Monday, November 22, 2004
The un-Civil Beating
Formerly known as the Civil War this was anything but civil. The Beavs took out the BIG STICK on Saturday and used it repeatedly on the Ducks. After trailing briefly 7-3 the Beavs scored the next 17 to go up 20-7. The quacks answered and closed to 27-21 early in the third after DA's only INT of the game, but that was it. What followed was 23 straight from the near flawless Beavers and a lifeless, un-imaginative effort from the quacks. The OSU offense moved at will against Phil's boys and the defense was stellar as usual. Final: BEAVS 50, Ducklings 21
Where do I start, so much good stuff to talk about. First, how about MR? It took him 11 games but we actually saw some efforts at misdirection with multiple fake end arounds and yes even a successful fake field goal. I didn't think he had it in him. Well done Mike!!! Player of the game is a tough call, DA played outstanding, nearly flawless in the first half completing 15 of 20 for 200+ yards. He did get rattled early in the third on a scramble when he was "hit" by a 5"9' CB. The hit left DA on the ground for some time and had him out of the game for one play. Upon his return he had one horribly thrown ball and then the INT. I was worried that he had been rattler and this might have been the end for the Beavs. Not to fret, following the ensuing Duck TD, DA drove the Beavs for a TD that them back up 13 and never looked back. 4 TD passes and another on the ground to go with at least 3 scrambles for first downs and this was clearly his best game of the year. I have previously been hard on DA, but only because I think this is the way he could have been playing for the past two years. Well better late than never, and better against the Ducks than anybody else. Great game, great career!! I think DA will be someone Beaver fans look back on and won't fully appreciate until we have to live without him.
However, the player of the game award goes to Swanny. 3 sacks, one forced fumble, an INT on a shuttle pass and one reception for 17 yards and a first down. It was clear that with him on the field at Reser for the final time and against the hated Ducks there was only one possible outcome to this game. He looked like he could have played 1-11 and still got the job done on D. Well done, your spirit and energy will be sorely missed.
Not even mentioned in this are the 10 (5FG and 5 EXP) kicks made by Serna on the day. All this lead to a Beaver sweep of Pac-10 weekly honors. Only the 2nd time since the award system started in 1983 that one team has won all 3 awards.
Reser said goodbye to seniors whose names are all over the record books. The career TD and yardage leader in DA, the career sack leader, by far, in Swanny and the career interception leader in Meeuwsen. Hmmm, what do these guys have in common? They are all from Oregon!!! Do we have a budding football hotbed forming here? OK, I don't think so either, but this is good to see. Especially for recruiting.
We now get a few weeks to reflect on the what-ifs of the LSU, ASU and SC games. We also get to look forward to one more game from this years Beavers and at this point I don't care who the opponent is. I hoping for a date in El Paso with Kyle Orton and Purdue. Of course I am a huge fan of the pass and Kyle and DA combining for 100 attempts would be entertaining if nothing else. Wow, we have come so far from the days of half empty (yes I am a pessimist) stadiums and Pettibone running the triple option on 3rd and 12. I actually might be changing my tune with regards to my satisfaction level of this season. If there is such a thing as a really good 6-5 year, this just might be it. No we didn't beat anyone with a winning record, yet, but we did claw back from 1-4 and beat all out NW rivals for the first time in 30 years. Slowly all these "haven't done whatever since whenever" streaks are being erased from the Beavs past. We''ll never be a perennial powerhouse, but we have reached a point of respectable and occasionally spectacular. I think I could live with that. But I reserve the right to change my mind. Hey, I pay a lot each year for that right and if I ever see the wishbone from the boys in black again you can be sure I won't hesitate to exercise it. Passion, heart and creativity is all I'm after in win or in defeat. I think this years group exemplifies these traits and I hope the tradition continues.
