| angrybeavs.com A Critical View of Oregon State Athletics |
Sent tonight.
I have a boatload of questions. Hopefully he agrees to answer some, but considering he declined the mainstream media's requests, I am not holding my breath.
Any other interviews you'd like? Post suggestions. I'm in the mood to do them again.
I would graciously consent to an interview. I’m available….. pretty much any time. Call me. JB
Bill says: Better to hear from current or future beavers. Maybe some of the incoming o-line. Or recruits we struck out on. That seems to be where the most gold is.
There are two standard answers you’ll get from former beavers or coaches. Either they’ll decline or they’ll just dance around the questions and avoid saying anything inflammatory.
As for Katz, he has been steady with declining requests. Even if he did accept, I think the answers would be short and something along the lines of “it just didn’t work out”.
If he did answer, I’d bet he’d say something along the lines of he didn’t feel like he was treated fairly, maybe led to believe his job was secure, and didn’t get the opportunity to redeem himself. And it’s perfectly fair for him to feel this way because it’s probably the way it happened. It’s similar to getting dumped. Maybe he just didn’t see it coming….and Riley is a guy that is just terrible at dumping people, even if it’s the right move. (ex. Barney Graff or Greg Newhouse)
angry says: I agree, Katz won’t give up anything good. But I want to know about the darker side of the program. I’m trying to think who I can get at who’ll fork over that type of info…it has to be ex/bitter players. Saw a little bit of that with Ryan Allen/Nick Westerberg, and it was really interesting.
Maybe you could try Ryan Leaf. Yeah, yeah, I know he was a Coug, but he seems to still have a bad taste of Mike Riley in his mouth. Direct all Leaf addressed correspondence to Cascade County Jail. I’m sure he has plenty of time answer any amount of questions.
Bill says: He got arrested again! Wow.
http://espn.go.com/nfl/story/_/id/7765279/ryan-leaf-arrested-again-burglary-drug-charges-montana
helmsley says: Ryan Leaf: So much talent – here’s a link to a Steve Kelly – Seattle Times – article.
http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/stevekelley/?from=stnv2
One of the comments alludes to a steroids drug program at Great Falls High School during RL’s high school days. Dunno about that – but I do know a little about his high school arrogance and that of his parents, as well. It’s why I love to read and hear about parents of star athletes who teach and impress core values while being justifiably proud of their offspring’s athletic prowess.
Bill says: I doubt there is much of a darkside to the program. At most, it’s been poor judgment of on field talent/decision making and poor communication of why things are done. It leads to wounded egos, but that’s all it is. I can’t see something like the UCLA basketball situation where the star players are running out of control and Riley just tolerates it.
You might try Craig Robinson. He’s a pretty straightforward guy and if you got the interview, he’d answer your questions without a lot of song and dance. I think your chances of landing an interview would be better than 50/50 too,
ObjCritic says: I agree with Bill. Its not likely there’s a dark side to the program, just poor management of it that stems from a lack of vision, lack of attention to detail, poor communication, and poor evaluation.
I think of the Katz/Mannion situation and how poor that was handled on national tv, resulting in ridicule from the likes of Urban Meyer in the booth. Riley and Langsdorf embarrassed Katz at Wisconsin, and their poor handling of the situation was negative for the team. Allegedly (conveniently?), they “knew after a spring practice performance” that Mannion was the guy. But they didn’t have the courage to communicate that and manage it in a productive manner for the team.
I suspect that also affected their play calling against Sac State. When they should have been running the ball in the first half, they had Katz throwing far too much. Instead of calling a game plan that fit the opponent, I suspect they were still trying to evaluate Katz and find some way to make their decision easier.
helmsley says: WOT – but too late for the baseball thread. OSU women’s softball team gets win in 3rd game against UCLA – not a series win, not a sweep, but an OSU breakthrough with a freshman pitcher from Lancaster CA – class valedictorian. I look forward to seeing what this team does with the rest of the PAC-12 schedule.
ObjCritic says: Former defenders Mitchell or Collins might be good. One of them was keeping a journal last year or the year before (Mitchell?) and seemed to do a decent job of it.
Though hampered by injury, they both had significant playing time, and were likely frustrated by the play of the defense. Collins move to LB probably came a year later than it should have. They likely aren’t busy, and likely have nothing to lose by being honest.
oneoldbeav says: Jonathan Smith. I understand he stays in touch with MR and, while probably sympathetic to him, might have some insight as well as observations on how the program is viewed. I’d really like to know why MR has seemed so distracted recently.
While Smith isn’t likely to burn any bridges his answers could be valuable in what is not said. Questions about the difference’s Smith has seen in the HC’s he has worked with and his thoughts on what Riley is likely to do to change the record of the past two years might be good. Additionally, questions on what makes Riley so respected would be interesting.
bendbeaver says: Interview Katz when he’s 30 so ego won’t be as big an issue. At that point he’ll be able to talk about getting beat out by someone better.
