Mickey Mantle's Liver

That game wasn't much fun....but at least we won. On to Arizona......

Every time we win a game in an "ugly" way, I have to remind myself that it wasn't too long ago that Beaver Nation would take a win any way we could get it.  It was just 10 years ago that the Beavers were 5-6 and suffering through our 28th straight losing season.  Only 10 years ago......

But, 10 years lat er, Beaver Nation is somewhat spoiled because we now have some room to complain about a win as not being "pretty" enough.  Yesterday's game certainly falls in that category - it was ugly and not much fun.  The bottom line is that we would have blown out Cal had we not made a number of mistakes such as Moevao's interception, that stupid facemask call on Brady Camp that negated a 30 yard run by Quizz, and the half-dozen or so missed tackles by the defense.

The Beavers' Defense and Offsensive Line deserves the credit for the win yesterday.  I don't know what the opposite of getting the game ball is (that is, the reward for the player who contributed the least to the outcome of the game), but I think The Smile earned it.  The Smile looked rusty, and a little gun-shy.  If we make the same mistakes, and The Smile plays the same way, against Arizona, Beaver Nation can say bye-bye to their Rose Bowl hopes.

So now we are off to Tuscon to play the Wildcats, who scored 45 points last week against Faber College and still lost.  What scares me is that the Wildcats scored 45 points, but I have reserved optimism for the fact that the Wildcats' defense (supposedly the strength of the team) gave up 55 points to Faber College.

One win at a time.  But this one is on the road.  Nervous?  Yes.  But I am sure Coach Riley will have the team read to go on Saturday.

Statistics to consider for the Cal game.......

I know, I know.....the Beavers are three games away from a trip to the Rose Bowl.  Keep in mind, though, that those three games are against teams with a combined record of 19-9.  Also, all three of those teams are going to bowl games this year.  In other words, this is the tough part of our schedule.

The UCLA win was great.  I am glad that Coach Riley got the "UCLA Monkey" off of his back.  The win was great for another reason, as well.  After the game, three-star cornerback Sean Martin from Corona's Santiago High committed to the Beavers next year.  Martin chose Oregon State over Minnesota, Arizona State, UCLA and UNLV.  Certainly OSU's dominant defensive performance was the final straw that cemented Martin's decision.

The win was great because it was a road-win in a stadium the Beavers don't do well in.  The win was great because it marks the first time since 2000 that the Beavers have swept the Los Angeles schools, which will definitely help our recruiting.  Finally, the win was great because it was our sixth win of the season, making the Beavers bowl eligible for the 8th time in the last 10 years.

But now we have three tough games, beginning with Cal.  I thought the best comparison between the teams is to examine the team's performances against common opponents: USC, UCLA, ASU and WSU.

Cal averaged 33.5 points per game against these opponents, 5 points less than the Beavers 38.5 average.  The Beavers averaged 218.8 yards passing per game, 68 more yards per game than the Bears averaged.  The Beavers rushing offense averaged 202.3 yards per game, 20 yards more than Cal's average of 182.3 rushing yards per game.

On the defensive side of the ball, the Beavers also outshine the Bears.  The Beavers give up 178 yards passing per game, while the Bears give up 187.5 yards passing per game.  The Bears allowed 79 yards on the ground per game, the Beavers allowed 66.3 yards per game.  The only statistic where the Bears are better than the Beavers is in points allowed - the Bears allowed 13.5 points against the 4 common opponents, the Beavers allowed 16.3 points.

Against the four common opponents, the Beavers are 4-0, while the Bears are 3-1 (only loss was to UCLA).  In truth, these statistics demonstrate one thing - the Beavers and the Bears are two evenly matched teams on both sides of the ball.  The edge only goes to the Beavers because the game is being played in Corvallis.  However, recent history has demonstrated exactly how little home field advantage means in this game (Beavers won in Berkeley in 2007, Bears won in Corvallis in 2006).

Just some food for thought this week, Beaver Nation.

