Life around Corvallis on Friday resembles a morgue in the aftermath of the Civil War loss the night before. It was more of the same at the Valley Football Center, while catching up with coach Mike Riley.
Nearly all the players were gone. It’s dead week, no pun intended, so they are supposed to be off studying for finals next week.
“The heartbreak is worse,” Riley said comparing missing the Rose Bowl this year to last year. “We didn’t enter the competition a year ago like we did yesterday. With the commitment and competition, the more it hurts.”
There will be more in Saturday’s GT in my folo story, but here are the highlights. And check out this postgame highlight GT video.
- CB Tim Clark had surgery today on his fractured leg. LB Keaton Kristick (stinger) and CB Brandon Hardin (head) were shaken up at the end of the game, but will be ready when the team begins bowl practice.
- A practice schedule has not been made because the Beavers need to get their invite from either the Holiday Bowl or Las Vegas Bowl. Expect Vegas to invite them Sunday night.
- The team will have all of next week off for finals, so if the Beavers go to Vegas they will not have enough time to get the full 15 practices in before the game.
UPDATE: ESPN said last night’s game was the second-most watched Thursday night game of the year — trailing Texas vs. Texas A&M Thanksgiving night game. It was seen in 4,149,602 households.
UPDATE 2: This just in from OSU. The 303 all-purpose yards by WR James Rodgers was a school record. He 139 receiving, 135 on kickoff returns and 29 rushing.
29 comments
SanDiegoBeav says:
Dec 4, 2009
What a tough ending to a great season. It was tough for me to get up today and I only watched the game. I can only imagine how Riley feels. In my opinion, this loss (and the USC loss) simply came down to the fact that we just can't get defensive stops at the end of games. I would have loved to see Canfield get the ball back with one more shot.
On another point, do you have any idea what Dockery was doing when he gave up that 70+ yard td pass? It was third and about ten and he was playing tight press coverage. As soon as I saw how tight he was playing I was yelling at the TV for him to back up. Was it a case of him not being aware of the down and distance situation or what? I'm not saying it would have changed the outcome of the game but I just can't figure that one out.
Thanks for keeping us out of towners up to date with the football news.
JuneauJim says:
Dec 4, 2009
Thanks for all your work Cliff. The video is great although I wish the outcome were different.
The crowd noise and the way the Duck fans bring it is impressive. I see no reason why Reser can't be the same way at every game. The only thing that gets in the way are fans' unrealistic expectations. We all want to go to the Rose Bowl but we can't manage to sellout conference home games. Our bridge is too small, our game times conflict with youth soccer and our tickets cost too much.
I think that's all bunk! Fill the stadium. Make some loud noise. Cause the opposition to have 4 false start penalties a game and maybe we don't lose to Cincinnati by 10 or Arizona by 5. Then the game might have been winner to the Rose and loser to the Holiday. Now it looks like lose and go to Vegas Baby, Vegas.
ckirkpatrick says:
Dec 4, 2009
Mike Riley mentioned that the problem was that he didn't play tight right. He let the guy get outside very quickly, and then he took off and couldn't catch up.
RMD says:
Dec 5, 2009
So Cliff, is the Holiday out of the question? Obviously we travel well and can pull in the TV ratings. Come on AZ over us?!
ckirkpatrick says:
Dec 5, 2009
Most likely. If USC wins over Arizona, it's 95 percent USC. If Arizona were to some how beat USC, I'd say it's more 60-40 Arizona.
OSU would have to go to the Holiday Bowl people with a good pitch that the OSU fan base would travel to San Diego in droves, show the ESPN ratings and more.
In this economy that's not a sure thing. If the Beavers won their way into the Holiday Bowl it would seem more possible. The buzz would be there.
WebTraveler says:
Dec 5, 2009
It's this kind of raw deal that gets folks talking about the Pac 10 bowl situation. One day we're discussing the Rose Bowl, the next day the 5th place bowl game. Even the Pointsettia Bowl sounds better than the Las Vegas Bowl AGAIN.
tabhawk says:
Dec 5, 2009
Yeah, it's pretty discouraging that the only way the Beavs can get into a primo bowl is to win their conference outright, or somehow get a BCS at large bid. What's the point of having the whole PAC-10 2nd, 3rd, 4th, 5th agreements in place if they can just jettison them at their whim if they don't like the team that finishes in those places. Or do they all have "unless USC is available" clauses? Yes, I understand the financial aspect of it; but then, if that's the driving force, why have these flimsy conference position agreements in the first place?
