Cliff Kirkpatrick

LAS VEGAS – All the Oregon State football players made it back for the 2 a.m. curfew and were awake for Saturday’s practice at UNLV.

“It was surprisingly crisp,” LB Keaton Kristick said. “It was a little sluggish at the beginning for the defense, but it ended up crisp.”

“I was pleased with the way things went today for our first practice here,” QB Sean Canfield said of the offense.

Coach Mike Riley agreed and said the hardest part will be duplicating it. He’s worried about peaking too early since the team’s focus since Monday has been on Las Vegas Bowl opponent, BYU, which is longer prep time than normal.

“It’s still kind of mellow,” Kristick said. “We have three days to the game. We are anxious, but at the same time mellow if that makes any sense.”

“We just have to polish things,” CB James Dockery said. “We did a good job figure out how they want to attack us. Now it’s a matter of watching film and working on begin assignment perfect.”

Check out the above video of RB Jacquizz Rodgers talking to the media after the workout at UNLV.

Two transfers
The Krebs bothers, WR Kaulin and LB Kameron, decided to transfer. They weren’t in line to get any playing time.

Kameron has been on the scout team the last two years. Kaulin started out as a QB then changed positions. He has been out all season due to a knee injury.

“It was a surprise, but they are doing it for an opportunity (to play),” Riley said.

Their departure helps the Beavers get under the 85 scholarship limit for next year. They are now one player beyond the limit with 10 verbal commitments and and five greyshirts expected.

Players warming up with QB Ryan Katz in the foreground.

Happy birthday
Offensive line coach Mike Cavanaugh turned 47 Saturday. His linemen sang Happy Birthday to him after practice.

“We should do something more to him,” OG Gregg Peat said. “We are thinking about that now. We need an ice tub to throw him in.”

Coach Mike Cavanaugh is still working his guys hard.

Shoddy field
The UNLV practice field has a rundown surface – pitted, torn and uneven. It’s an early generation synthetic field. Trainers were having nightmares when they saw it.

Starting CB Brandon Hardin took a hard tumble and came up limping after banging his knee. He took a break, ran it off and returned to practice.

Staff speculation
Defensive coordinator Mark Banker was approached by a headhunter for UNLV some time back, but he said there was nothing to it. The Las Vegas Review-Journal reports the new AD is looking for someone with head coaching experience, so Banker is out.

Graduate assistant/TE coach Robin Ross said he has no interest in taking an assistant gig at Portland State with former OSU coach Nigel Burton. Ross is a veteran coach. He’s still planning to return next season.

Check out the all the wounded hanging out with the team.

Visitors
Former OSU players and Las Vegas residents Jeff Van Orsow and Curtis Coker were at practice.

And to make up for the Lady Gaga video yesterday. He’s my favorite Las Vegas in the background video from Monster Magnet.

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5. Cliff: OSU ready for USC