Stanford made a pitch to play in an BCS game. PHOTO/AP
What the Pacific-10 Conference will look like is almost complete. There are two good football teams and eight others trying to find themselves.
Those two, however, are good. Oregon is in the BCS with at least a Rose Bowl, but Stanford deserves one of the top-tier games, too.
There’s a possibility of only three bowl eligible teams. That’s sad. That’s more like the WAC than the Pac-10.
1. Oregon (11-0, 8-0): That was an explosive second half in a win over Arizona. If the Ducks play like usual they’ll win the Civil War and go to the national title game.
2. Stanford (11-1, 8-1): The Cardinal won 11 games for the first time ever. The last one against OSU was as easy as it could get against a major team.
3. Arizona (7-4, 4-4): It was a long shot to beat the Ducks, but they played well for a half. Wildcats could be Alamo bound if top two go to BCS.
4. Washington (5-6, 4-4): Huskies finally pulled out the win over Cal in the last seconds. They need to win the Apple Cup to go bowling. That’s not a given.
5. Oregon State (5-6, 4-4): That was a pitiful showing against Stanford. The season’s over without a superhuman effort in the Civil War.
6. Southern California (7-5, 4-4): A loss to Notre Dame shouldn’t have happened. Now all that’s left is a UCLA game with nothing on the line.
7. California (5-7, 3-6): The Bears were eliminated from the postseason and admitted to faking injuries. Program at a low point.
8. Arizona State (5-6, 3-5): The Sun Devils could beat rival, Arizona, next week. If not enough bowl eligible teams they could be picked up. That’s unlikely, though.
9. UCLA (4-7, 2-6): No bowl game for the Bruins. They only thing left for them is to beat their rival, USC, next week after a bye week.
10. Washington State (2-9, 1-7): Cougars got a second bye to rest, heal and prepare for the the Huskies. Can they replicated the OSU romp?
22 comments
tradernum1 says:
Nov 28, 2010
Coach Riley,
What was almost as disturbing as the Stanford debacle was the fake bravado of the players afterward.
This season has been awful with players and coaches not living up to expectations, and an AD that scheduled with his career in mind rather than football success.
I really, really, really don't want to hear the woofing, yapping, and fake bravery that accompanies teams full of fakes and players who can't get it done except with their mouths.
Please tell your players to shut up, and play.
Thank you.
OSU4life says:
Nov 28, 2010
I think it is much more painful as a Beaver fan to watch oregon go to the National Title game, than it is to see the Beavers go 0-11! OSU must be cursed, not only do we stay home for the Bowl season, but we have to witness our hated rival play for the National Championship in the same season! Talk about a nightmare scenario. This really sucks!!! I'm a fan of OREGON STATE, not the state of Oregon!
tommiet says:
Nov 28, 2010
People in the grocery store, or in the line at the post office, don't get that. I hear, "Well U of O is in Oregon, so can't you root for the Beavers, the State of Oregon and the Ducks too?" No, I can't. I really don't like Oregon fans, I don't like their school and I can't, under any circumstances, root for the Ducks. You either are a Beaver or a Duck, there can't be any in between or you aren't truly a fan of either. It seems like the hard core fans, of either school, have some sort of connection educationaly in the family somewhere in the past or present, that's what makes a hard core fanatic.
OSU4life says:
Nov 28, 2010
I can't cheer for a school that cheats! Sure, oregon is playing well and nobody can take that away from them. But, I'm not convinced that they are getting top 100, 5 star recruits to come to Eugene (above other desirable locations around the country) in an ethical and NCAA legal manner. USC type NCAA sanctions/violations are on the horizon for oregon, it may take a while for them to surface. I don't expect anyone to agree with me, But I am convinced beyond belief that oregon isn't running a clean program.
mikedot97 says:
Nov 28, 2010
Being a BEAVER fan since 1990 going through all of the losing seasons and seeing what we are doing now is better, but not cutting it for beaver nation. I really like Mike Riley but I think its time for a coaching change for Beaver Nation especially watching the crappy Ducks maybe they will win the national title probably not.
ckirkpatrick says:
Nov 28, 2010
OK folks,
Enough with the fire Riley deal. Assistants is one thing, but Riley is kind of set at OSU. If the Beavers don't go to a bowl game this year he still has nine years on his contract.
OSU is in no position to pay someone for nine years, and then pay the big bucks to bring anyone in. If LaVonda Wagner can't get fired for cause (no pay), Riley sure won't.
wcjr says:
Nov 28, 2010
Sadly, Cliff is correct. However, it needs to be said that Bobby D's practice of giving long extensions to coaches whom have not proven themselves(Jay John, LaVonda) is getting exceedingly tiresome. Riley is the latest of this illustrious group. There are times when are AD does not make the smartest moves.
WebTraveler says:
Nov 28, 2010
Agreed. Riley is a good coach and a class guy, very well respected across the nation.