When will the PAC-10 hire REAL officials? OSU vs. ASU redux

OK, I have to remind myself that it is bad karma to complain about a Beavers win.  Only 10 years ago, ANY win was a good win, no matter how we got the win - even with the help of the officials.  I understand that.  I am glad we got the win, and I think the Beavers played a pretty solid game yesterday.  Of course, if they play against UCLA the way they played against ASU, Beaver Nation can kiss their Rose Bowl hopes good bye.

But there is one thing that makes me mad that is recurring more and more in PAC-10 games - the horrendous officiating.  I mean, the officiating is bordering on the absurd.  The most recent example was the phantom call against JaQuizz Rodgers on third-and-four late in the game, where Quizz was still motoring, moving forward, broke free from the pile (no whistle had blown) and eventually Quizz was tackled at the one-yard line.

Inexplicably, the Referees decided that Quizz's forward momentum had been stopped, when it was clear to everyone - and I mean everyone - that Quizz was still moving forward and the play was still alive.  Everyone, except of course the Referees.  Take a look at the replay, it is pretty clear.

What is especially tough to swallow is that the phantom whistle made the down Fourth and one.  Riley decided to kick the field goal, which Kahut missed.  The Sun Devils then took the ball down the field and scored a touchdown, but missed on the two-point conversion.  Had the refs made the right call, none of that would have happened.  The refs craptacular call nearly lost the game for the Beavers.

Of course, Tom Hansen (PAC-10 Commissioner) isn't going to do anything about the blown calls.  He never does, which makes me even angrier, because Hansen is sending the message to PAC-10 fans that amateur officiating is the standard in the PAC-10.  Officials that make calls like the calls made against Quizz should (at the very least) be publicly reprimanded, so PAC-10 fans know that the PAC-10 (and Hansen) expect professionalism on the field.

Why I hate the Huskies......

There are only two teams in all of sports that I absolutely despise.  And by despise I mean  really, really, really, really can't stand.  You know what I mean, when either of these two teams are playing, I ALWAYS root for their opponent.  One team is Satan's Team (otherwise known as the Los Angeles Dodgers) and the other team is the Spawn of Satan's Team, otherwise known as.....the Washington Huskies.

My hatred for the Fuskies runs sooooo deep that I actually wear green and gold the week before the Ducks of Faber College play the Fuskies.  Every game, I hope above hope that whoever is playing the Fuskies will run up the score.  I would like to see someone (USC maybe?) score 100 on the Huskies.

Does that make me a bad sport?  Probably.  But I can live with that, at least when it comes to the Huskies.

Why?

Anyone who lived through PAC-10 football in the late 1980s through the late 1990s can understand why.  During that time period, the Huskies were a very good football team, which was nothing new.  The Huskies program had been strong up to that point for a very long time.

But it was different in the 80s and 90s.  The Huskies were good, and their fans (and the University of Washington Football Program) let you know it.

Now, it is one thing to be confident, another thing to be cocky, and still another thing to be downright obnoxious.  Well, "Husky Nation", during this time, made obnoxious fans look well-mannered.

How many times did I, as an Oregon State Beaver fan, have to listen to Husky Fans talk about how the Beavers were lucky to be in the same time zone - let alone conference - as the Huskies.  Husky fans - and even the Husky athletic director at one time - questioned whether the Beavers belonged in the PAC-10 Conference at all.  The ultimate in disrespect.

The arrogance and contempt of both Husky fans and the Husky program earned Husky Nation the label as "the worst fans in the PAC-10 conference" by every other program in the PAC-10.  Of course, Husky Nation said that the rest of us were jealous of their program.  The truth is that we were sickened by it.

Of course now, 15 years later from the height of Husky football, we come to find out the program was cheating.  That's right, the only way the Huskies could reach their pinnacle is by cheating.  But that doesn't stop Husky Nation from living in the past, boasting about how great their program used to be.

Now, the Huskies are at the bottom of the pile, where they belong.  Friends of mine who are citizens of Husky Nation are much more humble when it comes to football, and they all acknowledge that the hatred they encounter by the rest of the PAC-10 is well deserved.