Some interesting game notes:
Where do I start, so much good stuff to talk about. First, how about MR? It took him 11 games but we actually saw some efforts at misdirection with multiple fake end arounds and yes even a successful fake field goal. I didn't think he had it in him. Well done Mike!!! Player of the game is a tough call, DA played outstanding, nearly flawless in the first half completing 15 of 20 for 200+ yards. He did get rattled early in the third on a scramble when he was "hit" by a 5"9' CB. The hit left DA on the ground for some time and had him out of the game for one play. Upon his return he had one horribly thrown ball and then the INT. I was worried that he had been rattler and this might have been the end for the Beavs. Not to fret, following the ensuing Duck TD, DA drove the Beavs for a TD that them back up 13 and never looked back. 4 TD passes and another on the ground to go with at least 3 scrambles for first downs and this was clearly his best game of the year. I have previously been hard on DA, but only because I think this is the way he could have been playing for the past two years. Well better late than never, and better against the Ducks than anybody else. Great game, great career!! I think DA will be someone Beaver fans look back on and won't fully appreciate until we have to live without him.
However, the player of the game award goes to Swanny. 3 sacks, one forced fumble, an INT on a shuttle pass and one reception for 17 yards and a first down. It was clear that with him on the field at Reser for the final time and against the hated Ducks there was only one possible outcome to this game. He looked like he could have played 1-11 and still got the job done on D. Well done, your spirit and energy will be sorely missed.
Not even mentioned in this are the 10 (5FG and 5 EXP) kicks made by Serna on the day. All this lead to a Beaver sweep of Pac-10 weekly honors. Only the 2nd time since the award system started in 1983 that one team has won all 3 awards.
Reser said goodbye to seniors whose names are all over the record books. The career TD and yardage leader in DA, the career sack leader, by far, in Swanny and the career interception leader in Meeuwsen. Hmmm, what do these guys have in common? They are all from Oregon!!! Do we have a budding football hotbed forming here? OK, I don't think so either, but this is good to see. Especially for recruiting.
We now get a few weeks to reflect on the what-ifs of the LSU, ASU and SC games. We also get to look forward to one more game from this years Beavers and at this point I don't care who the opponent is. I hoping for a date in El Paso with Kyle Orton and Purdue. Of course I am a huge fan of the pass and Kyle and DA combining for 100 attempts would be entertaining if nothing else. Wow, we have come so far from the days of half empty (yes I am a pessimist) stadiums and Pettibone running the triple option on 3rd and 12. I actually might be changing my tune with regards to my satisfaction level of this season. If there is such a thing as a really good 6-5 year, this just might be it. No we didn't beat anyone with a winning record, yet, but we did claw back from 1-4 and beat all out NW rivals for the first time in 30 years. Slowly all these "haven't done whatever since whenever" streaks are being erased from the Beavs past. We''ll never be a perennial powerhouse, but we have reached a point of respectable and occasionally spectacular. I think I could live with that. But I reserve the right to change my mind. Hey, I pay a lot each year for that right and if I ever see the wishbone from the boys in black again you can be sure I won't hesitate to exercise it. Passion, heart and creativity is all I'm after in win or in defeat. I think this years group exemplifies these traits and I hope the tradition continues.
Some interesting game notes:
- DA outrushed the other 5 Ducks to carry the ball excluding Terrence Whitehead (49-48)
- He did so on fewer carries (12-22)
- Serna scored more points than the Beavs did in 5 games this season (20)
- The 50 points scored by the Beavs is the most in CW history
- The 29 point victory is the Beavs largest in CW history
- For the first time in school history the Beavs are going to a bowl for the 3rd consecutive year
- Team Nike had their first losing season since 1993
- OSU is 33-9 at home in the past 7 seasons
Monday, November 15, 2004
A Trip to "The Farm"
OK, stop me if you've heard this one. Beavers off to a good start, offense starts to sputter, play calling predictable, DA hitting defenders in the chest repeatedly and the Beaver defense beginning to yield as they spend all day on the field. Even after losing the turnover battle 4-1 the Beavs were able to hang on, mostly thanks to the Stanford shanker, I mean kicker who was 2-8 kicking. OK really 2-5, but 3 other times the tree was 4th and goal outside the 10 and went for it because shanks was the only other option. Of course all 3 times the Beaver D held them to 0. Final: Beavs 24 Tree 19.