GreatWhiteHunter says: He got beat out by someone who, most likely, will be better, but was yet better.
rsteve503 says: Ok, enough….. Here is what you do to get the skinny on Riley and what is affecting him — you make up a fictional insider, who agrees to be interviewed anonymously. The answers allude to the problems but are …vague But still open up the apparent can of worms.. THEN Riley is moved to respond, just to clear things up, and we still get more than we would otherwise.
Beaver Byte says: There are good and not so good things happening at Oregon State right now as we strive to become a more high profile university in the major sports.
State of Beaver Nation:
http://beaverbyte.com
NCAA_viOlation says: Wtf? Is this supposed to make me want to follow your link? That’s about the laziest teaser I’ve ever seen. Sorry, not trying to be mean, but you really need to step it up if you want to bring in new readers.
Beaver Byte says: Some peope don’t like too exhaustive preambles but it did need an extra sentence atleast to tie it together. That extra sentence should be “I delve into the issues OSU is confronting as it looks to become an intriguing player on the national stage.”
I think the article itself hits on alot of relevant points, both good and bad, but explains how fans rarely get certain talk from BDC or Riley that would give us more confidence that they truly want nationally respected and talked about programs that are used to winning.
angry says: As of 2:20pm, Katz hasn’t responded. Do you think he’s ignoring me, or just busy with practice and ready to spill the beans later tonight. 
These slow periods are fun…I get to harass people and dig up dirt. Time to request an interview from Riley…
rsteve503 says: Hey….he is just waiting for the play to develop…. someone to get open……wait…….wait….
….oh, shit, he got sacked…..
angry says: For those who don’t know that angrybeavs does interviews, here is the archive. All 3:
http://angrybeavs.com/category/interviews
Ryan Allen declined. I wonder if Peter Lalich would give any good Riley insight. Who else would expose Riley and the dark side? I’m thinking a LB who is no longer on the team yet sat behind Pankey might be angry and ready to go off…trying to think of one who fits the bill.
GoBeavs90 says: Expose Riley and the dark side? What dark side? I don’t think you’ll find much of a “dark side”.
angry says: You know, why he favors bad punters, Pankey, and walk-ons etc and sticks with them even when they’re terrible. I’m sure players on the other side of those decisions have some interesting views…
Bill says: He makes about the same number of calls the other way too, For example, McCants, Catchings were both projected starters, both started having ball issues and we rarely saw them again. I think Ryan Pohl was the projected C when he got sick and Linnenkohl took over and never looked back. and it looks like he made the right call with Mannion over Katz.
Riley has a huge problem in that he believes in his guys a little too much. He’s has more success finding diamonds in the rough than most coaches. He’s thinking every player can develop into a James Rodgers or Sammie Stroughter or Slade Norris or Victor Butler, or Kyle Devan. He just doesn’t know when to cut his losses and he ends up with guys like Hekker and Pankey.
osbeavs says: OT – I know that people frequently cite e-mails from the athletic department at OSU that are in error. This time, I received one from the Alumni Association asking why I hadn’t renewed my membership yet. Interestingly, I haven’t ever been a member of the Alumni Association. Apparently lack of attention to detail is not confined to the athletic department.
NCAA_viOlation says: I was sent the same message and like you, I also have never been a member. Figuring it’s because I’ve purchased season tickets the past 3 seasons in the upper level “Valley Football Center” section. It’s the only section you can purchase season tickets without being a donor, but maybe somehow that flags me as a former Alumni Association member.
notangry says: If you graduated somewhat recently, all grads are given a one year membership. I know too many people who didn’t even know that they were a member and were slightly confused when the alumni association called them about renewing.
osbeavs says: That would explain it. I am a recent grad, making it even less liking I would become a member. I don’t have the spare cash to donate because of the economy.
HopefulBeav says: OT – I just saw that Kyle DeVan is also on the coaching staff as a GA. He should be a nice addition to help the young incoming lineman.
Wow, I didn’t even know he left the NFL. I thought he was doing well with the Colts and Eagles.
But I agree, an alum who has recent, significant NFL starting experience can’t hurt.
Vanderveen is better… faster, throws a prettier ball (and harder), better feet, better pocket presence… and has taken it under center. I think Kolney Cassel is a much more relaxed spread QB as well. Browne is going to take two years to just become a pocket passer. I’m not sure what Fink thinks he can do with him besides bolster USC’s recruiting rankings.
I think we need to look at some pocket passers who take it under center. Sefo Liufau would be better if he had an o-line who could give him a pocket. And there are two kids who are taking over for overrated QB’s who were in front of them last year. I have no idea why Chase Favreau started instead of Alek Torgerson. Torgerson is going to be good. And at least Zach Kline did everything well… just nothing great. That was enough to keep Cameron Birse on the bench. IMO, Birse is the better QB, and he would be a great fit in Corvallis.
For the record, I liked this kid’s older brother, Garrett. He went on to play for Cal Poly this past year… probably because he was forced into the starting QB position after Austin Bray went down with a broken arm in the opener. But he did get to create his own high school legend.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5g8mtrUfGL0&feature=player_embedded#!
Little bro is a different animal. He has a mean streak a mile wide.
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