Cal comes to OSU this year.
The Oregon State football team faces a foe in California in a similar state as the Beavers.
Both teams have long-time veteran coaches — Jeff Tedford for the Bears — who have done well with their programs, but haven’t won the big one yet.
Cal has a program established and churns out many NFL players. The Bears, however, are not as potent as they once were.
“We were so far ahead of last year,” Tedford said. “We were able to do more on offense this spring. Going into the spring it was important some offensive linemen step up, and the tight end as well. We needed to evaluate the young tailbacks and have them grow up.”
Last year’s game was winnable for the Beavers, but couldn’t stop a lackluster offense.
Cal is hoping its development improves the team. There are no superstars on the roster.
The Beavers get Cal at home for Game 11 on Nov. 17. I have the Beavers being able to reach six wins, and this could be No. 6.
OSU could be worn out by that point with eight straight weeks of football in a 10-week stretch due to the bye week being so early. And Cal has a tendency to stumble at the end.
Here’s the PR look at the Cal spring game.
Here’s a newspaper’s look at the spring game.
Here’s a good rundown of where the Bears are at.
So, will the Beavers be bowl eligible before the Civil War?
31 comments
bone says:
May 8, 2012
I believe they will.
OSU4Life says:
May 8, 2012
Can we just forfeit the Civil War and save us all from the embarrassment and pain? The question for the Civil War will be whether or not we will be within 3 touchdowns with Phil Knights puppets? As for Cal, we should win EVERY game at home, no excuses! We also should be able to look at every opponent on OSU’s schedule, and see it as a victory! But those would be called “high expectations” and OSU doesn’t have them. If OSU ever gains “high expectations” then this would be a worthy conversation, until then it is just a sad lost cause.
Tagup says:
May 8, 2012
Who is “we” ?……I can say with certainty that the players go into every game with the expectation of winning. There is no team on the OSU schedule that OSU cannot beat including Wisconsin or the Ducks. Will the Beavs run the table? doubtful, but there is enough talent to compete every week.
I think the “embarrassment & pain” that you feel is a figment of your imagination.Some fans use these games for bragging rights which is interesting coming from people that aren’t directly involved in the outcome.
OSU4Life says:
May 8, 2012
Tagup, it is so refreshing to know that the playes have fire and strive for perfection! I wish the entire athletic department shared the same mindset. Instead the OSU athletic department strives for mediocrity rather than perfection. They have become apathetic, unwilling to change and unable to meet the demands of the fanbase, and unable to keep pace with the rest of college athletics. I’m glad the players read some of the blogs too! I have NEVER voiced my opinion about players. But when it comes to the decision making (or lack thereof) by the athletic department, or the play-calling by the coaching staff, the gloves come off, and they are fair game. I would love to hear Mike Riley say no more losses in September, or we at Oregon State are competing for the Championship, or its BCS Bowl or bust, etc. We will never hear that from him, why not? OSU needs that swagger, that confidence again! OSU has more talent top to bottom than the 2000 Iesta Bow team, what will they do with it? Crap hunger bowls for kids who can’t read good type of bowls just won’t cut it anymore. Losing five or six years in a row to your hated rival is unacceptable! Eough is enough. No more excusues.
OSU4Life says:
May 8, 2012
I do know how to spell, typing on a smart(dumb)phone is hard at times, especially when roaming. I meant Fiesta Bowl, and enough is enough.
Oski says:
May 8, 2012
I hope Cal wins this. By all means they should.
Oski says:
May 8, 2012
Wow, this is not what I said… Obviously this site has moderators, can the moderators act as editors too?
John says:
May 8, 2012
No stars in the roster? Keenan Allen says hello. Potential top 10 pick. As to last years game, the beavers couldnt stop the offense or the defense. Which blanketed the osu offense.
Cliff Kirkpatrick says:
May 8, 2012
I’d say he’s a star, and has the potential to be a superstar after the season. We’ll see.
Suttree says:
May 8, 2012
No superstars? Keenan Allen much? In addition Cal finally has a cohesive group of talent all put together at the same time. How bad is this guy’s research?
Cliff Kirkpatrick says:
May 8, 2012
We’ll see if that happens. Many teams say that.
Suttree says:
May 8, 2012
Granted a number of people need to step up. The point is they have a large amount of talent on both sides of the ball all at the same time. Before they had NFL stars that never got the chance to play with each other.
HillGoat says:
May 8, 2012
I agree @Suttree, both that Keenan Allen is a superstar and that your eponymous reference is McCarthy’s best novel.
Full disclosure: I am an Old Blue but readily admit that Riley in Corvallis is a dangerous animal; especially if cornered.
rotfogel says:
May 8, 2012
Keenan Allen is a superstar and, in terms of defense, Steve Williams is as good as it gets at CB and I predict at there are at least 3 first rounders on the defensive front 7.
Tyler says:
May 8, 2012
I have been to Corvallis for the games in ’06, ’08, & ’10 – the city is tied with Pullman for my favorite road trip in the Pac12 (excluding Utah as I have not had the pleasure of attending a game at Rice-Eccles to date). Alas, this year I will not be joining Beavers fans at the ‘top of the cock’ but I digress. This game is winnable for both sides but considering recent history I see a gray Willamette day for my Ursines.