Riley did pull one misdirection play out this week and guess what? It worked. A fake hand off to Love as he went in motion and a screen back the other way to Wright. 43 yards and a TD. Then nothing for the rest of the game. I'm hopeful that closed practices for CW week will mean we might actually see a little more creativity from the OSU offense this week. Mike, please tell me you have just been saving all this up to unleash on the Ducks at the most opportune moment.
Now for the civil war. Winner goes bowling, loser stays home. Can it get any better? I might not sleep for a week. Beavs are an early 4 point favorite at home with the Ducks coming off another home loss, their 3rd of the season, this time to UCLA. Both teams are 4-3 in the Pac-10 with all combined 8 wins coming against the same 4 teams (UA, Stanford, UW, WSU). The Beavs beat 3 of the teams on the road, shockingly rare for the beavs who are a combined 2-10 on the road in the Pac-10 the prior 3 seasons. The Beavs played well in a loss to SC while the quacks were a mere extra point and/or 4th down catch from beating Cal in Berkeley. Whoever comes out on the short end on Sunday will definitely be spending a great deal of time thinking about the "what-ifs" of the 2004 season. My main concern for this game is the Beavs ability or inability to contain Clemens. I remember watching him run amuck last year in Eugene and if he is able to do that again the Beavs are in trouble. If we are able to contain him and minimize turnovers we will be victorious. I think the home crowd and the Orange uni's put the beavs over the top. OSU 27 UO 20.
Some links that might be helpful in conversation with Ducks this week.
Road Trip Recap - My favorite quotes from the Roadtrip to and from Palo Alto. 7 folks, 1 car, 8 stops, 1200 miles, and an all important Beaver Win.
Riley did pull one misdirection play out this week and guess what? It worked. A fake hand off to Love as he went in motion and a screen back the other way to Wright. 43 yards and a TD. Then nothing for the rest of the game. I'm hopeful that closed practices for CW week will mean we might actually see a little more creativity from the OSU offense this week. Mike, please tell me you have just been saving all this up to unleash on the Ducks at the most opportune moment.
Now for the civil war. Winner goes bowling, loser stays home. Can it get any better? I might not sleep for a week. Beavs are an early 4 point favorite at home with the Ducks coming off another home loss, their 3rd of the season, this time to UCLA. Both teams are 4-3 in the Pac-10 with all combined 8 wins coming against the same 4 teams (UA, Stanford, UW, WSU). The Beavs beat 3 of the teams on the road, shockingly rare for the beavs who are a combined 2-10 on the road in the Pac-10 the prior 3 seasons. The Beavs played well in a loss to SC while the quacks were a mere extra point and/or 4th down catch from beating Cal in Berkeley. Whoever comes out on the short end on Sunday will definitely be spending a great deal of time thinking about the "what-ifs" of the 2004 season. My main concern for this game is the Beavs ability or inability to contain Clemens. I remember watching him run amuck last year in Eugene and if he is able to do that again the Beavs are in trouble. If we are able to contain him and minimize turnovers we will be victorious. I think the home crowd and the Orange uni's put the beavs over the top. OSU 27 UO 20.
Some links that might be helpful in conversation with Ducks this week.
Road Trip Recap - My favorite quotes from the Roadtrip to and from Palo Alto. 7 folks, 1 car, 8 stops, 1200 miles, and an all important Beaver Win.
