Home Football Las Vegas Bowl – Oregon St vs Florida (Game Thread)

Las Vegas Bowl – Oregon St vs Florida (Game Thread)

328

The more I think about this game, the more I’m not digging the -9.5 spread. That everyone loves the Beavs in this game makes me think it will be closer than everyone thinks, despite that Florida has the well known issues with their roster. Their backups are probably really athletic and competent, if not inexperienced. So I’m thinking this will be an ugly game, ala the 2008 Sun Bowl vs Pitt. Probably not that ugly, but I’m lowering this way down to 20-14, Beavs. I’m thinking Gulbranson is the likely problem, and Martinez will likely find running on Florida backups more difficult than Pac starters. But we should have enough to win, and the players are hungry for this 10th win. This game means more to the Beavs than the Gators. Perfect setup for Colletto to be a factor in this one and walk off into the sunset with a MILF or two on his arm.

20-14, Beavs.

Go Beavs!

328 COMMENTS

  1. I think this game is hard to predict, not because of the Beavers who I expect to be motivated and play a solid game, but because Florida has been one of the most inconsistent teams all year winning some good games and loosing bad at times. Also everyone assumes Florida won’t care as much, but the fact that they are playing some backups might make those players getting time, more motivated than starters in those stops would have been…

    24-18 Beavs

    • This game is so must win it’s scarey. Can’t lose 2 bowl games in a row, pregame hype, Florida has good players regardless of anything, a week of being off the concentration track, national stage.

  2. Number down to 9. As a traditional Angry Beaver (read pessimist) I have money teased to Beavs -3 and under 59. The motivation is there, but SEC athletes regardless first or second string isn’t the same as playing Cal. Run game, run clock and keep the game out of BG’s hands.
    Beavs 24-20

  3. 12

    Curious if Smith/Lindgren get tempted by the passing game unnecessarily since this game is on a national stage and they want to make a statement? Or do they get smart like they did in the 2nd half vs Oregon amd stick to the predictable, but effective ground attack?
    Think we’ll see the bag of tricks unleashed, which could be great as a fan, but also could be very risky if the execution is rusty. Looking forward to a fun game, regardless of the outcome.
    I’ll be the guy with “Angrybeavs” written in sharpie across his bare chest
    GoBeavs

  4. A little more optimistic after reading this…..

    “The Gators have been plain awful in stopping opposing offense. Defensively, Florida ranks 89th against the pass, 90th in scoring, 101st against the run and 103rd overall.”

    The biggest question to me is the difference between SEC and Pac-12 talent. We all saw what UGA did to Oregon. The Gators also beat Utah in their own back yard. However both those games were in week 1 and Utah had a chance to win it at the end.

    This game is 2500 miles away for the Gators and 21 players have opted out. Florida has been even more jekyll and Hyde than the Beavs.

    These guys remember the bitter taste in losing the final game last year to Utah St. The motivation should be there to win 10 games as a springboard to the off-season.

    Beavs just need to do what they do best. Dont get cute and run the fucking ball with Martinez and Griffin. Utilize play actoon when needed and throw some wildcat with Colletto in short yardage situations.

    Florida QB is making his first career start. The defense should be fired up to rattle him and put him on his ass. Play the long game and win field position battles.

    I expect an ugly, low scoring game.

    I wrote it in the last thread and am sticking by it.

    Beavs 17, Florida 10

    Go Beavs and I’ll be looking for AB degenerate nicebeaver on TV

  5. So far, you degenerates seem to have it figured out. Can’t disagree about the motivation the Beavs (should) have. And that field position is gonna play a big part here, let Loecher do his thing.

    How about the gators 415 lb nose tackle? Gonna see more outside stuff in the run game?
    I’ll guess 24-13 Good Guys.

    Nicebeaver’s TV debut brings good ju-ju for Gulbranson.

  6. 2
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    I’m not super confident and I hope I’m wrong. They have a lot of talent and it’s not like they haven’t been practicing with their guys who are moving into the starting line-up. The only time BG doesn’t make me nervous is when he’s handing off the ball and even then a couple of those exchanges were screwed up. Florida gets a lot of turnovers also. BG can’t make any errors and the defense is going to need to continue playing lights out.