If I have to watch them play football in a pure baseball stadium again…
ckirkpatrick says:
Dec 5, 2009
In this case, if USC beat Arizona, USC beat OSU head-to-head. Thus, USC is the better team even if tied in the standings.
The problem is the Sun Bowl has a no-repeat clause because fans don't go to El Paso on an annual basis. Wouldn't you be mad going to the Sun Bowl bowl three times in four years?
tabhawk says:
Dec 5, 2009
Yes and no, Cliff. It's partly the Beavs fault for not finishing correctly, and partly the convoluted bowl agreements the conference has itself in. If we finish 3rd, then that should be our bowl. Why don't they just say, the Sun Bowl gets first pick of the 3-4-5 teams instead of saying flat out it's the 3rd place team… unless you came last year? This no repeat clause stuff sucks. If they don't want our 3rd place team every year, tell 'em to pack sand and affiliate with a bowl that will. It's the freakin' Sun Bowl… in El Paso… they should be happy *anybody* goes to their bowl.
So if I'm understanding the situation correctly, if USC loses, the Holiday Bowl likely takes Arizona, USC goes to the Sun Bowl, and we're hosed with a lower bowl, again. 2009, meet 2007. No matter what, Cliff, I'm happy we're bowling yet again and it's still a good thing to just be able to complain about *which* bowl we get, unlike my poor Coug wife…
ckirkpatrick says:
Dec 6, 2009
Arizona has won. Most likely to the Holdiay. USC goes to Poinsettia because they finish behind OSU, Stanford and Cal. Sun gets the third place team, unless tied. Then picks. And then it does have the no-repeat. Fans won't go to El Paso over and over. They've seen it, and you all said it last year.
A Bay area team goes to Sun, the other Bay area goes to Emerald, which OSU was at two years ago anyway. Las Vegas is the next best/only option. OSU hasn't been there in six years (bowl-wise). And it's Vegas.
mckalk says:
Dec 5, 2009
Cliff,
Are you hearing anything on the Mountain West side for the Vegas Bowl. Will it be BYU? If the Beavs can stay in the Top 25, then at least the game will be a meeting of Top 25 teams. I don't want to see Utah again. Max Hall may be a handful for the Beavers D, but it should be an exciting match up
ckirkpatrick says:
Dec 5, 2009
I address that in my Saturday or Sunday story. I can't remember. But, BYU is the expected pick but the Las Vegas Bowl wants freshen it up and want Utah. They are trying to trade with the Poinsettia Bowl.
WebTraveler says:
Dec 5, 2009
How about the Las Vegas Bowl swap the Beavers into the Poinsettia Bowl as well? Any chance of that happening? The Las Vegas Bowl is just a really crappy bowl. Plus the Beavers already played in that dump of a stadium earlier this year.
ckirkpatrick says:
Dec 5, 2009
There has been talk about OSU falling to the Poinsettia because it already played at UNLV. But I don't think so. Las Vegas is Vegas. Fans will go.
aaron_ says:
Dec 5, 2009
i would hope that Az wins over USC and we somehow get in to the Holiday. Dropping down to the Vegas Bowls is nuts.
On a seperate note, I think that the Beavers would be nuts to drop the Eastern Washington game. If you add TCU to a schedule that already has BSU and Louisville that is not good. We all know how Riley teams start out so why would we do that to ourselves. All of this while breaking in a new starting QB. That will be difficult, very difficult.
BeaverDon says:
Dec 5, 2009
TCU? Where did you hear about TCU being added to the schedule. I agree, we need Eastern Washington to break in a new QB.
aaron_ says:
Dec 5, 2009
Cliff wrote an article, I think for today's paper, that talks about possible adding TCU and dropping EW. I don't like that idea at all.