I now actually feel sorry for the Huskies.  Why?  Cause we were there once, and we may return to the dregs of college football sometime in the future.  Maybe with the certain dismissal of Willingham at the end of the season the Huskies will make it back to respectability.

And perhaps learn some humility along the way.

Why tonight's game against the Utes scares me....

I have several reasons why I am fearful about tonight's game in Salt Lake City against No. 15 Utah.  It is on the road, for one.  The Beavers always seem to be a bit "down" when they are playing on the road.  Almost like it takes the Beavs about a quarter or so to get their heads about them before they start playing.

The second reason to be fearful is the Beavs win last week, one of the biggest victories in the history of the program.  I am afraid that perhaps the team spent more time reading press clippings than practicing (a nasty habit the program has developed over the last few years).

But the biggest reason I am fearful that the Beavers won't pull this one out is based on the Utes' running backs - and in particular the size of the Utes' running backs.

A disturbing trend has taken shape on the Beavers' defense.  When the Beavers face a "big" running back, our defense makes the "big back" look like Gale Sayers. 

Consider this, in our two losses to Stanford and Penn State, Toby Gearhart ( 6'1'', 228 pounds) and Evan Royster (6'1, 220 pounds) ran for 147 yards on 19 carries and 141 yards on 17 carries, respectively.  In those same games, Stanford and Penn State's "smaller" backs did not fare so well.  Anthony Kimble of Stanford (6'1'', 200 pounds) and Stafon Green of Penn State (5'10', 189 pounds) ran for 49 yards on 18 carries and 19 yards on 11 carries, respectively.

In our two wins over Hawaii and SUC, Hawaii's backs (Kealoha Pilares,  5'10'', 190; Daniel Libre, 5'8'', 185) and SUC's backs (Stafon Johnson, 5'11'', 210; Joe McKnight, 6', 200) ran for a total of 47 and 58 yards, respectively.

The trend developing with the Beavers defense appears to be that the Beavers have a hard time stopping bigger running backs.  Exhibit A is the Beavs' defensive performance against Stanford, where the Beavers tried to knock Gearhart over, rather than wrapping him up and gang-tackling.  The same failed tackling was also evident in the Penn State game.

Utah's running backs are big.  Darrell Mack stands 6-foot, 220 pounds - a fireplug if there ever was one.  Matt Asiata stands 5'11'', 230 pounds, a "fireplug's fireplug", for sure.  These are big backs that are not going to get knocked down very easily.  The Beavers have to wrap these guys up and gang-tackle, otherwise it will be a long night for the defense.

Now, if I figured this out.  If I noticed this trend, then surely Mark Banker and his staff have noticed this trend as well, and made sure the team worked on tackling the big guys all week, right?  I sure hope so, otherwise it is going to be a long trip home from Salt Lake City.

It's STILL a great day to be a Beaver!!!!

With most of Beaver Nation still flying high after Thursday's monumental win, it is time that we get focused for the task at h and - the Utah Utes.  The "problem" with a big win over the top-ranked team in the land (I can't believe there is any problem with that) is that teams won't be surprised by you later in the season.  They see what you did to #1, and don't want to be the next meal on the upset-plate special.  So expect every team we play from this point forward to be especially geared up for the Beavers.

Plus, you know fans of these other teams -- again starting with the Utah Utes) -- are going to start playing "six degrees of BCS Separation" now.  It goes like this: Oregon State beat USC, when USC was #1.  If we beat Oregon State, that must mean we are #1!!!!

Or worse: We beat Stanford, Stanford beat Oregon State, Oregon State beat USC, when USC was #1, that must mean we are #1!!!!

Also, little Quizz is going to find out this Thursday that teams are  going to key on him, given what Quizz did to the Prophylatics the other night.  Quizz isn't gonig to be a surprise to anyone, again.

