I’m not high on Vaz so far.

  7. http://fresnobeehive.com/sportsbuzz/2011/10/could_the_bulldogs_lose_keller.html

    Sounds like we’re close to landing David Keller. He’s been a Beaver lean for a few months, after decomitting from Fresno St. Another OT. Would lead you to believe with all of the potential o linemen coming on board, maybe Issac Seumalu really is going to convert to DT. ( I know the article attached is old, but it explains his story pretty well. He’s a teammate of Chris Brown)

    • Cliff tweeted me back this regarding Isaac;

      “Guys who cover HS in my office think he’s better on DL. However, his dad and him say no. Mom doesn’t want Dad coaching him.”

      So, maybe one of the other OL’s would switch over, any idea who might be contenders?

      I think I would have him play DL

    • Personally, I expect that Isaac Seumalo will remain on the O-line. Having watched Isaac play against my son’s high school teams the past two years (one game each year), Isaac just seems more dominant as an O-lineman. Not saying Isaac couldn’t be a good college DT. But Isaac could, perhaps, be a great college OG, and that’s probably his best career move.

      Meanwhile, it seems fair to expect that one or more of the other talented O-line recruits will move to DT, where playing time is likely to be available quickly next season for the Beavers (similar to early this season where OSU had no depth at safety, and where Tyrequek Zimmerman and Peter Ashton quickly jumped from offense to defense).

      • Look people… you’re asking for the next Will Shields to turn himself into the next Esera Tualo. ET was a great Beav DT, but he was not as important to his team as Shields was to NU. We’re talking about putting someone who is talented enough in a position of need versus placing him in a position where he will win the Outland Trophy… maybe more than once.

    • ”I like the coaches over there,” he said. ”The couple times I talked to them they were pretty cool. Unlike the other coaches, they usually kind of push you, tell you, ‘Well, we’ve got these other guys behind you and if you don’t commit in a couple weeks or something they’ll probably take your place. And they kind of just told me to take your time on it and if you want to commit, commit.”

      This explains why OSU coaches don’t get top recruits. Not all high school kids want to see coaches have passive attitudes towards who to commit to because they see it as easy going and laid back. Some kids take to that, other kids don’t. Seems like this kid takes to that and not a lot of 4-5 star guys take to that I would think.
      Read more here: http://fresnobeehive.com/sportsbuzz/2011/10/could_the_bulldogs_lose_keller.html#storylink=cpy

    • His stance is too wide. That needs to be narrowed down and he needs to fire off the ball quicker, but he has the size and he’s got upside to him. Good steal if he commits to OSU.

      • That’s some old news. Keller was looking hard at OSU while we were going after Brown as well. I think that was before Weinreich committed (have I told anyone here that I really like Garrett Weinreich?). Then Keller went back to Fresno…

        … and all hope was lost on the Chris Brown front… in my mind.

        Then I awoke one day to the news that Brown committed to the Beavs, and I really truly don’t care too much who else commits from here on out… except for Shelton… and Lawler… and a DT?

  8. After UNLV blasted CAL last night, Standord and Oregon State are tied with the best records in the Pac-12 currently. Who’d have thunk that after watching the Pac 10 tournament a year ago? Really, Oregon State is close to being undefeated considering they lost by 2 to Vandy and that Idaho game happened at a time when the team was mourning Fred Thompson. Keep it going into the New Year Beavs! 2012 will be a great year.

    • “Standord and Oregon State are tied with the best records in the Pac-12 currently. Who’d have thunk that after watching the Pac 10 tournament a year ago?”

      me… you could see that game was a match-up of future powers in the league.

      BUT… don’t sleep on the Zonies. Their youth is really talented. Nick Johnson is for real, and Josiah Turner ain’t bad himself. We’re unlucky to play there, but we’re lucky to play them early. They just get so many home-cooked calls at McKale.

      • Actually, I do remember you calling that or at least letting it be known on this blog that you liked both teams for the next year, so you thunk it, but nobody else did.

    • My enthusiasm is tempered by the weakness of their schedule so I’m waiting until they get some real games under their belt before getting my hopes up too high.

      But I am enjoying watching them play.

      Merry Christmas everyone! That’s except for any ‘uck fans who may be lurking about.

      P.S. What happens to the kids who can’t go home for Christmas because they’re homes are too far away? Obviously I’m thinking of the foreign players on the team.

      • The Pac12 is looking pretty weak in basketball, so it’s not exactly a huge step up playing UO, WSU, or even UCLA right now. They all look terrible.
        We played Vandy, which is a top15 team, to a 2-point loss. We beat Texas. We have what it takes.

    • DISLIKE this kid is good enough that a lot of other schools are going to invest some serious time trying to poach him. I wouldn’t be surprised if we lost him.

    • That’s always been known. He’s pretty much been a commit for about a month, but he has always wanted to take in the whole recruiting “experience.” It’s not likely that we lose him to any of the visits he will take. NU is new to his recruitment, so he wants to give them a look. But I think he’s pretty good with us. He really likes Heyward and the rest of the staff. He has some family here in Eugene. And it looks like USC has ignored him long enough for him to forget them.

    • Shelton’s film: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=b2cDQdqspXc

      His senior film is much better than junior. Looks like a high 3-star rather than 4, but whatever.
      Reminds me of Brandon Browner a little bit. Big/physical. I like that Shelton played WR and RB…should give him good knowledge of opponents. Also, a lot of pancakes for a CB…definitely not afraid of contact.

      • Love his speed but especially his physicality.
        One small observance though. While playing CB he recognizes run/pass quickly and when it’s run he throws the blocking receiver to the ground like a rag doll, but when pass he starts back pedaling early. Why not not stay close and chuck the receiver at the line?
        Most of the time that a CB plays that way it’s to make up for inferior speed, which clearly isn’t the case.
        No biggie and I’m sure coaching at the next level will correct that.

  9. Is Oregon State going to have new uniforms for next football season? I know that Reser Stadium is getting new turf, it seems like the two would be a great combination. OSU needs to start the 2012 season fresh and clean.

    Also, there is a lot of talk about finishing the West side of Reser, has anyone heard if a new locker room will be included with the construction? They desperately need a new, modern football locker room, the current one looks like boiler room/closet.

      • “real football” surface to go along with more traditional uniforms….home field advantage…would be fun to see.

        New uniforms next year too soon; this team won’t perform well next year for many of the same reasons this year; inexperienced/poor o-line play, undersized DT’s….

        2013 should see marked improvement.

      • grass is a major PITA in the valley. Kind of funny that OSU developed the grass type that is in the Rose Bowl but Reser has turf. If Reser went back to grass that would be cool but it could then be used for nothing other than game day in the fall.

        • I played a couple games in Parker stadium when I was in middle school in the 80s…the turf felt like it was laid right over concrete and there was a huge puddle in the middle. We thought we were pretty cool though :D.

    • Last I heard BDC said “there is no timeline for finishing Reser”. I hope they hurry up though because as it is right now everything that is cool and exciting about the new side and end zone is negated by that West side. It looks like somebody forgot to finish what they started and you can bet recruits see that too.

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