Cliff Kirkpatrick

CB Tim Clark is taken off the field with a broken leg. PHOTO/DH

Here’s a link to my main story in Wednesday’s GT. It’s on Oregon State CB Tim Clark, and his mindset and recovery from a broken leg suffered in the Civil War.

Here’s a link to my notebook, loaded with a bunch of stuff. It leads with off with DT Stephen Paea winning the Morris Trophy.

Here’s some more from Paea on various topics:

Have you considered jumping to the NFL?
“I’m coming back,” Paea said. “There’s no question about it. I love Oregon State. It’s the best. Coming back is a huge opportunity for me to get better. When I’m ready to go pro, I’m going pro. And I don’t think I’m ready.”

Being from Utah, is playing BYU a big deal to you?
“This is another game, but it is against BYU,” Paea said. “They offered me (a scholarship), but I left all that behind. I started a new life here at Oregon State. Playing them. it’s just another opponent.”

Do you know any of the BYU guys?
“Yes, their running back Harvey Unga. He played at Timpview High like I did. He’s a really good running back.”

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Oregon State CB Tim Clark (broken right foot) was around campus on crutches Monday. He’s still down, but at peace with the injury. He’s looking forward to rehab and training for a shot at the NFL.

QB Sean Canfield was invited to the Jan. 30 Senior Bowl in Mobile, Ala. It’s the premier postseason all-star game for the top prospects in the NFL draft.

OLB Keaton Kristick said he’s going to the East-West Shrine game Jan. 23 in Orlando, Fla. That’s the next-best thing to the Senior Bowl.

OG Gregg Peat got an East-West invite, but he’s still waiting to accept. He hopes for a Senior Bowl invite, depending on who accepts and leaves an opening for him. UPDATE: Peat clarified that there has been Shrine talk, but he hasn’t gotten an invite, yet.

Check back later tonight for more updates after practice.

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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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