    Beavs 20-17.

  7. OT: Tuned in for 3 minutes to the Jackson St game. It is a “Coach Prime” slobber fest. Announcers mentioned Sanders as “Coach Prime about 20 times in a 3 minute span and followed it up with a short feature on him giving a speech…and all of that while NC Central had the ball on offense.
    PAC12 media should address him as Coach Sanders and play into the Prime nonsense like he is some kind of super hero alter ego. The guy is a walking ego of self promotion. I expect it will wear pretty thin after a couple of years and all other conference coaches will be called racists because he will alienate the entire conference with that act. Hopefully the media doesn’t play into it.

    • Imagine the PAC media days:

      “Coach Prime, OSU Coach Smith’s nickname is “Niner.” Is nine a prime number?”
      Sanders: “I don’t care about no prime numbers. The only number that matter to Coach Prime is #1! Y’all need to quit! I’m gonna make you quit! So y’all might as well transfer outta here!”

      • Is it just me thats thinking all these CU fans are delusional? I’m sick of all this hype around Sanders taking the head coaching job and they will just steam roll the PAC. I don’t beleive the hype. They steamrolled their division of football with superior athletes. We steamrolled Montana State who is ranked higher than Jackson State. Idk, I don’t think they even make a bowl game next year, but if they do, it’s barely.

        Or am I naive and everyone should fear them? I don’t think Colorado talent will be superior to Oregon’s talent

        • I guess the thinking is he’ll be able to recruit such athletes and transfers they’ll have a USC-like turnaround….I doubt it. Nor year one anyway. Plus. Riley was used to being a DI coach and facing DI talent and coaches.

  8. FLA is going to have athletes, and their QB can likely throw the ball, just because it seems like every other team can get a QB that can actually throw. They’ll have some big, fast players. Their offense will be more balanced. The OSU secondary should be the difference to help slow the FLA offense. I’m more worried about their run game just because of the better balance may catch the D a few times.

    OSU I think will focus on the run, and throw about 20 times or less. Martinez, Jam, Fenwick, and Colletto should all get their normal distribution of carries and eventually cause problems for a poor FLA D.

    I’m curious to see if Gebbia gets any meaningful snaps, or if he just gets garbage time if OSU is comfortably ahead. It might be cool to see him get the first series of the game and give him some safe throws.

    I think the Beavers win, but a back up FLA QB makes it more interesting than Beaver fans might like…

  9. USA Today’s ranking of the LV Bowl:

    “31. Las Vegas Bowl: No. 16 Oregon State vs. Florida, Dec. 17, 7:30 p.m., ABC

    Bright lights, big city, bad bowl? The Gators have the brand name, but the first season under Billy Napier has been rocky and QB Anthony Richardson is off to the NFL. The Beavers have all the momentum after spoiling archrival Oregon’s Pac-12 title hopes.”

    Don’t they have the game time wrong?!?

  10. “Florida’s defensive front will take some effort from Oregon State. The Gators have an NFL draft-bound defensive end in Gervon Dexter Sr., and a 415-pound nose tackle in Desmond Watson. Florida has four defenders with at least 70 tackles this season, three who will play Saturday in linebacker Amari Burner and safeties Trey Dean III and Rashad Torrence II. Burney tops Florida with four sacks and nine tackles for loss, and is tied for the team high with two interceptions. Linebacker Antwaun Powell-Ryland Jr. has forced three fumbles.

    With Florida quarterback Jack Miller III taking his first snap of the season Saturday, the Beavers are likely to try to slow down the Gators’ running game and put the game into Miller’s hands. That won’t be easy. Florida has a potent rushing attack that produces 213.7 yards per game. The Gators average 5.8 yards per carry, third best among FBS teams. Florida has a two-headed approach in its backfield, as Montrell Johnson Jr. and Trevor Etienne have combined for 1,523 yards and 16 touchdowns this season. Florida’s passing attack is pedestrian, as it produced an average of 227 yards per game. The Gators’ most prolific receiver is Ricky Pearsall, who caught 29 passes for 596 yards and five touchdowns. Xzavier Henderson, who has a team-high 38 catches, is unlikely to play.”