I don't mean to be a negative Nellie, but I want to make sure the victory is put into perspective.  Yes, it was a great win for the program.  The timing couldn't have been better.  Think about it, had the Beavers played the Prophylatics on Saturday, there is no way the Beav's victory would have gotten half the publicity it got on Friday.  Hell, the Beavers win was the lead joke on Jay Leno's monologue on Friday's Tonight Show.

With all the upsets that occurred on Saturday, the Beavers win would have been big, but not that big.

National television, a stage where the Beavers usually look like arse, was even better.  The Beavers took full advantage of the opportunity presented, no doubt about that.

But how many times, Beaver Nation, do we see a team pull an upset like the one the Beavers pulled on Thursday, only to see that team lay a real toilet-bomb in their next game?  I want this win to be the springboard to a 10-2 record.  I don't want this win to be the highlight of the entire season, that is all.

I don't want the Beavers to start reading their press clippings, thinking they are God's gift to college football.  Want to know what happens when a team develops that sort of mentality?  Well, take a look at Exhibit A - the USC Prophylatics.

This week is all about one thing: Focus.

Focus. Focus. Focus. Focus. Focus. Focus.

What a Great Day to Be a Beaver!!!!!

The day after what I believe was the greatest game in OSU history, I  got this great EMAIL from Ben F. ranking the best wins in OSU football history:

With euphoria brought about by Oregon State’s huge upset of #1 USC, I thought I would make a list of my top 10 games in program history. So, without further ado:

1. 1967 Giant Killers II (Tied #2 UCLA, Beat #2 Purdue, then shut out O.J. Simpson’s #1 USC)

Ok, so this one is actually three games, but to really appreciate the magnitude of them all, they need to be grouped together. The word “magical” is the only way to describe the season. In the words of The Great Pumpkin (Dee Andros), after putting down the #2’s, “We’re tired of foolin’ around with No. 2. Bring on No. 1,” and bring on #1 they did in the program’s first (official) victory over a top-ranked team. Any Beaver fan from the era can still remember what they did on that memorable day. OSU finished the year ranked seventh.

2. 2008 Giant Killers III (Beat #1 USC at Oregon State)

41 years after the infamous “Giant Killers” team (which I consider Giant Killers II), Oregon State did it again. Featuring true-freshman Jacquizz Rodgers and his older brother James (or Quizz and Quan as they are known as), the “Quizz Show” dominated what many consider to be Pete Carroll’s best team ever, a large claim considering he had several conference and national championships under his belt, as well as a couple Heisman winners on his prior team rosters. Meanwhile, the Beavers entered the game with a paltry 1-2 record and were predicted as 25 point under-dogs.

3. 2006 #3 USC vs. Unranked Oregon State

Sometimes referred to as another Giant Killer team, the squad in 2006 did the unthinkable: beat an unbeatable USC. Having had only one win against the Trojans since 1967, Oregon State was a true under-dog. Receiver Sammie Stroughter even passed out smooth stones to teammates to motivate the “David” team against “Goliath.” USC rolled into Reser Stadium with a 38-game regular season winning streak and a 25-game conference winning streak, but after a failed 2-point conversion batted down by Jeff Van Orso, they left with both streaks reset to zero.

4. 2000 Fiesta Bowl (Notre Dame and Oregon State)

Played in January of 2001, the 2000 season’s bowl game was memorable. The first bowl victory in three decades, this was regarded as the program’s best game in school history by those not around to witness the Giant Killer programs. Co-Conference champions and a missed field goal away from being 10-0 and playing for the national title, Oregon Statesettled for the Fiesta Bowl- a BCS bowl against Notre Dame. Considered the under-dogs, OSU shocked the nation with a man-handling of the Fighting Irish, allowing only 3 points against their starting defense. Finishing the season ranked 4^th, Oregon Statewas back on the map for the first time since 1967.

