IT HEATS UP: Friday, August 3 marks the opening of the 2007 college
football season for Oregon State as the Beavers and Arizona are the first of the
10 conference teams to open camp -- only eight other schools in the nation begin
earlier. OSU’s 12-game season opens Thurs., Aug. 30 in one of its most difficult
season openers in recent years as it hosts the Utah Utes of the Mountain West
Conference.
“THE FEVER:” Oregon State’s 2007 tickets campaign has been widely
successful and already the third-most season passes have been sold in one year
-- 23,347 as of July 30 -- approximately 1,000 more than last year’s final
total. The record is 24,347 in 2001.
RAISING RESER: The second phase of the Reser Stadium expansion/remodel
project will be completed prior to the season opener, raising capacity to
45,674. The latest phase bowls in the south end zone and features the largest
score/video screen in the Pac-10. The actual video portion of the board is 30x80
feet and overall the board is 150 feet wide. The board is operated by an actual
television production truck that is owned by OSU and is the same truck that will
operate the recently installed score/video board at Goss Stadium at Coleman
Field. In addition, a “ribbon board” has been erected on the exterior of the
Valley Football Center. In all, over the last three years approximately $110
million of improvements have been constructed around Reser Stadium.
JG: Oregon State will honor the late Jim Gilstrap with a “JG” sticker
on its helmets. Gilstrap was the football coordinator of support services and
was the former offensive line and running backs coach. He died July 19 from
medical complications at the age of 65.
WHAT TO WATCH: As fall camp progresses most eyes will be on the
quarterback position, where senior Ryan Gunderson and sophomores Sean Canfield
and Lyle Moevao will compete for the job. Gunderson does have one career start
(2005 season finale at UO). If the starter on Aug. 30 is either Canfield or
Moevao, it will mark only the fourth quarterback to start at OSU since the
beginning of 2002 when Derek Anderson made his debut. Anderson started every
game from 2002-04, Matt Moore started 10 of 11 games in 2005 (injury forced him
out of ‘05 finale) and all of 2006. There also will be interesting competition
at tight end, where four viable candidates will challenge.
AWARDS CANDIDATES: Several Beavers are on the preseason watch lists
for national awards (several to be named later). Here is the list: Yvenson Bernard (RB) -- Doak Walker Award, Jeff Van Orsow (DE) -- Lott Trophy,
Derrick Doggett (LB) -- Nagurski Award, Jeremy Perry (OG) -- Lombardi and
Outland Awards and Kyle DeVan (C) -- Rimington Trophy.
RECORDS TO WATCH: Only one prominent OSU career record appears
legitimately in jeopardy this year as placekicker Alexis Serna zeros in on the
school’s career scoring mark. Serna enters the year with 292 points, trailing
only the 366 posted by former running back Ken Simonton (1998-01). Several other
Beavers will move up the various charts throughout the year.
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NOTE: Stay tuned to BF.com throughout the month of August for
exclusive desktop wallpaper for you computer. For more Beaver wallpaper,
click here.
Practice kickoffs Friday, Aug. 3 at 2 p.m. Two-a-days start on Aug. 13 with
the morning session starting at 8:30 a.m. and the evening session beginning at
6:30 p.m.. The full schedule can be viewed
here or on the
BF.com Events Calendar.
Practices are open to the public.
- OT Michael Cole - will compete for playing time at left tackle
- OT Jon Ioane - will compete for playing time at left tackle
- DT Latu Moala - will compete for playing time at defensive end
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Running Backs Sports analysts would all agree on one thing
- "Yvenson Bernard is the most underrated player in the Pac-10." That
has a lot to do with the physical and mental toughness this kid brings
to the field. Last year Bernard had to run with minor injuries
throughout the season, but still managed to tearoff over 1,300 yards
equaling a little over 100 yards a game ...
read the article |
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Linebackers Oregon State can really solidify itself as one
of the top linebacking schools on the west coast this year as they are
two deep, almost three deep, at every spot ...
read the article |
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Quarterbacks Going into spring, it was Sean Canfield's job
to lose. Coming out of spring and heading into fall camp, it is still
Canfield's job to lose. The left handed gunslinger didn't blow his
competition away nor did his competition, Lyle Moevao, gain any ground
... read the
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Defensive Line There isn't a Bill Swancutt or Inoke Breckterfield type player on the roster, but if you believe there is
strength in experience then the Oregon State defensive line is your
unit. Only two starters return from a year ago, but seven players are
back who have played in at least 10 games each last season. ...
read the article |
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Special Teams Not much changed personnel-wise for the
special teams this spring and summer as almost everyone returns from a
year ago. A new coach took over, Dave Ungerer, but the transition went
extremely smooth with all of the veteran players on the roster. ...
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Offensive Line With the graduation of All-Pac-10 member
Adam Koets and the expected arrival of junior college transfers Jon
Ioane and Michael Cole in the spring there was much talk about the
battle for left tackle. Unfortunately, Ioane and Cole failed to earn
enough credits to graduate and transfer to Oregon State in April. ...
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Receivers This crew of wide receivers is one of the
strongest group on the team in terms of depth. Two starters and one part
time starter return along with a host of players who have been in the
system for several seasons. ...
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Running Backs The most experienced unit on the team is the
secondary where three starters return along with several part time
starters. Junior Keenan Lewis has the most playing time under his belt
with 24 career starts, including six straight, that dates back to his
freshman year. ...
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