As the Fresh Prince astutely noted in 1987, girls ain’t nothing but trouble.

Am I right, Matt LaGrone and David Pa’aluhi?

Pa’aluhi, a star linebacker, and the one LB of the current corp who could make an NFL impact, quit football to go home and pursue a military career in order to support his girlfriend and child. Matt LaGrone followed suit and left for Reno to be with his wife and daughters.

The problem I have with these decisions aren’t football related. The team will recover. Tony Wilson looks like a very good player; Taylor Henry, equally adroit.

My issue is with these women. Why are they not willing to stand by their men and support them as they pursue a dream? Granted, I have no idea of the details, but I do know LaGrone’s wife said she did not want to move to Corvallis. If I were pursuing a dream, and the woman who mothered my children said that, I’d probably be done with her. No, I know I would. Not only is she dictating this man’s life, but she’s being short-sighted in passing up (potentially) thousands of dollars in an NFL career. Now she has a man in Reno with no college degree, no possible NFL career, and presumably no prospects. And Matt Lagrone agreed to this. Shame on him.

Pa’aluhi is a tougher case. Fewer details, military “dreams”…(did he always dream of his or did he simply wake up and decide he needed the money?). Tough call, a more sensitive situation, and with fewer details. I’m not going to grill this guy as much. Being from Hawaii, at least Pa’aluhi girl would have had a culture to leave behind…it’s more understandable if she doesn’t want to move, and on top of that Pa’aluhi has some options.

But boy are these men whipped. Unless football wasn’t a dream of theirs they’ll wind up regretting this long after these girls are out of their lives–let’s face it boys, the divorce rate is astronomical and these don’t exactly sound like healthy, supportive relationships. Unless they’re trying to play the “good guy”/”real man” card, which is nothing more than a euphemism for guilt/pressure to support their kids. But the best support for those kids would be a loving, understanding wife and an NFL career.

As far as spring ball, this is the only real news worth discussing so far. I don’t think the QB battle is much of one unless Katz goes down. Lalich simply looks out of place and uninspired. Katz has the “it” factor the position has lacked since Jonathan Smith, or maybe Matt Moore’s senior year.

What do you do if you’re a smoker dying of lung cancer?

Ask the Oregon State Beavers and they’ll likely tell you to light one up and take a drag.

A team that, since 2006, has gotten drubbed in OOC games by Penn State, Boise State, and Cincinnati (twice), is now looking to add to that momentum by inking deals with TCU, Boise State, Wisconsin, and BYU over the next two years.

Good or bad?

I have to say, I like the devil-may-care scheduling. To be fearless and believe you can play with the big boys is the first step in that self-fulfilling prophecy ringing true.

My question is this: do the Beavers actually believe they can win these games or are they just intriguing money grabs? Using history as an indicator, it’s hard to believe Riley & friends believe they’re going to come out of these games looking good, especially if they’re on ESPN/prime time (a slot they only thrive in versus familiar PAC-10 foes).

I know fans will be jacked up for these games, at least until they kickoff (and the drubbing begins!). That’s when we’ll hear the complaints that Bob D should have scheduled Montana, Idaho, Portland State, or a directional vocational school…just like the SEC does. It’s a valid argument, but if you believe it then make it now. Personally I think it’s interesting that the Beavers are taking this uber-aggressive approach. They haven’t been able to deliver the fanbase a BCS game for some time, and some of these games (see TCU) will have that feel. Even if it doesn’t make college football sense as defined by the SEC, it’s exciting, right?

Perusing the net, I’m once again embarrassed to be a Beaver fan.

That my brethren are cheering the suspension of Masoli only shows that they tremble and quake at the mere presence of the man who shredded consecutive Rose Bowl bids. Hey, I’m scared of Masoli as well–he is dangerous, borderline unstoppable in the spread offense. That being said, when the Ducks come to Corn Valley next season I’d like a crack at them with their best players. To be the best you must beat the best, and for that reason I’d like to see the Ducks at full strength. You can’t have a changing of the guard if one of said guards isn’t there to change out.

Now, let’s not confuse what I am saying here with legal matters. Masoli is guilty and should be kicked off the team permanently. Same with James–Kelly was both inconsistent and lenient, and this favoritism will lead to deeper problems for him down the road. But as a Beaver fan I should not want players kicked off the team. If I do, it only shows that I’m deathly afraid of this opponent. What the reaction should be is this: “What they did is illegal, and therefore they should not be afforded the privilege of playing football under scholarships paid for by Oregon residents, but this really sucks because I’d love to beat these guys at full strength next December.”  Instead, Beaver fans are ecstatic that they now have a chance at winning the Civil War while also taking the low road and reveling in the current Duck misery. It screams (classless) little brother, and frankly, I’m tired of playing that role, which is present in every athletic and academic endeavor the university pursues.

If the Beavers do win the Civil War this coming season, the feat will be tarnished in these eyes. Until the Beavers beat the best they’ll play second fiddle, and that’s a chair the old, tattered Beaver fan who lived through “28 years” is content sitting in, but the new generation of fan is coming on and we have higher expectations of what Corvallis can and should be. This is not your mom and dad’s generation you old, dying farts. Stop cheering on felonies because it’s beneficial to your inferior football team and instead criticize your own team so it’s better based on merit and mettle rather than an opponent’s attrition.