5. 1933 Iron Men (Giant Killers I)

One of the best squads in school history is all but forgotten in today’s modern era, but no top ten lists would be complete without tribute to perhaps the best team the state of Oregon has ever known. Top ranked USC (unofficial rankings as the AP rankings were not introduced until 1934) came to Corvallis as the two-time defending national champions, but their 80 players were not enough to get past 11 Iron Men. Without any substitutions, Oregon State ended their 25-game win streak with a 0-0 tie. A lasting tribute to the 11 Oregon State Hall of Famers, the Iron Men are forever remembered in the OSU Fight Song with the lyrics "Men of Iron go tearing down the field."

6. 1999 Cal at Oregon State

While this game was not memorable in itself, it represented a changing tide. Working on the coat tails of Mike Riley, Dennis Erickson’s squad beat Cal to get their 6^th win, ensuring OSU’s first winning season in almost three decades, ending a 28 year streak of misery. And to think they were projected to go 1-10 that year.

7. 1998 Civil War

Every modern-era fan remembers this game with pleasure. How can we forget Ken Simonton’s run into the end zone to win the game? The star running back scored the winning touchdown in the game’s second overtime to cap off the season that set the stage for the 1999 squad to finally get that winning season.

8. 1985 Oregon State at Washington

Until Stanford beat USC 22 years later, the game in which the 38-point favorite Huskies lost to the Beavers was the largest overcome point spread in NCAA history. Oregon State, with its quarterback and best receiver injured, was reeling from four consecutive losses, one to a Division I-AA school. Having lost ten in a row to the conference-leading Huskies looked poised for a smashing of Oregon State. Even the Seattle media was assuming the game was little more than a long practice. Oregon State had other plans. A blocked punt near the end of the game put the Beavers on top to win it 21-20, and not  surprisingly, the Seattle media was a no-show to the post-game conference with Oregon State. They were probably too embarrassed by the shouting of “You can blame this one on your media!” heard by OSU players departing the field.

9. 2007 Oregon State at California

Oregon State was unranked, was 3-3 with three ugly losses, and was the visiting team. California was ranked #2 and was poised to take the top ranking with the loss of #1 LSU. That was as far as they ever got. The mediocre team from Oregon State chose that game, just as in the previous year against #3 USC, to turn their season around. The game was essentially neck-and-neck most of the way, with the edge slightly in Oregon State’s favor until the fourth quarter, but a costly mistake by Cal’s freshman quarterback let the clock run out with OSU on top 31-28.

10. 2000 USC at Oregon State

Although Beaver Nation would not realize the importance of USC’s 2000 visit to Corvallis until after the game was underway, the game was important enough to sneak into my top-ten list. The matchup was not any more important than any other games that season and there were no real implications from the game that were unique to the two teams, but nevertheless, it was a historic moment. For the first time since 1967, Oregon State beat USC in football. A streak even longer than the 28 losing season streak had finally ended; the last piece of Oregon State’s football curse was finally laid to rest in the most successful season in modern OSU history.

Honorable Mention: 1933 Civil War

The 1933 Civil War might seem very obscure to the average fan, but it was a game in which NCAA history was made. The Iron Men tried and implemented their famous “Pyramid Play” in which a lineman was hoisted on a teammate’s shoulders to block a field goal. The Iron Men lost the game 3-13, but the new play was born. The following week the play won their matchup against Fordham, and the play captured on film became the most famous photograph in the history of sports in Oregon. The play was later banned, leaving Oregon State as the only team in the NCAA to ever successfully pull it off.

Honorable Mention: 2007 Civil War

Except for that Oregon State won in Eugene instead of Corvallis, the 2007 Civil War was very much like the 1998 Civil War. The game was huge for Oregon State fans of the modern era because not only was it a fantastic double over-time thriller, but it was the first Civil War in ten tries for the visiting team to win—and Oregon State was the team to claim that distinction. Finally ended on a James Rodgers fly sweep for a touchdown, a side by side image of James and Ken Simonton’s 1998 run are eerily similar. The biggest difference was in 1998, the home crowed went ecstatic. In 2007, the hostile home crowd was speechless. Both were equally enjoyable.

Thanks Ben F. for the great EMAIL.