BeaverDon says:
Dec 5, 2009
Just read the article. If the Beavs want to "find a game in Texas for James and Jacquizz Rodgers, who attended Lamar Consolidated High in the Houston suburb of Richmond" lets play SMU or Rice or Houston, and let's get a home and home agreement
ckirkpatrick says:
Dec 5, 2009
It's all about money. This would be a big payday, the bigger than Penn State, when you combine money from a third party with a sponsor for these games and TV.
aaron_ says:
Dec 5, 2009
Wow bigger than Penn State? Well if we took on TCU and droppeed EW, is there a chance we would drop the BSU or Lousiville game? that would just be a brutal schedule. BSU is really hot right now, one of the top programs in the country. Louisville is a bit down but still has some talent and could be a dangerous game.
osbeavs says:
Dec 5, 2009
Not to mention the recruiting trip. This trip would be incredibly meaningful to the Rodgers bros and can be a statement to other players in Texas. We also have a bye week after that game that would allow coaches to stay behind and recruit. Opening a recruiting lane into Texas would be huge for our program. We need to be actively searching for another running back for the future.
aaron_ says:
Dec 5, 2009
we could have made Rodgers bros happy by scheduling North Texas, Rice, Houston, SMU, UTEP shoot even at this point TAMU. But i dont agree with an early game against a team as good as TCU when we already have Louisville and Boise State on the schedule. Money shouldnt matter on the front end. If you keep EW then you get a for sure victory and one step closer to a higher bowlgame. Scedule TCU and you easily could get a loss and have to dig yourself out of a hole again.
tradernum1 says:
Dec 5, 2009
The Holiday Bowl takes a lot of pride in putting on an exciting game, and Arizona and USC's offenses are on the decline. We travel well, we have a great offense,
and we haven't been there.
Plus, we don't have much of a defense so the other team will probably be able to score a lot too.
tommiet says:
Dec 5, 2009
Trader, our D has some issues, but to say we "don't have much of a D" is a little harsh, and untrue. Our defense wasn't the ones kicking field goal after field goal at 4th and short in the red zone, leaving us standing there at the end of the game with our,,,,helmets…. in our hands going for it on 4th and 15.
tommiet says:
Dec 5, 2009
I just read Cliff's article about scheduling for next year. Boise State is returning almost all their starters, they're undefeated this year, and we have to go to Boise breaking in a new QB next year? Crap.
I'm for dumping those trips like we did Fresno State a few years ago. Going to Boise seems like a no win for us and huge for them.
march541 says:
Dec 5, 2009
It is really to bad the beavs cannot get touchdowns in the red zone. I lay the
blame at the feet of Langsdorf and Riley!! A severe lack of imagination and innovation. Quizz had no success with duck defense-why run him two times
consecutivily against a stone wall, O had the best red zone defense in the
conference why not a quick look in pass over the line or sideline or end line
routes to the wide receiver or a flea flicker or wild beaver?
march541 says:
Dec 5, 2009
Illegal procedures penalties have dogged this team all year long, so those that occurred in the red zone in the civil war cannot be blamed on crowd noise!!
It began against PSU and was rampant all season long. The blame is the coaching and the lack of practice repetitions demanding perfection to eliminate
the problem!! The staid, stale style of old school coaching is going to relegate our football program to a 8-9 win program at best and a mediocre bowl!! Let's
move into the 21st century and move away from the ah shucks attitude. The
reason this program starts so slowly each year is lack of proper conditioning
and lack of repetitions demanding perfection. A variety of players must be involved to create balance and to eliminate defenses setting up for major
role players as Oregon did for Quizz. That is not fair for Quizz or for others
who should be getting time and exposure. Stats are not paramount to wins!!
mckalk says:
Dec 6, 2009
Lose those three games and forget about a bowl game and those monies also. Beating TCU in Ft.Worth would be a long shot with a new QB and I'm pretty sure Andy Dalton is back for his final year (that guy seems like he's been there since 2000) with the Frogs. Lived in Mountain West land for 10 years. TCU at home is tought!
aaron_ says:
Dec 6, 2009
I agree MC i think it is or would be a mistake by DeCarolis to schedule that. Next years schedule is already impressive with lousiville and boise state. We need the EW tune up to get the new qb going.