    This might not be so boring after all…

      • Per radio it was pre planned to have Gebbia for the 3rd series…………..analytics?…again?

        Don’t get me wrong, he certainly deserves to see the field because of his history, maybe in a different situation.

    • Interesting. I wonder if they are just trying to give him an opportunity to put something on film with some kind of distant hope he has an opportunity to keep playing as a way of saying thanks. It’s a real awkward time to convert to the dreaded “2 QB system” though, with the expected results.

  11. They mic’ed up JS before the game talking to Gebbia and it was obvious there was a plan for him to play more than expected. Just didn’t expect it to happen this way.

  12. I like a coach who is a player’s guy and Gebbia deserves a chance with how much work he’s put in behind the scenes, but this is a puzzling decision. Especially after a touchdown drive where Gulbranson looked comfortable.

  13. Gebbia is in because of all he’s done for the program and his career was ripped away from him and being a 3 time captain. Last game too.

  14. Sideline interview cleared it up. Lotsa confidence in the team as a whole to make a QB change like that in the 2nd quarter as a gesture when you’re trying to win a Bowl game for the first time since the start of gen Y.

  15. Can’t complain about the announcing team, or the broadcast at all. Anyone know the story of the “MIKE” decals? Mike Stone? Defense is looking tough.

  16. You knew there’d be a trick play for the JackHammer. BIG Jim says even he could have gotten the first down there!
    It’s a small thing, but I like the way he finished that run.

  17. I still can’t get my head around the Beavs having a good run defense. It was so bad fir so long… it just doesn’t seem possible.

  18. Can we get a proven kicker in the portal? That’s a position that could really hurt us in competing for the championship next year.

  19. Fenwick looks good because these safeties try to take him on instead of taking out his legs and they’re losing that battle. Still don’t understand why we haven’t seen more jam unless he’s not 100.

  20. 12
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    McAfee is actually pretty awesome. Smart and well researched on the players. And he just said, “I love this Jack Hammer”…lol.

    Speaking of the Jack Hammer, that female sideline reporter said she had an “interview with him” last night…

        • Ya I know. Like I said above they’re trying to tackle him straight as opposed to taking out his legs and losing. Usually players take out his legs and he just goes down. Would like to see him adjust to that next season and maybe hurdle guys. Lol

  21. 6
    6

    This is why I wanted Riley gone btw. Lower lows always possible when firing someone like that, but gotta take the risk of going for higher highs. Not one of those Riley pumpers ever apologized.

      • It’s a sad commentary on the pastry industry in Corvallis that Schnell will always focus on the lack of airport and (in her view) lack of diversity.
        Just one outstanding donut shop could change her opinion of the town and the Beavs teams.

    • Riley has been gone a long time. I wasn’t sad at all to see him go, it was past time. But, he at least wasnt GA and going to set the place on fire. I think many of those fans weren’t as big of Riley fans that you think, but more afraid of the unknown. Some schools never get even back to the high mediocrity.

      • GA was a disaster, mostly because he was an abusive drunk, but part of his failure was Riley left nothing but a pack of Panko bread crumbs in the cupboard. Once Gilstrap died recruiting went downhill and it became obvious who was running the “successful” Riley years. It was Jim. It took 6 years for those recruits to work through the system, and then Riley was gone.

  22. Awesome showing by the Beavs today! Could have had some self destruction moments but overcame all day long.
    BG has had a great game and appreciate his effort in the midst of all the portal speculation.

    • Announcer commentary was well prepared. It is a national game. All parts of the team contributed in a positive way. Good discipline shown overall. Why would one not consider playing for them?

    • Not necessarily. If Fresno wins, they will be 10-4 with 9 game winning streak and OSU beat them. That looks good on the resume, so to speak

      • I could see Colletto being an NFL fullback. It’s a niche for sure and maybe not used much anymore. Gonna depend on the coach and system. Anyone else remember Mike Alstott?