GO BEAVERS!!!!!!!!

IT'S BEAVER GAME DAY!!!!!!!!

OK, I have to admit it, I am pretty nervous right now.  I am nervous on just about any Beaver game day, but today seems a bit more "nervousier" than in years past.  I am biting my nails down to my cuticles I am so nervous.  Thank God I have to go to a funeral today, otherwise my day would be a mess.

Am I nervous about the fact the Beavers front seven is "new" this year?  Well, the folks over at Building the Dam say I shouldn't be.

Am I nervous about the fact that the Beavers offensive line is something of a patchwork, given that both Tavita Thompson and Jeremy Perry aren't playing this week against the 'Furd?  Well, I have some inside information regarding the O-Line and the rotation that is going to be used tonight.  Suffice it to say I think the O-Line will be just fine.  In fact, after tonight I suspect that Andy Levitre's name is going to to become popular with Beaver fans.

Am I nervous about McCants, 'Quizz and James Rodgers and their ability to maintain the high level rushing attack that has been a staple for the OSU offense for so many years?  According to Cliff Kirkpatrick at the gazette-Times, McCants is ready to be the next great running back at Oregon State.  No need to worry, I guess.....

Should Beaver Nation be concerned about Lyle "the Smile" Moevao and his ability to run this offense?  Consider that he was undefeated as a starter last year, he has lost somewhere between 18-20 pounds, and has a full year of practice in Riley's offense under his belt, and it is clear that Moevao is ready to be the leader of Beaver Nation.

The Smile reminds me a lot of Jonathan Smith, who got no respect from PAC-10 writers and pundits because of his relatively small stature, but was a leader on and off the field and got the most from the physical talents God bestowed upon him.  The Smile's physical abilities are considerably greater than Smith's, but they need to be given the faster, quicker defenses that now roam PAC-10 football fields.

Bottom line:  I think The Smile will do just fine.

No, what has me concerned is what I call "The Beaver Blahs."  Beaver Nation knows what I am tlaking about.  The Beavers can never get out of the starting gate firing on all cylinders.  We start slow, make stupid mistakes, lose to teams we have no business losing to, and generally the football team frustrates the hell out of Beaver Nation. 

We have come to expect it.  Remember the great 11-1 team of 2000.  The first game that year was against Eastern Washington and we won by a single point.  Last year we beat a Utah team that we should have run over by 17.  And we all remember the stinkers the Beavers laid in the second game of each of the last three seasons (I don't count the first game of the 2005 season against Portland State - the second D-I team we played that year was Louisville) where the Beavers were outscored 139 to 44.

I am concerned that the Beavers will come out flat, against a game 'Furd team that is going to see an opportunity to get a cheap PAC-10 win early in the season against a lackluster Beaver team that probably thinks just by throwing their helmets on the field they will beat the 'Furd.  If past performance is any indicator of future effort, then all of Beaver Nation knows this is a very real possibility.

Any longtime resident of Beaver Nation is used to losing.  We don't like it, but we can accept it, as long as our guys gave it 100% on the field and represented The Hard of the West (Oregon State, not the 'Furd) with class and dignity.  It is when the Beavs start playing like morons that really gets The Nation in an uproar.  I don't think Riley will let that happen, which is why I think the Beavers will win this one, albeit by a very close margin.

My prediction: OSU 34 - The 'Furd 28

Update on Beavers in the NFL

Sorry I haven't kept the site up-to-date lately, I have had a couple of briefs due that really took up a lot of my time.  They are done, and now it is time to get back to what I love the most, Beaver football! 

I will have my preview and predictions for the upcoming football season later in the week.  I thought I should provide an update on how Beavers are faring in the NFL.

Steven Jackson: The El Dorado Kid was holding out of training camp, seeking a long-term deal with the Rams.  Generally speaking, I am not a fan of holdouts - if you signed a contract you should play under the terms of the contract you signed.  But in the NFL, because of the way contracts are written, for superstars like Jackson the only way he is going to receive market value -- ever -- is by holding out the year before his contract is set to expire.  It is a common and generally accepted practice in the NFL, and Jackson signed a six-year deal with the Rams, and everyone is happy.  Look for Jackson to keep dominating defenses into the 2008 season.

