A blog poster a while back asked me to reassure him that everything was OK with the Oregon State football team in the aftermath of players leaving and getting hurt.
So that became the premise of my Sunday column in the GT/DH. Check it out here.
My underlying point is stability is a good thing, and the Beavers have that with their program.
There’s a minor reference to what Oregon is going through with all the legal problems. I mentioned this before, but I’m glad that the Beavers got that out of their system in 2005.
That was a crazy time for a reporter covering the beat when you found something in the crime log on a regular basis. Remember stolen sheep, paying a cab ride with pot and the bar fights?
Mistakes can happen at any time, and the Beavers could have a similar situation. However, OSU coach Mike Riley not only recruits players he can mold on the field, he finds generally good guys. So there’s less change of that happening.
That’s something I won’t take for granted. There hasn’t been someone on the roster I felt was a jerk in some time. When I first got here in 2004 there were a few.
So while I can’t say everything is fine because it won’t known until the season is here, the Beavers are stable and working for more. Spring practice begins March 29 to give us a look at what might be.
10 comments
News News News » Archives » Sports Handicapping | Sport Handicapping in College Football says:
Mar 14, 2010
[...] Cliff: State of the football « Cliff Kirkpatrick [...]
Cliff: State of the football « Cliff Kirkpatrick | teste says:
Mar 14, 2010
[...] View post: Cliff: State of the football « Cliff Kirkpatrick [...]
Cliff: State of the football « Cliff Kirkpatrick « Anees Khan says:
Mar 14, 2010
[...] Continued here: Cliff: State of the football « Cliff Kirkpatrick [...]
ObjCritic says:
Mar 15, 2010
I think there's some uncritical, glossing over of the current crop of OSU LB's. The current group of experienced players isn't as talented as what fans are used to, and to imply that Robinson, or the Unga brothers can step in and play as well as the LB's of the past several years is oversimplifying it.
I see both Miller and LaGrone making big strides at DE, the LB's will be relatively weak as a unit, with fast inexperienced players at the true FR and RFR ages. CB could be a weakness if they are having to try Poyer there (who would make a great FS). I think there's another down year ahead for the Beavs D – not TERRIBLE, but not a top third Pac-10 D like we were starting to get used to.
angrybeaver says:
Mar 15, 2010
Cliff, who were the jerks in '04?
http://angrybeavers.wordpress.com
ckirkpatrick says:
Mar 15, 2010
No need to expose bad memories. Many of them matured over time. They are not the same people they were.
Cliff: State of the football « Cliff Kirkpatrick | All Topics Blog says:
Mar 15, 2010
[...] Kirkendall wrote an interesting post today Here’s a quick excerpt Cliff: State of the football 3393Commentshttp://cliffkirkpatrick.mvourtown.com/2010/03/14/cliff-state-of-the-football/Cliff%3A+State+of+the+football2010-03-14+16%3A41%3A07Cliff+Kirkpatrick. A blog poster a while back asked me to … [...]
rooruns says:
Mar 15, 2010
Cliff,
Thanks for the Sunday article. I am feeling excited about Spring practice. I agree that OSU's approach developes talent that exceeds our expectations. I hope they continue to improve and push through to the next level. Have a good week…
WetRodentia says:
Mar 15, 2010
Cliff, regarding the pot for a cab ride: People keep bringing it up and it may have happened, but the matter was dropped if memory serves for lack of evidence or lack of credibility of the accuser or something like that. Do you think as a journalist it would be fair, if you insist on bringing it up, that you should use the word "alleged" or "accused"? I get tired of hearing this story like it's based on fact. Am I missing something or is my memory faulty? Thanks and keep up the good work.
ckirkpatrick says:
Mar 15, 2010
Pointing out all those situations shows how bad things were. Things were dropped in the cab ride case. No one convicted.
If I say the name of the players I'd put they were accused of an alleged crime. I'd even say things were dropped.
So, the point is to remind you of those situations, not bring up details such who were bad people back then, the gay sheep, who instigated fights on and off the field.