  23. 13

    Biggest difference between Smith and Riley and/or Erickson – Smith was willing to pull the trigger in-season on one of his assistants. That was a turning point for the program – not just Bray, but in letting the players know that everyone would be held accountable.

    • Riley benefited from his history in the form of connections, reputation, etc, but he was also burdened by it because he always considered Banker as good as he was 5-7 years ago. Smith has less of that to worry about and, IIRC, he doesn’t really have a relationship with current coaches from any previous jobs he’s had.

      • 9
        6

        Riley manipulated the fan base into thinking they couldn’t do better than him. It was evil genius. For that I will always hate the guy.

  24. 16

    Beavs 30, Florida 3

    First ever win over an SEC team. Just the 3rd ever 10 win season in school history.

    That’ll do Beavs. That’ll do

  25. Couple good “culture” moves by JS; getting snaps for Gebbia and sending Harrison home (if he violated team rules in Vegas).
    Both equally important.

  26. 10-3, great program progress, some good+ exposure and platitudes today, good talent and depth returning next season! Great home field advantage, completed Reser could see all home games sold out or near, maybe the high corners won’t fill, but it should ge louder than ever and an advantage.

    Curious what current FR that didn’t play this season might be contributing next season?

    Looking forward to a season wrap thread.

  27. 6
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    Beavs aren’t finished yet. Still a chance for a top 10 final ranking as well. Should finish with highest ranking since 2000 as well.

    Hopefully we see some recruiting juice after this. I’d say Bray may start having a lot of guys wanting to play for his defenses.

    Network spent some time talking up JS, Colletto and Beav defense. Good broadcast mojo for Beavers program.

    Great finish to the season. I’d say this was an improbable season after losing top TE, and QB. Great adjustment by the entire program to deal with personnel losses mid season but keep winning. BG is probably the beat winning percentage qb in program history. 7-1 as a starter.

    Interesting that the team depth was evident today with no Martinez. Program is in great shape with character guys all over the locker room, plus depth and athletes that were equal or better than Florida.
    Great show g by Beavs and great impression on a national stage finally.

    Colletto is a legend and will be missed. Grant is a great leader and made the play of the year to tackle Nix on 4th down.
    Harrison made the most improbable catch of the year at Stanford.
    USC remains the what could have been.

  28. 7
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    After hearing an influential media member like Herbstreit gushing over us and repeatedly talking about how we bring everyone back next year, I feel good about us starting the season in the top 25. Preseason top 25 is big in terms of national exposure and setting yourself in the rankings throughout the year.

    If we could add a big name portal QB, buzz would be even bigger.

  29. No better way to end the season than pounding Florida on national TV. Still think the Duck win was bigger for the program. But this is a close second.

  30. 3
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    Beavs now need to find a way to at least hold their own in the NIL competition. Obviously can’t offer as much as the biggest programs but if it is an amount that is still lucrative and at least in the same ballpark as the powerhouses, the combination of that plus Smith now having a reputation for having good schemes and developing players could create a true talent pipeline into Corvallis.

  31. I hope the program puts together a thorough, tasteful season highlight video with lotsa defensive examples, including great secondary play against USC. Also, a field-level crowd noise and crowd shots at half Reser

    Several minutes long please…

  32. Was at the game….awesome atmosphere!! Tons of Beaver fans in Vegas. Not sure what happened to Martinez but Beavs great stable of running backs carried the load and won the day!!!!

    Go Beavs, Biva Las Vegas!!!!

  33. This was the the kind of play along defensive line we needed all season (4 team sacks, 11 team tackles for loss, half of the Beaver top 4 in defensive stats were linebackers); particular mention for Lolohea (90).

    If they can make the opposing offensive coordinator worry about pressure on every down, team will go places.

    Special teams had significant contribution today and offense produced big plays in chunks (350+ yards )

  34. 5
    2

    Great win, great season. Florida had a mediocre record and lost a lot of players, but even so I’m not used to seeing a blowout bowl win.

    I’ve been sharply critical of BG this year and I think rightfully so. However, I will say that he played well today! His best and most complete game of the season, by a lot. Still would love to see a transfer QB but it gives me hope that we have a foundation to build on.

