Cliff Kirkpatrick

Oregon State junior PK Justin Kahut was named the Pac-10 Special Teams Player of the week for his performance in the Civil War.

He was 4-for-4 on field goals  from 49, 28, 29 and 45 yards, and 3-for-3 on extra points.

Washington quarterback Jake Locker is the offensive player of the week and Earl Mitchell of Arizona is the defensive player of the week.

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Did you like the time of year with the Civil War being after Thanksgiving and in the middle of the week?

Oregon State football coach Mike Riley likes the positioning after Thanksgiving, but don’t expect a Thursday game next year.

“I would do it again. I love the fact we could work with those people and it all worked out,” Riley said. “If I can have a recommendation, this is the way to play the Ciivl War.”

Co-worker Brooks Hatch caught up with AD Bob De Carolis for a story on OSU’s schedule while we are at the Civil War. Check it out here.

The Beavers won’t play a Thursday home game once school starts. There are too many logistical problems. And there’s something about a game in Texas in that story.

One change that nearly happened was moving the Washington game to the end of the season to create a midseason bye. That is very important to Riley. However, the preference is to keep the Civil War last.

The exception would be a Hawaii game like at the end of the 2006 season. Going to Hawaii allows you an extra regular season game.

“I like it,” Riley said of the Civil War being the last game of the year. “It’s a culmination to the whole season. When we played Hawaii I was worried about that. I like it like this.”

And check out my Saturday story in the GT here. It’s on the recovery from the Civil War and looking into the bowl game.

As you watch games today, there’s only one game that influences the Holiday Bowl selection committee. It’s the USC-Arizona game. For the Beavers to have any chance they need the Wildcats to win in an ugly, badly played game.

And check out another GT produced video package out of the Civil War.

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Life around Corvallis on Friday resembles a morgue in the aftermath of the Civil War loss the night before. It was more of the same at the Valley Football Center, while catching up with coach Mike Riley.

Nearly all the players were gone. It’s dead week, no pun intended, so they are supposed to be off studying for finals next week.

“The heartbreak is worse,” Riley said comparing missing the Rose Bowl this year to last year. “We didn’t enter the competition a year ago like we did yesterday. With the commitment and competition, the more it hurts.”

There will be more in Saturday’s GT in my folo story, but here are the highlights. And check out this postgame highlight GT video.

• CB Tim Clark had surgery today on his fractured leg. LB Keaton Kristick (stinger) and CB Brandon Hardin (head) were shaken up at the end of the game, but will be ready when the team begins bowl practice.
• A practice schedule has not been made because the Beavers need to get their invite from either the Holiday Bowl or Las Vegas Bowl. Expect Vegas to invite them Sunday night.
• The team will have all of next week off for finals, so if the Beavers go to Vegas they will not have enough time to get the full 15 practices in before the game.

UPDATE: ESPN said last night’s game was the second-most watched Thursday night game of the year  — trailing Texas vs. Texas A&M Thanksgiving night game. It was seen in 4,149,602 households.

UPDATE 2: This just in from OSU. The 303 all-purpose yards by WR James Rodgers was a school record. He 139 receiving, 135 on kickoff returns and 29 rushing.

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