Wednesday, June 29, 2005
The year that was for Beaver Nation
The following is a list of Beaver sports highlights for the 2004/2005 seasons. The one common thread for all events was that I WAS THERE.
The Fog Bowl vs. USC:
After a dreadful 1-4 start to the season the Beavs win 3 straight to even their record at 4-4. An evening game against #1 and defending national champ SC awaits. An eerie fog settles in the valley and becomes thicker as the 7:00 start time approaches. At kickoff we can't see the fans on he other side of the field. The eerie evening continues as the Beavs take an early lead and go toe to toe with the champs. A late first half pick preserves the halftime lead and Beaver Nation is ready for the upset. Early chances that ended in a FG instead of TD's end up costing the Beavs when that freak Reggie Bush takes a great punt that pinned him on the sideline all the way back. He's within arms length of almost every Beav on the field but no one brings him down and SC gets the lead for good. The Beavs play well, but fall short losing 28-20.
Keeping (Bowl) Hope Alive :
A week later the Beavs and some faithful fans roadtrip to the farm for a matchup with the Cardinal. Solid Beaver offense in the first half and the typical tough D in the second half allow the Beavs to escape with a 24-19 win that didn't seem that close. The Beavs now head to the civil war at 5-5, same as the ducks. Winner goes to a bowl, loser goes home.
The Civil War:
In the ultimate winner take all showdown the beavs leave no doubt as to who was best on this day. After trailing early 7-3 and having to listen to the quacks in the crowd the Beavs exploded with 17 unanswered and took a 27-14 lead at the half. From there the game was never in doubt as DA finished with 5 TD's including one on the ground. The only question remaining as Duck fans filed out at the end of the 3rd quarter was if the Beavs would get to 50. Serna 5th FG of the day with just over 8 minutes left made the final Beavs 50 Ducks 21.
Beaver basketball hosts an NIT game:
There first postseason birth in 15 years. The fall in OT at home to CSF 85-83 when the beavs lose steam after a fierce second half rally. Bobby Brown throws in seven 3's in the first half to post CSF to a big lead and "Ralphy" hits the game winner after getting by with a travel.
Beaver Baseball in the CWS:
After a memorable season on the diamond the #2 ranked Beavers were one game from going to Omaha and the CWS. Their opponent appropriately enough was the Trojans of USC. After blowing an 8-3 lead in the eighth the prior night no one was sure how the team would respond. Well they responded favorably. Andy Jenkins was 5-5 and hit for the cycle and Dallas Buck got the final four outs after winning game one two days earlier to secure a 10-8 win. The Beavs mobbed each other in a mass of orange just off the mound after the final out was made.
Wow, what a year! I now look forward to kickoff on September 3rd and watching from my new "throne" in section 214 of the east side.
GO BEAVS!
The Fog Bowl vs. USC:
After a dreadful 1-4 start to the season the Beavs win 3 straight to even their record at 4-4. An evening game against #1 and defending national champ SC awaits. An eerie fog settles in the valley and becomes thicker as the 7:00 start time approaches. At kickoff we can't see the fans on he other side of the field. The eerie evening continues as the Beavs take an early lead and go toe to toe with the champs. A late first half pick preserves the halftime lead and Beaver Nation is ready for the upset. Early chances that ended in a FG instead of TD's end up costing the Beavs when that freak Reggie Bush takes a great punt that pinned him on the sideline all the way back. He's within arms length of almost every Beav on the field but no one brings him down and SC gets the lead for good. The Beavs play well, but fall short losing 28-20.
Keeping (Bowl) Hope Alive :
A week later the Beavs and some faithful fans roadtrip to the farm for a matchup with the Cardinal. Solid Beaver offense in the first half and the typical tough D in the second half allow the Beavs to escape with a 24-19 win that didn't seem that close. The Beavs now head to the civil war at 5-5, same as the ducks. Winner goes to a bowl, loser goes home.