    Hoping for a top 10 poll finish, go Beavs!

    • 3
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      How much does this win affect our chances at landing a big time QB transfer? Has to make us even more appealing to a guy right?

  35. 5
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    Definitely pleased with Gulbranson’s play today. Made some good throws and took care of the ball, for the most part. Room for improvement, but if we don’t land a portal QB, I won’t be super concerned about next year.

    • 1
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      I’m not concerned but will definitely handcuff the offense somewhat. We should have another dominant defense next year as well just need a QB that can make plays and a kicker that can make kicks and conference championship and playoffs should be the goal.

  36. 6
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    Gulbranson now 62.2% and 9-5 td to int ratio. Something to build upon. This Chiles situation will be interesting.

    Gulbranson also hints Gebbia is going to pursue a coaching career.

  37. Per PFF, young guys who got some snaps in the bowl:

    Offense:
    Spencer
    Noga
    Strand
    Milbourn
    Ferenczi
    Suing
    Miller

    Defense:
    Noble Thomas

  38. 1
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    People keep talking top 10, but I thought there is now final CFP pole and we are 16 and 17 in the other poles so my guess is even with some losses above us 12 or 13 would be the absolute best we can hope for.

  39. 11

    Game ball goes to the defense……

    Florida gained just 39 yards on 33 carries. Held the Gators to just 2 yards of offense in the 2nd quarter and 5 yards of offense in the 3rd quarter.

    Lots to like and really nothing to complain about. Dominating win to end the season against an SEC team.

    Two months until baseball season starts. Men’s hoops is dead to me.

    • I’m glad the false start when gebbia gained the first down on the qb sneak (would have been first and goal) didn’t come back to bite us. Dunmore had some nice catches but two false starts by a WR is tough. Rather have him out there though than a player that can’t follow the team rules.

  40. So what happens with BG, your bowl game MVP, when we go after a transfer QB?
    Does the honor make transfers second guess their chances of having a clear shot at the starting job.
    BG looked ok today. Not great, but good enough to show he can win some games for us next year if he can keep the mistakes limited. But is that good enough? Does he make the leap between year and and year 2 like Matt Moore did?
    (I know it wasnt year 1, but basically for him it was)

    • I suspect w/2 more camps, and Chiles and a transfer pushing him, BG will look noticeably better next fall. Martinez and Velling will be better, Bolden too….maybe Dunmore and Tongue too, but less confident those two make a big step forward.

    • I don’t love him as qb1 but I love the toughness he has. Took a targeting hit and hopped up unphased. The defense may not be as good next year with the loss of many secondary players. Need the offense to be able to win some games.

    • 2
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      BG is 7-1 as a starter. He’s won the team over, and will know the playbook much better next year and much better chemistry with the receivers.

      I don’t see the need to go after a high-profile transfer QB, when there are other important positions to fill.

      • When you say “BG is 7-1 as a starter” it tells me how damn good the rest of this team was. If improving on 10-3 is the goal, we probably need a better QB than BG next year. If 8-4 is the expectation, then BG is fine. My hunch is that we won’t be able to land a top portal QB and that we roll with BG and Chiles. My hope is that Chiles is the real deal. We have some serious talent coming back so it could be a special year if we can get better QB play. Of course, I’d love to see BG prove me wrong. I did see a bit of fire and toughness from him today that I liked. Couple impressive throws

        • “Couple impressive throws”………and at least one impressive throw away to sideline.
          “I did see a bit of fire and toughness from him today”………refer to the vid posted above and Hammer’s endorsement there. Hammer went out of his way to make those comments and was seconded by Grant; an indication that those two have seen fire and toughness in BG more than just this one game.

        • The weakest position on OSU’s roster is clearly receiver. They simply don’t get much separation against opposing DB’s. There was progression in their ability to find pockets in zones to get open but the passing game cannot evolve without receivers that can win in man coverage. Get BG a Brandin Cooks equivalent and I guarantee this team is top 10 next year.

