Cliff Kirkpatrick

Oregon State gymnastics coach Tanya Chaplin is cautious about expecting too much out of freshmen, not matter how highly regarded they come out the club scene.

She’s seen it too many times where first-year competitors hit a wall at midseason because they have no idea what it’s like to compete 12 consecutive weeks.

Club gymnastics has them training at a steady pace, but full-speed competitions happen at irregular intervals with at least two weeks in-between, and usually longer.

OSU’s Makayla Stambaugh is no exception. She admitted after Friday night’s win over Arizona the season has not been easy.

“I’m fighting some aches and pains, so I was pleased with how I was able to work through my body,” Stambaugh said. “I’m tired and fatigued. The constant competition every week does wear on your body. But they take care of you here. I’ll be OK by next week.”

That’s an odd confession for someone who won the uneven bars, balance beam and tied for first on the floor exercise during the meet.

Stambaugh says she’s following the advice of the coaches and athletic trainers about sleeping enough, eating right and doing the therapy for those aches and pains.

“I feel like I’m handling it pretty well,” Stambaugh said. “The coaches have prepared me, and all the freshmen, for this college season.”

Bishop soars
Football player Jordan Bishop won the high jump title at the Husky Classic on Saturday. He cleared 7 feet. Teammate Obum Gwacham cleared 6-10.75 for second place.

James Rodgers will be the answer to a trivia question. He was officially the first male OSU track athlete to compete since 1988. He took second in his heat of the 60 meters.

Keynan Parker took third in his heat. Both ran in them in 7.03 seconds.  They ended up tied for 16th overall. Rashaad Reynolds was 45th in 7.31.

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Six Oregon State football players will represent the school in an indoor track meet Friday and Saturday in Seattle, cross country and track coach Kelly Sullivan told me Tuesday afternoon.

Jordan Bishop and Obum Gwacham will do the high jump. James Rodgers, Markus Wheaton, Keynan Parker and Rashaad Reynolds will run the 60 meters.

Bishop pushed for this since he signed two years ago. Part of his recruiting was he could do track and football. The Beavers haven’t had men’s track team since 1988.

“It evolved this last year,” Sullivan said. “It came because Jordan and Keynan missed doing track. Then others started asking about it. I give Jordan and Keynan a lot of credit for doing it, and (athletic director) Bob De Carolis for his idea of having as many opportunities as possible for student-athletes.”

This is not officially a team. They are individuals representing OSU at various events. Sullivan has taken the football players under his wing as side project to the women’s team he normally trains.

A track facility needs to be built first before a men’s team can be assembled, and OSU is fundraising. Rumbling around the program say something could happen very soon on that.

For more on this situation, there will be a full story in Thursday’s GT. Here’s a link to the full story.

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Check out the above video of Oregon State football coach Mike Riley talking about the Las Vegas Bowl and BYU. The below video is of CB James Dockery.

Here are the main notes to come out of his Tuesday press conference. More may follow later as I get more info.

DT Stephen Paea won the defensive portion of the Morris Trophy. It goes to the best offensive and defensive lineman in the Pacific-10 Conference.

Riley clarified his greyshirt situation that he mentioned yesterday. He expects four to arrive in January and possibly one in April. The one who is being pushed back until next season due to grades is DE Josh Kaiwi.

There’s another player he wouldn’t name who has some work to do, but hopes he’s ready for April. That would be LB Michael Doctor or WR Reggie Dunn.

So, OL Michael Beaton, WR Kevin Cummings and WR Obum Gwacham are confirmed for January.

Riley says his staff is intact for next season – at the moment. That’s the big part. He said a headhunter for UNLV contacted defensive coordinator Mark Banker, but Banker said it’s only a rumor.

Riley said he’ll pitch his graduate assistants and undergrad assistants for full-time jobs to new Portland State coach and former OSU assistant Nigel Burton. Candidates would be Ryan Gunderson, Daniel Drayton and Alan Darlin.

Word is spreading about the TCU game add and Eastern Washington drop for next season. Here’s Riley’s thoughts on the game.

“I rather play a game like this,” Riley said. “For the kids, it’s a lifetime memory. I hope it works out. If it doesn’t we’ll be happy with what it is. But it sounds more real than ever. I’m excited about the opportunity if it does workout. It’s a tremendous venue and team.”

On a side note, OG Gregg Peat wanted to clarify something he told me yesterday. He’s not invited to the Shrine Game, yet. He’s looking into it still.

True freshman S Jordan Poyer is being worked in as an emergency CB now that Tim Clark (leg) is out. Dockery, Brandon Hardin are the starters for the game. Patrick Henderson is the No. 3 CB, then Hardin.

UPDATE: WR James Rodgers was named second-team AP All-American as an all-purose players. RB Jacquizz Rodgers was named third-team.

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