The Civil War:
In the ultimate winner take all showdown the beavs leave no doubt as to who was best on this day. After trailing early 7-3 and having to listen to the quacks in the crowd the Beavs exploded with 17 unanswered and took a 27-14 lead at the half. From there the game was never in doubt as DA finished with 5 TD's including one on the ground. The only question remaining as Duck fans filed out at the end of the 3rd quarter was if the Beavs would get to 50. Serna 5th FG of the day with just over 8 minutes left made the final Beavs 50 Ducks 21.
Beaver basketball hosts an NIT game:
There first postseason birth in 15 years. The fall in OT at home to CSF 85-83 when the beavs lose steam after a fierce second half rally. Bobby Brown throws in seven 3's in the first half to post CSF to a big lead and "Ralphy" hits the game winner after getting by with a travel.
Beaver Baseball in the CWS:
After a memorable season on the diamond the #2 ranked Beavers were one game from going to Omaha and the CWS. Their opponent appropriately enough was the Trojans of USC. After blowing an 8-3 lead in the eighth the prior night no one was sure how the team would respond. Well they responded favorably. Andy Jenkins was 5-5 and hit for the cycle and Dallas Buck got the final four outs after winning game one two days earlier to secure a 10-8 win. The Beavs mobbed each other in a mass of orange just off the mound after the final out was made.
Wow, what a year! I now look forward to kickoff on September 3rd and watching from my new "throne" in section 214 of the east side.
GO BEAVS!
Good Job Dad!
Ahh parenting. How many other adults get a "good job daddy!", just for "going peepee in the toilet".
Wednesday, June 15, 2005
Beavers in the CWS
53 years after their last trip to the College World Series the OSU Beavers are headed to Omaha after a 10-8 victory over USC in the 3rd game of the Super Regional.
Yes, I was there. Sitting in the front row of the right field bleachers. Andy Jenkins first inning two run double hit the wall right in front of us. ESPN cameras captured us, clad in orange of course, jumping up and down as the SC right fielder tracked the ball down. This game seemed much like the other two. It always felt the Beavers were the better team but sloppy pitching, walks and hit batsman, kept the Trojans in it. The Beavs out hit SC 17-6, but SC offense was more along the lines of the 6th inning when 6 of the first seven batters reached and 4 runs were plated, all with one hit. A mere single at that. If the Beavs pitching can be around the plate the fielding and bats could make them dangerous in Omaha.
We open with Tulane this Saturday. Here is the CWS bracket.
The entire effort of getting tickets and arriving early to secure seating was worth it when a giant pile of orange formed just off the mound as the final out was made. I was never as emotionally invested in this game as I am for football, but I did feel a tear creep up as the orange pile rolled around the infield. That was the site I had waited to see all along. Now all I need is a Final Four and a Rose Bowl and my Beaver sports dreams will be complete.
Yes, I was there. Sitting in the front row of the right field bleachers. Andy Jenkins first inning two run double hit the wall right in front of us. ESPN cameras captured us, clad in orange of course, jumping up and down as the SC right fielder tracked the ball down. This game seemed much like the other two. It always felt the Beavers were the better team but sloppy pitching, walks and hit batsman, kept the Trojans in it. The Beavs out hit SC 17-6, but SC offense was more along the lines of the 6th inning when 6 of the first seven batters reached and 4 runs were plated, all with one hit. A mere single at that. If the Beavs pitching can be around the plate the fielding and bats could make them dangerous in Omaha.
We open with Tulane this Saturday. Here is the CWS bracket.
The entire effort of getting tickets and arriving early to secure seating was worth it when a giant pile of orange formed just off the mound as the final out was made. I was never as emotionally invested in this game as I am for football, but I did feel a tear creep up as the orange pile rolled around the infield. That was the site I had waited to see all along. Now all I need is a Final Four and a Rose Bowl and my Beaver sports dreams will be complete.