I would like to see some fire in him though, some passion, some wanna win cheers, anything. He's been loafing around since last year's Las Vegas Bowl, which is where I think everything went wrong and still is off track. I am not sure what happened, but I hope that he can somehow get it back on track.
Every coach and every program has off years….it's all a cycle. Let's hope that this year is not the norm for years to come and we get the fire and passion back.
TJH says:
Nov 29, 2010
Even untouchables such as Paterno and Bowden have had to endure some talk about them retiring or quitting (they were past firing status). Such long-term contracts are pretty rare in FBS football.
Riley has done a lot for the program and deserves to stay. He does have to adapt and improve this team.
wcjr says:
Nov 28, 2010
Obviously I meant our AD.
aaron_ says:
Nov 28, 2010
riley needs to stay, but most definitely Langsdorf and Bamker need to be replaced. We cannot defend against a mobile qb and banker will not or cannot adapt to this. All of our losses have come to teams that have mobile qb's who can take off and run when a play breaks down. I am scared about this Saturday. We may very well get torn apart. Oregon will not take the foot off the pedal either. If given the chance they will ram it down our throat. Langsdorf just cannot call a fluid game. He calls a very inconsistant game. He needs to get some more weathering somewhere else. Go coach at Sac State or Weber State. He wil be a fine coach someday but we need a polished OC now, not one that can be one in 5 or 6 years.
I do not think that Cav should be touched. He has done a great job with what he has. Once upon a time we did better recruiting the OL. But Riley has become too dependant on Cav to turn these walkons into starter material. Sometimes it just isnt going to happen. This is one of those years. We need to recruit better OL not replace Cav.
GoBeavs64 says:
Nov 28, 2010
Well if we can't replace Riley for now then his assistants need to go Banker and Langsdorf are clearly out of the league of many other NCAA teams who are running new defenses and offenses. Clearly , their success is hit and miss. Consistency is the word we need to learn to pronounce , spell , and write on the chalkboard in the locker room . The days of 90 % walk ons has to end as well or at the very least widdle down the number of walk ons accepted each year. Some of these guys do develop into good talent but there is plenty of already great talent out there that could help OSU rise to the status of teams like Oregon and Stanford. There is talent already on this team but it's not being given the opportunity to truly flourish under the coaching that is in place now. Cliff , please don't tell us that changing assistant coaches is out of the question as well due to contract constrictions. As far as Riley is concerned , I am sure that Oregon State could offer him another position with the school , something with the football program or maybe even make him the new A.D.
Beever1980 says:
Nov 28, 2010
Cliff, maybe Riley is here to stay for a while, but the fact is he has to CHANGE the way he operates. He has failed to fire up the team consistently and his recruiting is sorely lacking. Gone are the days when walk ons make up the bulk of any starting position…thats not going to cut it any longer. Riley needs to get himself fired up as anyone knows the team is a reflection of their coach and coaching staff. So while Riley may be untouchable, it's clear his way is no longer working and it's time to make some big changes. Do things the same way and we'll ge the same results. The Ducks are constantly changing, staying ahead of the curve, and there is no reason we can't do the same. It starts at the top though. Your thoughts please.
GoBeavs64 says:
Nov 28, 2010
However , I am not ready to give up the Duck game yet . If the boys come out playing like they did against the Cardinal , then I will surrender . But if they come out on fire like they did against USC , then I like our chances. I am betting we come out on all cylinders for this one cause like the Trojans we are always up for the Ducks. The other factor that I think warrants hope is that we are 4-1 at home , Beaver fans get just as loud if not more than Duck fans , there will be more Beaver fans there as well . Just wish I had a ticket or two damn it. I think we played a big part in helping to beat USC with the noise that was never stilled in the stadium. The fact that California held them to 15 points is a motivator forget the admitted cheating , they didn't cheat on every play. They found a way to limit Oregon's scoring and so can we if we just study the films hard and long enough and the guys really want this one . We may not get to a classy bowl game , but why shouldn't derailing the Duck's National title hopes be a real good motivator . Team , do you really want to sit out the post season watching the spoiled brats get into , maybe even win the BCS ? My money is on Oregon losing to Auburn handily anyway , but if somehow they win , do you really want to put up with the incessant blabbering that will follow ? I don't .
Yea , I realize both teams represent the state but I can never root for Oregon unless they are playing Boise maybe. My blood has been orange since 1975 and it will never dilute itself with green mixed in . So forget those who say they will root for either team because they are in Oregon. that's not the way it works . Your either a Beaver or your not . I agree with Osu4Life too . One day Oregon will trip themselves up and the book will be thrown at them . Maybe someone over there will pick it up and read it lol . I said this about USC and I will say it about Oregon , they can be beat . Come on Beaver Nation , don't surrender yet . Believe in the Beavs at least till the end of the first quarter and we know if our boys have come to play or half ass it .
