Aug. 30, 2010

Complete OSU vs. TCU Release in PDF Format

Gameday Central

THIS WEEK: No. 22/24(USA Today/AP) Oregon State (0-0) opens the 2010 season vs. No. 6/7 (USA Today/AP) TCU Horned Frogs (0-0) Sat., Sept. 4 in the Cowboys Classic at Cowboys Stadium in Arlington, Texas. Game time is 4:47 p.m. PDT with ESPN providing live television. This is only one of three games in the opening week featuring two ranked teams - No. 18 North Carolina plays No. 21 LSU in Atlanta also on Saturday, and No. 3 Boise State plays No. 10 Virginia Tech Monday in Washington D.C.

BEAVERS IN THE RANKINGS: For the first time since the 2001 season Oregon State opens the season in the Associated Press top-25 - in '01 the team was No. 10. The Beavers have finished the year in the AP top 25 three of the last four years (missing 2009 by two spots).

TOP 25 OPENERS: For the first time since the 1961 opener between No. 17 Oregon State and No. 10 Syracuse, the Beavers and their opponent begin the season both ranked in the AP top-25. It also happened in 1957 between No. 10 OSU and No. 19 USC.

SERIES: Oregon State and TCU have never met in football. The visit to the state of Texas is the first for the Beavers during the regular season since a 1996 trip to Baylor; OSU played in El Paso in the 2006 and 2008 Sun Bowls. Against the Mountain West Conference overall, OSU is 5-4 vs. BYU, 1-1 vs. Colorado State, 3-1 vs. New Mexico, 1-2 vs. San Diego State, 2-3 vs. UNLV, 9-5-1 vs. Utah and 3-2 vs. Wyoming. BYU begins a two-game series with OSU starting with next year's 2011 opener in Corvallis.

HOMECOMING FOR THE RODGERS': Oregon State Director of Athletics Bob De Carolis had a goal of scheduling a game in Texas so James and Jacquizz Rodgers could play close to friends and family, and that was a significant reason as to how this game developed. The brothers missed the 2008 Sun Bowl in El Paso, which is just slightly closer to their native area of Houston than Los Angeles.

SEPTEMBER TO REMEMBER?: Could be. While Oregon State plays just three games in September, two are against top 10 teams TCU and Boise State. The Beavers have never played two top-10 teams, providing Boise State remains near the top of the rankings for the Sept. 25 game, in the first month of the season.

THE WINNINGEST COACH?: Tenth-year mentor Mike Riley has a chance to become the winningest coach in Oregon State history this season. Riley has 64 wins, 10 short of Lon Stiner, who coached the team from 1933-48. Riley slipped past Hall of Fame coach Tommy Prothro (63 wins) last season. For more on Riley check out his bio included in the game notes.

BOWL STREAK: Oregon State has played in a school record four consecutive bowl games entering the season - three wins. OSU won six bowls during the last decade, the second-most in the Pac-10 (USC-7).

THE MOST DIVERSIFIED: Rivals.com tabbed Oregon State as having the most diversified offense in the nation in the last decade. The Beavers had eight 1,000-yard rushers (Ken Simonton -1, Steven Jackson-2, Yvenson Bernard-3, Jacquizz Rodgers-2), six 3,000-yard passers (Derek Anderson-3, Sean Canfield-1, Matt Moore-1, Jonathan Smith-1) and eight 1,000-yard receivers (Mike Hass-3, James Newson-2, Sammie Stroughter-2, James Rodgers-1).

YOU'D GUESS WRONG (PROBABLY): The only team to finish in the top three of the Pac-10 Conference standings each of the last four years is - Oregon State. The Beavers have combined for a conference record of 25-11 (.694) during that time frame.

KNOCKING ON THE DOOR: Oregon State hopes the third time is a charm as it has played the final game of the season the last two years for the conference championship and the berth to the Rose Bowl. Last year's 113th Civil War vs. Oregon is considered the best ever of the series with the Ducks prevailing 37-33.

A CHANGE OF FORTUNES: Oregon State won 80 games over the last decade, the third most in the Pac-10 Conference behind USC (103) and Oregon (87). That's quite different than the 1990s when the program won just 26 or the 1980s with 22 victories. Head coach Mike Riley's first tenure in 1997 is considered the beginning of the renaissance for the program.

ANOTHER NFL QB?: If history is any indication, sophomore quarterback Ryan Katz could be on his way to the next level. Three of the last four starting quarterbacks for head coach Mike Riley at OSU are currently in the NFL. Derek Anderson started the 2003 and 2004 seasons, and has gone onto to a NFL career with the Cleveland Browns and Arizona Cardinals. Matt Moore started the 2005 and 2006 seasons and now is with the Carolina Panthers. Sean Canfield started parts of the 2007-09 seasons (shared with Lyle Moevao) and now is member of the New Orleans Saints.

FIRST TIME STARTER: There is little argument that Ryan Katz's first start of his college career is against the most difficult foe that any of OSU's recent quarterbacks have faced in their initial start. Here is a closer look at how recent quarterbacks performed in their first outing as starters: Derek Anderson (2002 vs. Eastern Kentucky) - 15-for-26, 345 yds, 3 TD, 0 INT Matt Moore (2005 vs. Portland State) - 26-for-38, 367 yds, 4 TD, 1 INT Sean Canfield (2007 vs. Utah) - 8-for-19, 87 yds, 1 TD, 1 INT Lyle Moevao (2007 vs. Washington) - 10-for-22, 109 yds, 1 TD, 1 INT

WALK-ONS: Wide receiver Mike Hass (2005 Biletnikoff Award winner) was one; placekicker Alexis Serna (2005 Groza Award recipient) was one; punter Johnny Hekker (2008 Sun Bowl Special Teams MVP) was one; quarterback Jonathan Smith (2001 Fiesta Bowl Off. MVP) was one. That is just a small sample of walkons at Oregon State that had or having great careers. Three more starters, at press time, are former walkons for the 2010 team - left guard Grant Johnson, left tackle Wilder McAndrews and right tackle Mike Remmers, and current walkon right guard Burke Ellis. Receiver Aaron Nichols could be the fourth walkon to start. Reserve running back Jordan Jenkins, who expects to play significant role, is also a recent walkon-to-scholarship player. Defensive tackle Brennan Olander, another player to see considerable action, is also a former walkon.

ACADEMICALLY SPEAKING: Every Oregon State senior will graduate (or already has) this academic year. The following players have already graduated; TE Brady Camp (sociology/master's program), OT Timi Oshinowo (engineering/master's program) and TE John Reese (communications/master's program). Fall graduates include LB Keo Camat (liberal studies), CB James Dockery (business), OL Nathan Hannah (exercise and sport science), DE Mitchel Hunt (economics), PK Justin Kahut (engineering), C Alex Linnenkohl (business), OL Wilder McAndrews (pharmacy), DE Gabe Miller (engineering), WR Aaron Nichols (pharmacy), DT Brennan Olander (anthropology), DT Stephen Paea (sociology), OL Ryan Pohl (engineering), LB Dwight Roberson (liberal studies), WR James Rodgers (communications), S Suaesi Tuimaunei (sociology), LB Walker Vave (ethnic studies). Winter term graduates include DT Evan Hull (communications) and LB Keith Pankey (geology).

TEAM CAPTAINS: By a vote of the team, this year's team captains are seniors James Dockery, Alex Linnenkohl, Gabe Miller, Stephen Paea, Dwight Roberson and James Rodgers.