          Likewise, this team would be 11-1 with a star nose tackle. Had they just registered two sacks against USC and UW this team would be in the Rose Bowl.

      • Whatever issues I thought I had with BG, they are gone. He is a damn fine QB – 7-1 as a starter I’ll take anyday. It was mentioned that BG is pre-med by the commentators of the game yesterday (which I didn’t know) and already graduated – hell, I’ll take smart with skills over just skills at this position anyday. I feel Chance would have been just fine, too, had he not been injured. The reality is that Oregon State had 2-3 QB’s that could get us to a 10 win season with the surrounding cast to support them. It’s nice to finally have some depth and not have to worry every time somebody goes down there is a fall-off in production. The Beavs are probably in the best place as a team than they have ever been in my lifetime. Good times ahead!

        Go Beavs! Best bowl game since the Fiesta Bowl!

    • I’m guessing the pitch all along has been “you have to come in and compete with the current QB room.” The goal would be to filter out guys who aren’t willing to compete.

      I hate to be that guy, but I’m starting to come around to Trusting the Process.

  41. Fresno whooped WSU 29-6 in the LA bowl. Bulldogs started 1-4 after the injury to Jake Haener and rallied to win 9 straight games to win the MWC, bowl game and finish with 10 wins.

    That’s a good football team. Makes the first win down there this season look that much better.

    • Yeah, I was suprised at this, but having gotten out of Fresno with a win earlier in the season, I guess I shouldn’t be. Haener was headed to UofW prior to the season but couldn’t get passed the admissions requirements. Tedford is a great coach, too and Cal has not been the same after he left (or asked to leave?) Hearing that there is some internal issues with WSU going on, Dickart related. Not sure if the players are buying into his system. Some are still pissed I guess the way in which Rolovich was ‘dismissed’, too. As revelations continue to come out on the vax – Rolovich may end up with a shit-ton of money from the state of WA for an unjustified discharge – that suit is starting to ripen.

  42. DJ Uiagalelei brother is listed as a high choice on Beavers prospects. Usually guys listed in this category we have a realist shot as there seems to be mutual interest. He wasn’t listed in this category prior to DJ entering the transfer portal. I wonder if talks with DJ have developed and it’s a package deal. I thought DJ was leaning towards UCLA or Fresno.

  43. OT, in WBB, TVO was on FIRE today:

    “Von Oelhoffen finished with a career-high 41 points on 17-of-20 shooting to lead the Beavers to a 96-84 victory over Nevada in the Maui Classic in Kihei, Hawaii. The OSU star made all 13 of her two-point shots, connected on 4 of 7 from three-point range and hit 3 of 3 from the free-throw line. Von Oelhoffen also added five rebounds and six assists.”

    Wow.

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    Not sure if anyone’s made this comment but:

    – At 10-3 this is officially the best season since the Fiesta Bowl.
    – It’s also a better record than any Mike Riley team managed.

  45. Two great tweets from last night:

    Melvin Jordan (who’s from Florida)- Why Oregon State they said? Why not stay in state? *laughing emojis*
    Damien Martinez- I aint leavin

    • 1
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      It’s kind of like when the masses discover a new State that was off the radar but was known by locals to have a high quality of life. The internet has made this happen a lot with States and people moving. It’s been slower going for OSU getting discovered as a program, and I blame that mostly on Riley grooming fans to have low expectations, so then you get players who buy into those low expectations, too.

  46. Beavs up to #13 in Sagarin after the Vegas bowl. Very close in rating to Clemson and Nike. #10 Kansas State is a bit further out of reach.

    Florida finished the year at a respectable #33, becoming our second highest quality win of the season (after the Nike win).

  47. Written above, but it’s so important people realize this, that I’m pasting it here:

    GA was a disaster, mostly because he was an abusive drunk, but part of his failure was Riley left nothing but a pack of Panko bread crumbs in the cupboard. Once Gilstrap died recruiting went downhill and it became obvious who was running the “successful” Riley years. It was Jim. It took 6 years for Gilstrap’s recruits to work through the system, and when they finally did, the program was a mess and Riley was gone.

