FB Will Darkins is out this week with a knee injury. PHOTO/AP
The mood of the players was down Sunday around the Valley Football Center, Oregon State coach Mike Riley said, but he still believes the team can get up for one more game to give top-ranked Oregon a run.
Early lines have the Ducks favored by 15 points, but the Beavers will be wearing those special Nike uniforms to draw on the spirit of the Giant Killers. So maybe?
“It’s pretty imposing no doubt about it,” Riley said. “It’s one of the most impressive teams I’ve seen in a long time.”
The Beavers will be without FB Will Darkins due to at least a sprained MCL. He had an MRI on Sunday. Results should be back Tuesday to see if there’s anything more to the injury.
TE Joe Halahuni will be tested through the week in the aftermath of being hit in the head. He’s questionable.
LB Keith Pankey (ankle) and OT Michael Philipp (ankle) are both questionable even after missing last week’s game.
DT Brennan Olander (pectoral) still hopes to play, but Riley hasn’t given clearance and needs to speak with the doctor.
Practice will be open to the public this week. Riley has closed them in the past for the Civil War. That may change if he sees too many funny-acting people around.
“We’ll see how things go,” Riley said. “We’ll tighten it a little bit as what we’re aware of but for the most part, it’ll be business as usual.”
Riley also noted that the Beavers won’t fake injuries on defense to slow the Oregon offense down.
“We’re not going to do that,” he said. “It’s got to be a great week of preparation for the speed with which they play. We’ve got to get our offense back and being more efficient than we were the other night. That won’t work very well (against Oregon).”
10 comments
OSU4life says:
Nov 28, 2010
I really think Mike Riley should close practices 2 weeks before the Civil War. OSU shouldn't be preparing just to give oregon a run, they should be preparing to beat them into the ground and ruin their National Championship dreams!!! If you can't get up for the Civil War (especially when "ESPN Game Day" is coming to town), then you shouldn't be playing for OREGON STATE!
BeaverDon says:
Nov 28, 2010
We have beat Number 1 teams before (although Oregon is Number 2 in the BCS rankings) so the Beavers can pull off the upset. It is up to Riley and his coaches to get the team ready to play and get them fired up. This will be a test of Riley and his coaching staff.
ean says:
Nov 29, 2010
I think the strategy for the Beavers in the CW has got to be force Darron Thomas to beat you. Sell out to stop the running game and hope Darron Thomas throws some bad balls.
WebTraveler says:
Nov 29, 2010
Who really cares about whether the practice is open or closed. Does it matter? Short of Daren Thomas getting hurt (there is no #2 QB on the roster, just a redshirt who has not played a down) , I think the season is over. But the Beavs did take out Kevin Riley and Barkely, and won convincingly.
But I don't even want to think that. While Thomas is a duck, he is still a person, and I don't ever like injuries to anyone.
Duck fans didn't used to be so darn arrogant. I am all for what is good for the state, but sick of the arrogance in it all. It's clear to me that there are a lot of bandwagoners hitching a ride, but I hope they are gracious winners
OSU4life says:
Nov 29, 2010
HA Ha! Hoping a duck fan will be a gracious winner, is like hoping Paris Hilton is still a virgin! It's never going to happen!
blazer003 says:
Nov 29, 2010
At least not since she was 11.
TJH says:
Nov 29, 2010
Closing practice sends a message to the team. This is serious and let’s focus – no distractions. It also sends a message to the media and even the opposition. Chip Kelly routinely closes practices before big games.
gobeavs64 says:
Nov 29, 2010
Not closing a practice sends a message to the fans , we have nothing prepared for Oregon , nothing to hide . We Don’t match up against Oregon’s spread offense and Banker has no clue how to stop it or even coach his guys to stop it. Then I start day dreaming about how all this could be a ruse , Riley hopes that Oregon will have a spy on hand and feed the Ducks incorrect info on what we will have to bring to the table , only once the game starts the Beavers will pull out all kinds of tricks and completely befuddle the Ducks. Someone pinch me so I can wake up.
gobeavs64 says:
Nov 30, 2010
The news out of Corvallis keeps getting better in relation to the Beavs , Derek Anderson just made us all proud I am sure . I know more than a few ex Beavs have made it to the NFL , but how many have made a respectable impact there and how many still have jobs ?
angry says:
Nov 30, 2010
There’s no advantage to open practice, so you’d hope your coach understands that and wouldn’t do it.