OSU4Life – you almost make Cal fans seem rationale. It is easy to criticize the AD & coaches – when you have no skin in the game – but you can rest assured Riley & co. are working hard to right the ship and win games.
Suttree says:
May 8, 2012
Good call on both counts HillGoat!
goldenbears says:
May 8, 2012
CAL has weapons offensively and probably the best defense in the Conference with alot of NFL Talent, but CAL routinely chokes in big games. They are the anit – Ducks, talented and underachieving. Ducks produce few NFL Players but plays big in big games and overachieve with untalented players. Deandre Coleman will be a star and the Conference Defensive player of the year.
OskiGoDumb says:
May 9, 2012
“Last year’s game was winnable for the Beavers, but couldn’t stop a lackluster offense.”
OSU put up 6 points and lost by three scores . Cal’s lackluster offense still rushed for 296 (to OSU’s 27), controlled the clock and had THREE touchdowns called back on penalties. In what conceivable way was that game winnable?
Cliff Kirkpatrick says:
May 9, 2012
OSU didn’t show up against a so-so team. That and the Utah game were games the team matched up well, but decided not to show up.
oneoldbeav says:
May 9, 2012
So right, Cliff, ” …decided not to show up.” And that, folks, is why Riley’s focused and passionate involvement is key.
bone says:
May 9, 2012
do you think there was an actual difference in Riley’s focus and passion over the past two seasons or that it just became apparent because the team started to struggle? I doubt that his passion for the game and coaching changed, but I wasn’t paying too much attention to his demeanor on the sidelines because whatever way he was coaching seemed to work because he they were winning.
oneoldbeav says:
May 9, 2012
Doesn’t matter if Riley’s lack of focus is a two year thing or a trait which was covered up in better years. The point is that not responding to cheap shots (Quizz out of bounds, James in the endzone, Katz being head-butted), chuckling on the sideline during a defeat, and continually blaming players execution while not acknowledging shoddy schemes (see D against Utah ’11) is not likely to get the most out of this team.
Riley has never been an overly vocal, inspirational extrovert and he has always been wedded to the “takes two plus years to learn” pro set offense. BUT, he hasn’t exhibited the shortcomings above to the same degree until recently. Just my 2 cents.
bone says:
May 10, 2012
Thank you oneoldbeav, like I said I hadn’t noticed a real change in his demeanor other than his reactions (or lack there of) to cheap shots, but I will say in regards to Riley is that he doesn’t have the luxury of replay on the sidelines so like the Burfict headbutt, I was at that game and I didn’t even notice it happen and I’m on the new side and even the James play in real time I didn’t see it as anything dirty but the replays showed otherwise. But the Quizz play that’s one our sideline SHOW US SOMETHING!
So on the spectrum of bad lack of focus/passion coaching and inexperience/youthful/lacking talent at some positions what do you think caused this team to go 3-9 last season. 35-65 for me.
Beavrob says:
May 9, 2012
I agree that Cal’s offense was lackluster, or mediocre at best. But regarding last years team, any team with a halfway decent defense was a matchup problem for the Beavs offense, and once Masaniai and Unga got hurt, any team that could run the ball was a matchup problem for the Beavs defense.
oneoldbeav says:
May 10, 2012
OK Bone, fair question. To me its close to 50:50 coaching vs talent. It is all about 60 minutes of effort from everyone on the field and last two seasons that hasn’t happened in at least 2-3 games each. That, I am convinced, is on the coaches! And fixing that issue will be required to go beyond 5-6 wins with this group. A Riley turnaround where players FEEL his involvement and enthusiasm and willingness to bench players who aren’t “all in” is what is needed.
Bone says:
May 10, 2012
Yeah I agree, I expect more than 6 wins from our 2 previous recruiting class, I think it would be a major disappointment and I would convinced that we are in need of a leadership change. We had some recruiting classes that didn’t develop like one previous, I think the recruits didn’t respond to Riley’s coaching approach. Riley reminds me of my old coach, he was a pretty laid back calm coach he was someone I didn’t want to disappoint so I work hard to be the best I could be, but also his personality allowed some players to slack off. I think that has been the case the past couple years, we had players who exceeded their pontential as players and we had some great years, recently I think we have had players who could take advantage of Riley’s laid back approach. Which is why he is showing a little more involvement, there is a ton of talent on this team that can’t go to waste.
Bone says:
May 10, 2012
Also if I was just to go talent and coaching I would be close to 50:50 as well, I just thing inexperience and the youthfulness of the team played the larger role in the 3-9 season.
Tagup says:
May 10, 2012
What I saw last year was more about talent and experience then effort. When you play guys that are short on experience the reaction time to read keys is longer which means they get blocked more often. I saw uncertainty in assignments not lack of hustle. Not sure who you wanted to bench for not being “all in”, but Riley did bench some RB’s for not taking care of the ball…..
oneoldbeav says:
May 10, 2012
For one, Remmers.
bone says:
May 10, 2012
oh yeah, I think you could throw the whole offensive line in that category.
Tagup says:
May 11, 2012
really?…you think they weren’t trying?…I thought they were overmatched a lot of the time. In Remmer’s case I know everyone points to his false starts, but that’s what happens when a guy is worried about getting beat….I guess my other question would be if you do bench guys you have to replace them with someone…The OL last year didn’t have many options.