    Also, Sparky wrote this:

    I think many of those fans weren’t as big of Riley fans that you think, but more afraid of the unknown. Some schools never get even back to the high mediocrity.

    That’s probably true. But life is one giant unknown. To fear the unknown is to fear life. I’m not trying to be a walking fortune cookie or anything, but I really do believe that’s true. You have to go for it because unless string theory is correct and we live in multiple universes (very possible), we only get one shot. One thing we know for sure is we only get one shot with this life that we’re conscious of and living right now. Go for it. Always. Unless it’s 4th down.

  48. 2
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    Something I’m seeing a lot in the thread and mentioned a lot on ESPN, is BG is 7-1 as a starter. Great. But it’s like baseball: sabermetrics, thankfully, has finally proven that a pitcher’s wins are worth nearly 0 (unless he pitches a shutout maybe). If people want to talk about BG in a positive light, look to his very good 62.2 career completion %, a respectable 9 to 5 TD to INT ratio, etc. Just like pitchers are now rightfully judged off k/9, b/9, era, etc, QBs have to be judged on the things in their control, not team stats. Wins are almost always team stats. They’re also arbitrary. What if Gebbia started yesterdays’ game as a token gesture, played 1 snap, and then BG replaced him? Gebbia would get the win as a starter. So we need to ditch that completely. What is important with BG is he played with the most confidence every yesterday after a long break, which makes me think over those weeks waiting for the bowl something clicked. This happens. E.g. many times I’ll practice guitar every day, and make little progress, but then put it down for a week, pick it up, and suddenly there’s a leap. It’s just the way brains work. They need down time to rewire. I’m thinking something like this happened with BG the way he played yesterday. Unfortunately we can’t test it until next season, but the positive is there’s a lot of both practice and down time between now and then for this to happen again and again. He could come back really good.

    Is Chiles willing to red shirt and wait a few years if that happens?

    • I think his completion percentage is respectable, but his TD:INT ratio of 9:5 is not. Though nearly 2:1, these days i think near 3:1 is respectable.

      According to this thread, in the UW game, he may have missed on 3 TD passes (i recall an open wheel route was missed badly), though one of those may have been drops(?). I’m not sure of other misses on open targets. He could get better in both completion percentage and TD:INT ratio, and hopefully he learns to throw it away and out of bounds. He’s graduated, should have plenty of time for film review, two camps before next season, snd all summer to throw to receivers. If Chiles or a transfer can beat him out with all of that, fine.

    • Great program elevating win yesterday. It sets the table for next years preseason rankings and allows for an opportunity to accomplish even bigger things with a new stadium, perhaps better schedule, and a lot of players with experience returning.
      We are now at the level of typical Wisconsin, and nearly mirror their strengths and weaknesses. Wisconsin has had great success by getting average qb play along with a great run game and great defense.

      Wisconsin had one magical run with Russell Wilson transferring in but they also had many Rose Bowl years with an average qb game manager.

      BG almost had me sold yesterday on his ability to continue to grow into more than a question mark at qb. I don’t think things are as bad off as it looked after UW game but I am still holding out hope for a “Russell Wilson” caliber transfer that creates instant magic for the team next year.

      Part of the thinking with a win now qb may be the way we’ve been programmed by past experiences as Beaver fans- you only get a great defense every 8-10 years, you only have a mature qb every 5 years if you’re lucky, and you need to mesh them into the same timeframe to win. Well, jS has just proven that is a faulty paradigm and it may not be the case any longer. Trust the Process as mentioned above likely means we pull in a backup qb with some experience as insurance and stand Pat with BG, expecting growth from the entire team next year rather than putting all the eggs into a portal qb basket.

      I think I’m ok with that now. It means one guy doesn’t lift or sink the season and locker room.

      JS has changed the culture of the program and now must begin changing the paradigm and lens of Beavernation away from the Riley lens of understanding how football programs operate.
      We are entering the Chris Petersen phase of what enduring high level success can look like… and it doesn’t start with a superstar qb, but a lot of depth at all positions, guys buying into team first, upperclassmen leading and a belief in each other as teammates.

      It is a great day to be a Beaver!

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