Cliff Kirkpatrick

BERKELEY, Calif. – Even on the the road I’m still waking up early, and I don’t have to. Those children have me trained.

Oh well, time to catch up on some reading and watch some football in preparation for the Oregon State game later today against No. 23 Cal.

First off, the above video is an OSU gem. It’s from back in 1999 when the Beavers ended 28 years of losing seasons with a victory over Cal. It’s fitting to bring up against 10 years later. Here’s the GT’s story on the last 10 years. It ran back in the bye week.

Here’s are some links for you to read about the Beavers today. My main Saturday story in the GT focuses on the DTs, Stephen Paea and Brennan Olander and how they are coming on.

Paea had three of the four QB sacks last week. Did you know that those were his first three of the season and he equals the total for all what the DEs have done this season?

Here’s a link to my five keys to the game for the Beavers. Here’s a look at the players to watch. This week it’s S Cameron Collins and Cal LB Mike Mohamed.

To read about the Jacquizz Rodgers vs. Jahvid Best matchup, click here. Best, however, has been nursing an ankle injury and a mild concussion. So expect to see more of Shane Vereen.

Here’s a link to the Cal scouting report, and to coach Mike Riley’s look at the Golden Bears. And for good measure, he’s a feature story on S Jordan Poyer and his quick, and surprising, impact.

Check back on the blog before, during and after the game for info, insight and to ask questions. And check me out on twitter.com/cliffgt.

My pick for the game? The Bears are favored, but I like OSU’s chances. The Beavers match up well and Best isn’t 100 percent. So I went OSU 27, Cal 21 in the GT’s Game Day edition.

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The Oregon State football team has had success twice running the Wild Beaver, where RB Jacquizz Rodgers takes a direct snap and QB Sean Canfield lines up as a WR.

Saturday’s opponent, Cal, has been doing the Wild Bear (it just doesn’t sound as sexy). Backup RB Shane Vereen is 0-for-2 the last two seasons passing but the backs are great runners.

So the Beavers have to recognized that play and be ready for the variations. The defense faced its offense in training camp doing the Wild Beaver, but not that often.

“It’s the same – a direct snap to a playmaker,” CB Tim Clark said. “They are capable of making big plays. We want to force them to drive the field.”

The Beavers must see the play coming in a split-second and be ready for the plays that come off the formation.

“It’s communication,” LB Keaton Kristick said. “We have to be aware of what they are doing so that it’s not a surprise.”

Also, here’s a link to my main story in Thursday’s edition of the GT. It’s on S Jordan Poyer and the surprise impact he has had this season. And yes, he’s planning to play baseball for the Beavers, too.

Here’s a link to my oddball Q&A with senior DT Latu Moala. He’s a big music fan, and would have to have dinner with man, Bob Marley.

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One week from today the Oregon State football team travels to Los Angeles for a Pacific-10 Conference game with USC, and the players were already excited about this game last week during they bye.

It’s the big game with all-powerful Trojans, and it’s a trip to L.A. And a big chunk of the Beavers are from Southern California, so it’s a time to see family and friends.

Last year’s game will be brought up a lot with what RB Jacquizz Rodgers did and USC’s desire for revenge.

The above video is one of my finest in terms of being in the right place at the right time. Relive the chaos at the end of the game through my camera’s eye.

“All those images, I’ll never forget for my life,” C Alex Linnenkohl said. “Me and (Adam) Speer were celebrating together, and we didn’t account for how many people would be out there. We got washed down, including some USC players. I was concerned with my own health first, and then those guys. I felt bad for them. My brother found me and jumped on me. I was tired. Then a fog came in of the students. I saw a lot of people I knew. It was fun. It was pure jubilee.”

Many of the Beavers from last year have similar memories. S Jordan Poyer was still Astoria High and watch the game on TV. It was rare game he didn’t attend live, and wished he could.

“I watched on TV,” he said. “That was the one game I couldn’t make because it was a Thursday night. I wasn’t committed here, yet, but that feeling was crazy. Seeing all the students rush the field, it was something watching it on TV. I wanted to be a part of that, beating USC – the big-time Trojans. I didn’t commit until January, but I’m sure if I would have been here I would have committed on the spot. That whole feeling was crazy.”

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