Beavers' Jackson scores five TDs, says he will leave early for
NFL
After taking all the drama out of Wednesday's Las Vegas Bowl, Steven Jackson
created some after the game.
Jackson capped his record-breaking, five-touchdown night in Oregon State's
55-14 victory over New Mexico at Sam Boyd Stadium by announcing he will forgo
his senior year to enter the NFL Draft...Mark Anderson, Las Vegas Review Journal
Local star eclipses game's outcome
Steven Jackson demonstrated Wednesday night why he'll be making mountains
of Andrew Jacksons next fall.
The Oregon State tailback and former Eldorado High School standout has hands
of gold and legs of platinum -- coordinated by a will of iron and emboldened
by nerves of steel.
As the New Mexico Lobos all-too-painfully learned...Joe
Hawk, Las Vegas Review Journal
Lobos' focus gets blurred
New Mexico's attitude appeared different this year.
On their visit to the Las Vegas Bowl, the Lobos seemed intent on making this
a business rather than pleasure trip.
All that extra focus got them was a 55-14 loss to Oregon State on Wednesday
at Sam Boyd Stadium...Mark
Anderson, Las Vegas Review Journal
Think before you dis. It may be worth 41 points.
Maybe the best thing the Lobos can learn from their 55-14 humiliation in the
Las Vegas Bowl is that you don't go out and tweak a giant's nose prior to battle.
You don't disrespect a superior. You don't make the big guy mad. You don't
talk a talk you can't walk...Richard
Stevens, Albuquerque Tribune
Hobbled and humbled
The Lobos have proven during the last couple of seasons that they're a team
to be reckoned with in the Mountain West Conference. But as Oregon State painfully
proved to the Lobos on Christmas Eve in the Las Vegas Bowl, teams from the Pac-10
still pack a more powerful punch.
What has been considered one of the best teams in University of New Mexico
history strutted into the Las Vegas Bowl with its chest puffed out. The Lobos
walked off the field at Sam Boyd Stadium with their pride kicked in after a
55-14 loss...Brad
Moore, Albuquerque Tribune
Lobos' big line didn't save them from OSU's speed
The University of New Mexico offensive line came into the Las Vegas Bowl billed
as one of the best, if not the best, in the history of Lobos football.
That didn't mean much to the Oregon State Beavers, who tossed around one of
the biggest offensive lines in the country like a sack of potatoes...Brad
Moore, Albuquerque Tribune
Jackpot!
Oregon State's players vowed throughout the preparation period leading up to
the Las Vegas Bowl that they'd be focused, composed and ready to rock once they
hit Sin City.
On Wednesday, the Beavers backed up that promise with a scintillating 55-14
blowout of New Mexico before an announced crowd of 25,434 at Sam Boyd Stadium...Brooks
Hatch, Corvallis Gazette Times
Jackson lights up Las Vegas
The game felt as much like a celebration of home-grown excellence as a spectacular
goodbye. For Steven Jackson, the incomparable Oregon State tailback, the Las
Vegas Bowl was both.
Jackson capped his college career with an NCAA bowl-record-tying five touchdowns,
leading the Beavers to a 55-14 victory over New Mexico on Christmas Eve at Sam
Boyd Stadium. After the game, Jackson announced that he will forgo his senior
season and enter the 2004 NFL draft...Rachael
Bachman, Oregonian
In world of 'what ifs?', Erickson not leaving biggest
Bowl win raises expectations of success in future LAS VEGAS I t felt like a
new day, but sure reminded us of an old one.
Here was running back Steven Jackson, camping in the end zone.
Here was linebacker Richard Seigler, chasing down a quarterback...John
Canzano, Oregonian
Seniors leave their mark
All the talk about Steven Jackson's decision about the NFL perhaps overshadowed
the fact that the Las Vegas Bowl marked the end of the Oregon State careers
of 16 seniors, including nine starters, plus the kicker and punter.
The group includes some of the best players at their positions in school history,
and they are one of the program's most successful classes. They helped OSU reach
four bowl games in five seasons after not having made it to one since 1965...Mike
Tokito, Oregonian
OSU running back dominant in swan song
There was very little suspense to the Las Vegas Bowl Wednesday night at Sam
Boyd Stadium.
Oregon State punished New Mexico, plain and simple.
Oregon State laid the wood from the opening kickoff, crushing the Mountain West
Conference Lobos 55-14 in a show of dominance that validated Pac-10 superiority
and ended the Beavers' season on an emphatic note...Kerry
Eggers, Portland Tribune
Jackson stars in final show
Steven Jackson, just like Santa Claus running late on Christmas Eve, ran over,
around and through a New Mexico team whose holiday became a bad day.
The Oregon State junior tailback took his hometown by storm, rushing for four
touchdowns and adding a fifth score on a reception. He was the point man in
the Beavers' 55-14 mission over the Lobos in front of a less-than-half-filled
Sam Boyd Stadium crowd of 18,031...Bob
Rodman, Eugene Register Guard
Beavers leash Lobos
In a record-setting performance against New Mexico in the Las Vegas Bowl, Oregon
State tailback Steven Jackson left Beaver Nation longing for an encore.
But after rushing for 149 yards and tying an NCAA bowl record with five touchdowns
in the Beavers’ 55-14 victory Wednesday at Sam Boyd Stadium, Jackson announced
that he had played his final collegiate game...Gary
Horowitz, Salem Statesman Journal
Beavers win; Jackson to leave for the NFL
Steven Jackson sure looked ready for the NFL.
Jackson tied a bowl game record with five touchdowns, and Oregon State’s
defense overwhelmed mistake-plagued New Mexico in a 55-14 win at the Las Vegas
Bowl on Wednesday night...Pete
Herrea, Associated Press
HEADLINES ON STEVEN JACKSON GOING PRO
Beavers star goes three and out
He had set a couple of new school records and a couple of Las Vegas Bowl marks,
as well. He'd even tied the incomparable Barry Sanders for an all-time bowl
record.
Nobody wanted to talk about any of that.
Steven Jackson had a couple of weeks left to make his decision, but following
his historic performance in Wednesday's 55-14 win for Oregon State over New
Mexico in his hometown bowl game, Jackson announced that he was leaving Corvallis
for professional pastures...Bob
Moseley, Eugene Register Guard
Jackson annouces he's turning pro
For three seasons with the Oregon State football team, Steven Jackson has been
a bright burning light broken away from the shimmering desert glitz and glamor
of Las Vegas.
Jackson returned to his hometown this week to play what would be his final
game as a Beaver.
Jackson rushed for 149 yards and scored five touchdowns, three in the first
half, as the Beavers rolled to a 55-14 win over New Mexico in the Las Vegas
Bowl. His performance was good enough for the bowl's Most Valuable Player trophy...Kevin
Hampton, Corvallis Gazette Times
Jackson decides: It's on to NFL
Steven Jackson was Oregon State's three-season dream. Now, the Beavers must
move on and the NFL will inherit the talents of Jackson, one of college football's
best running backs.
After the Beavers' 55-14 victory over New Mexico in the Las Vegas Bowl, Jackson
said what observers anticipated...Rachael
Bachman, Oregonian