Yvenson Bernard:  Yvenson signed a free agent contract with the Rams.  In case you didn't hear, Yvenson failed a physical with the Rams in May and was released by the team.  Yvenson has not been picked up by any other NFL team.

Mike Hass - Hass is still playing for the Bears, but so far this preseason Hass has two catches for 14 yards.  In the Seattle game, two passes were thrown his way, but neither were catchable, even for Hass.  Mike's situation in Chicago is really pathetic, he isn't getting a fair shot at getting some playing time.  Even though the Bears lost their two top receivers from last year, the Bears are going to rely upon some real losers at wide receiver (Marty Booker, Brandon Llyod) instead of giving Hass a chance to show what he can do on the field.  Bears' insiders don't believe that Hass will make the Bears' final 53-man roster, which sucks, because Hass has the skills to play in the NFL.

Keith Ellison: Keith has been holding his own, and has six tackles (4 solo) and an interception this preseason for the Bills.  Eillison lost his starting job during the middle of last season, and came into camp this summer as a backup.  However, the starter at the Will Linebacker position -- Angelo Crowell -- is dealing with some nagging injuries, so it appears as though Ellison may go into the season as the Bills starting Will Linebacker.

Sabby Piscatelli:After a season-ending injury in Week 3 last season, Sabby is picking up where he left off, impressing the Bucs coaches with his hard hitting style.  In the Bucs most recent game versus the Jaguars, Sabby had a key stop of the Jags Dennis Northsutt (another PAC-10 alum) that ended with the Jags punting.  So far this season Sabby has 7 tackles, all solo.

Dwan Edwards: Dwan has really solified himself at the defensive tackle position for the Ravens.  He has three tackles and a sack so far this preseason, and according to the Baltimore Sun, has cemented a role as a backup defensive tackle for the Ravens for years to come.

Joey LaRoque:  Joey was drafted by the Bears this season and has seen limited playing time in the three preseason games played by the Bears.  Joey has two tackles - both solos - on his stat sheet, and that is about it.  To be honest, it doesn't seem that Joey is making a name for himself when it matters most - gametime. 

Tuesday the 26th NFL rosters have to be cut down to 75 players.  Some teams, like the Bears, have already cut down their roster to 75 players, so Hass and Joey LaRoque will live to see at least one more game.  Rosters have to be cut down to 53 by the 30th, so expect to see some action in the next few days.  I will try to keep you up to date as transactions hit the wire.

Finally!!! The Beavers are getting some national respect

I just got the latest issue of Sports Illustrated in the mail yesterday.   This issue is SI's annual college football preview issue, and not surprisingly this issue has three USC players on the cover.  As soon as I saw that I thought to myself, "Here we go again."

I get so freakin tired of reading these college football previews, or preseason polls, coaches polls, what have you, that constantly treat the PAC-10 like it is USC and everybody else.  Most importantly to me, most of these polls ignore the Beavers altogether and instead focus their attention on the Trojans, maybe the Cal Bears, and the Quacks.  No love for the Beavers.

I know that some national polls have the Quacks ranked in the Top 20, and have the Beavers ranked in the section "others receiving votes", so I expected to see that SI had the Ducks in its Top 20 while dissing the Beavers like everyone else.

Not this time, though.  SI has the Beavers ranked 18th, ahead of the Quacks!!!!

Finally, some national recognition for the program that has the second most wins in the PAC-10 over the last two years, has beaten the Quacks three of the last four years, and has won four straight bowl games.

Now I know what all you haters are going to say: "SI is the same magazine that picked the Beavers Number 1 overall in 2001."  Fair point, that is why I am not beating my chest loudly on the Quackers message boards.  My point is simply this: at least someone is beginning to notice that the Beavers football program is actually pretty good.

GO BEAVERS!!!!!!