BeaverDon says:
Nov 28, 2010
I have to say that while the coaches and players have to accept some of the blame for this season, Bobby D has to also be looked at. Why schedule TCU in a one game in Dallas? Sure they played TCU tough, BUT THEY LOST! And I know it gave the Rogers Brothers a chace to play close to home, but really do we do that for all our players? So, we already have a good Louisville team and Boise State as part of a home and home schedule why play TCU? Who really though this was a good idea? Play Rice or Houston, but TCU? Why not just stay with Eastern Washington like we already had scheduled. With that on change we would have 6 wins already and be looking at a real shot at the Holiday Bowl. What does Bobby D have in mind for next season? We already have BYU and Wisconsin……who is Bobby D going to schedule us against Auburn? Where is San Diego St. or San Jose St or Utah State or UNLV, these OOC shedules that Bobby D has us playing have never worked for us how many Penn States, LSUs and TCUs do we have to lose before he gets it??? Maybe Riley is untouchable as coach, but how about dumping Bobby D and promoting Riley to AD.
wcjr says:
Nov 29, 2010
Keep in mind, Don, that we lost to three teams we had absolutely no business losing to( UW, WSU, UCLA). Win those games, as we certainly should have(even one of those games), and TCU and BSU don't matter.Lose to three inferior teams, there is the real reason we're not going to a bowl game, not TCU or BSU. We didn't take care of business and have no one to blame but the coaches and players, not the AD.
TJH says:
Nov 29, 2010
One more win is all this team needs. They had chances in conference games to get that (no chance in their two non-conference games).
TJH says:
Nov 29, 2010
Also keep in mind that EWU is a highly ranked FCS team and would not be an automatic win. We made a lot of money playing TCU which was part of why we have that game. In hindsight, it was probably a bad move. That was the bowl game for this year’s team.
RenoNVbeavr says:
Nov 29, 2010
Wow…alot of talk about sacking Riley on this post. You have got to be kidding me! Riley was lucky to get the 5 wins out of his team this year. True, he lost to WSU, which was inexcusable. However, how many coaches would have prevailed, losing their best all-around player in James Rogers (a true difference-maker), their best pass rushing DE (Lagrone), starting LB, arguably most productive DT (Olander), starting LT (Phillip) and played 4 teams in the Top #6? Riley took #3 TCU down to the wire, beat #9 AZ on the road, beat a VERY hot USC team and prevailed against tough opponents in ASU (at the time), Louisville and blew out a Cal team that was inches from beating #1 UO. The real question is the regression of Katz. He hasnt looked the same since the AZ game.
wcjr says:
Nov 29, 2010
the real question is why don’t you get it? Even with the loss of those key players we still should have beaten three inferior teams. Riley and staff did not have the team ready to play. Stanford is now the latest example. Too manygamesthisyear with the team not properly prepared.That’s on Riley and his coaches.
beaverteeth says:
Nov 29, 2010
You know I really feel bad for Ryan having such a horrible offensive line this year to block for him that could not block a high school freshman linebacker. All he would of had to have is just a little more time back there to finish some plays. If I was him I would have been furious at and I would have been screaming at them. I finally saw Quiz do that in the Washington State game and I said to myself yes they needed to hear that.
gobeavs64 says:
Nov 29, 2010
I think we want to say goodbye to Mike Riley but mostly we want to say goodbye to his current defensive and offensive coordinators and whoever else is responsible for the giant steps back the team has taken in the last couple of years. Someone the other day on this blog said that they felt that the Beavers had possibly peaked and I think he may be right in that other teams are getting better and better to the point of being almost unbeatable because their schemes have progressed, their coaches have shown progressive , creative thinking. The beaver coaches however , seem insistent on the thought that the very schemes that won all those bowl games in past years will still work today and bringing along walk ons will be the boon it once was back in those ” glory days ” Times and teams , except Oregon State have changed. This is as far as it goes I am afraid. I don’t think I would be over sating it when I say that we are bound to become the Detroit Lions of the NCAA. History does repeat itself. Wearing those God awful ( I am sorry , my opinion ) throwback uniforms created by the same people that brought you those cheesy Duck outfits ( Nike ) proves my point . They remind me too much of another recent ( being sarcastic here ) powerhouse , the Cleveland Browns . I don’t think wearing those Uniforms will help our cause at all . the only thing that will keep us in the game Saturday is if the team comes out firing on all cylinders and looking for victims like it did against USC.
I have a feeling that if the Beavs get blown away by Oregon again that the A.D. and the coaches will not have any other option than to make some drastic changes. I think the fans will demand it and we won’t stop demanding till the A.D and the coaches listen. I see a big drop in ticket sales next season and a very big short coming on that fundraiser now in progress . They will be lucky to have 5,000 by 2012.