- "I can't hear squat" - Justin as the CD player loses battery power
- "How can you serve breakfast then?" - Beverly after being denied hashbrowns for dinner by the waiter at Denny's
- "We have a few more problems with your order" - Waiter at Denny's informing us he is also out of dippers and root beer (roast beef)
- "Whoooshh" - the sound of shards of broken plate as they move past Geo's head at Olive Garden
- "What channel is the Sprague game on?" - Justin wanting to dial up the Sprague playoff game on AM radio
- "I'm never eating again" - Laurie after every meal
- "Nice hair" - Some random beaver fan to Jordan sporting his new Orange do
- "Beat the Ducks" - OSU crowd shortly after the gun in Stanford stadium
- "THAT is a lot of orange!" - Girl behind the counter and Carl's Jr. as 7 weary travelers clad in gameday attire wander in for dinner
- "I love this bar" - Some country guy on Bryon's CD. I can't get this song out of my head.
- "SNZZZZ!!!!" - Who else? All night, every night. Thanks god for ear plugs.
Tuesday, November 09, 2004
SC 28 OSU 20
OK, Reggie bush is a freak. Every time he touched the ball I would cringe and hold my breath. We just gave him one too many chances on punt returns and he hurt us. Like LSU, I would have been fine with a butt kickin', hey they are frankly a better team than we are. But to see them on that night, SC was beatable. Missed opportunities in the first quarter lead to only a 6-0 lead, but through 3 we still only trailed by one. The Bush return and no life from our offense (more on this to come) lead to the final result. A good effort, especially from the D, but once again falling short.
Let's talk about Mike Riley. A friend of mine made a comment and it seems to ring more true the more I watch the Beavs play. To quote him "Under Riley the Beavs will never win a game they aren't supposed to." Now, LSU aside, I mean how many times do you miss 3 extra points in one game (Serna nominated for national kicker of the year), this just keeps happening. See ASU, USC, Cal, etc. I mean when you are playing the #1 team in the country you are going to have to do something special to win. You are not going to do it on skill alone. Where is some miss-direction, fake FG, on-side kick (See Belotti's consecutive on-side kicks vs. Cal)??? Hey, look is that Dwight Wright running outside the tackles??? Hey that worked nice, too bad it took us 8+ games to give that a shot. Show me some creativity and fire. And how about those pre and post-game talks. Come on Mike, just once show me that losing hurts and that you will do whatever it takes to avoid that feeling in the future. Looks like there is a bigger club already established that is a little more extreme on this stance.
Well, the path forward is clear. Win two games and go to a bowl, possible even the Sun bowl. End with a 6-5 record, with all 5 loses being to top 20 teams, and lots of what ifs. At this point I think the season is a failure regardless of what happens from here out. Riley is wearing on my patience. We took a chance at LSU and lost, we had #1 on the ropes and didn't take advantage and lost to mediocre ASU. I don't think anything of significance happened this year that could springboard the program going forward. A win over the quacks never hurts, but we had better opportunities that again passed bye.
Let's talk about Mike Riley. A friend of mine made a comment and it seems to ring more true the more I watch the Beavs play. To quote him "Under Riley the Beavs will never win a game they aren't supposed to." Now, LSU aside, I mean how many times do you miss 3 extra points in one game (Serna nominated for national kicker of the year), this just keeps happening. See ASU, USC, Cal, etc. I mean when you are playing the #1 team in the country you are going to have to do something special to win. You are not going to do it on skill alone. Where is some miss-direction, fake FG, on-side kick (See Belotti's consecutive on-side kicks vs. Cal)??? Hey, look is that Dwight Wright running outside the tackles??? Hey that worked nice, too bad it took us 8+ games to give that a shot. Show me some creativity and fire. And how about those pre and post-game talks. Come on Mike, just once show me that losing hurts and that you will do whatever it takes to avoid that feeling in the future. Looks like there is a bigger club already established that is a little more extreme on this stance.
Well, the path forward is clear. Win two games and go to a bowl, possible even the Sun bowl. End with a 6-5 record, with all 5 loses being to top 20 teams, and lots of what ifs. At this point I think the season is a failure regardless of what happens from here out. Riley is wearing on my patience. We took a chance at LSU and lost, we had #1 on the ropes and didn't take advantage and lost to mediocre ASU. I don't think anything of significance happened this year that could springboard the program going forward. A win over the quacks never hurts, but we had better opportunities that again passed bye.
