After Week Off, Beavers More Than Ready For Vandals

Former Beaver Head Coach Dennis Erickson returns to Reser Stadium Saturday as the new head coach of the Idaho Vandals.

Photo: OSU Athletics

CORVALLIS - Oregon State-Idaho pre-game notes:

THEME: Oregon State hasn’t played since Sept. 7th and will be looking to rebound from its loss at Boise State.

Saturday’s game, being televised regionally by FSN-NW, is the first of three consecutive home games for the Beavers. OSU’s Pac-10 slate opens Sept. 30th hosting the No. 22 California Golden Bears.

Idaho continues its grueling schedule playing its third road game in four weeks and it continues next week opening Western Athletic Conference action at Utah State.

HALL OF FAME WEEKEND: The newest class of the Oregon State University Sports Hall of Fame will be inducted Friday in the Club Level of Reser Stadium and then introduced at halftime the following day. This year’s class includes two-time All-American wrestler Jim Baumgardner, former track and cross country coach Sam Bell, All-American softball player Erin Capps, All-American baseball player Larry Petersen, 1961 NCAA cross country champion Dale Story, and one of the best men’s basketball teams in the history of OSU -- the No. 1 ranked 1980-81 team. In addition, the 1965-66 men’s basketball team will be inducted into the State of Oregon Sports Hall of Fame this winter.

THE SERIES: The programs have met 42 times, with Oregon State leading 35-7. The two met regularly during the Pacific Coast Conference days, but Saturday’s game is only the fourth meeting since 1966. The last time the two played was the 1995 season opener (Sept. 2nd) with OSU edging the Vandals at then Parker Stadium 14-7. The Beavers have won 15 of the last 16 meetings, with the one loss coming in Moscow during the 1984 season 41-22 -- Idaho was then coached by Dennis Erickson. These two programs are scheduled to meet two more times during the current contract, Sept. 20th, 2008 at Martin Stadium (Pullman) or the Kibbie Dome and to open the season in 2009 (Sept. 5th) at Reser Stadium.

THE CONNECTIONS: There is that obvious one, former OSU coach Dennis Erickson leads the Vandals. A few more include assistant coach/offensive line coach Gregg Smith (OSU 1999-2002), offensive coordinator Dan Cozzetto (OSU 2000-02), running backs coach Jamie Christian (OSU GA, 2001-02), and quarterbacks coach Jonathan Smith (OSU GA 2002-03). Smith held most of the passing records at OSU at one time before Derek Anderson followed him. Smith passed for 9,680 yards and still has the longest pass play in school history when he connected with current Cincinnati Bengal Chad Johnson on a 97-yard pass against Stanford in 2000. Gregg Smith’s oldest daughter, Cori Hewitson, is the assistant director of the Beaver Athletic Student Fund. Idaho president Dr. Tim White was on the OSU administrative staff for nine years, including interim president. Vandal starting safety Tone Taupule originally signed a letter of intent to attend Oregon State in February of 2002 and redshirted that season -- he did not play a down for the Beavers.

WAC-ky SCHEDULE: The Beavers play three teams out the Western Athletic Conference this season, Idaho marks the second. OSU played at Boise State Sept. 7th and will play at Hawai’i Dec. 2.

NON-CONFERENCE HOME STREAK: Oregon State has won 21 consecutive non-conference home games. Head coach Mike Riley is 12-0 in non-conference home contests.

THESE GUYS HAVE DONE WELL: Possibly the most successful era in Oregon State football, at least in recent times, can be traced back to the appointments of Mike Riley and Dennis Erickson. The two coaches have combined to lead Oregon State to five of the 11 bowl games it has participated in. The two coaches are responsible for the only two winning conference seasons for Oregon State since 1969 -- Erickson in 2000 (7-1) and Riley in 2004 (5-3).

SUPER SAMMIE: Beaver junior receiver and punt returner Sammie Stroughter has started the season with an impressive run. Stroughter leads the team for receiving yards per game (51.0) and is the national leader for punt return yards per attempt at (31.4). He also is one of only six players in the nation with a punt return for a touchdown and is the only player with two this season. He would tie an NCAA Div. I record for consecutive games with a punt return for touchdown if achieves the feat against Idaho. David Allen (1998) of Kansas State is the only player in NCAA history with three consecutive games with touchdowns on punt returns.

YOU WERE MISSED: It’s been well documented that senior tight end Joe Newton was missed last season for a variety of reasons. Through two games this season Newton has three touchdown receptions. Last season the Beaver tight ends accounted for zero touchdowns.

NEW RULES SEEM TO BE WORKING: The NCAA changed the way the clock is managed in college football in 2006 with the intent of increasing the pace of the game. After two OSU contests in 2006 the average time is 3:09.30 compared to last year’s 3:16. The number of plays per game in 2006 has averaged 121 while in 2005 it was 144.

FIRST QUARTER ONSLAUGHT: Oregon State has outscored its first two opponents 35-7 in the first quarter. In fact, the Beavers have scored eight of their 10 touchdowns this season in the first half. Meanwhile, Idaho has been outscored 24-6 in the first stanza.

TRUE STUDENT-ATHLETES: Three Beaver football student-athletes (all starters) enter their last term of school this fall (Sept. 25th) as they will have met their academic requirements for graduation following Finals Week in December -- left tackle Adam Koets (international business and finance), left end Joe Lemma (speech comm.) and tight end Joe Newton (forest mgmt). The list continues at the conclusion of winter term -- on track are snapper Joel Cohen (economics), right tackle Josh Linehan (sociology), strong safety Sabby Piscitelli (speech comm.) and tight end Jason Vandiver (sociology). On track to be finished at the end of spring term are right guard Zach Harris (sociology), cornerback Rickey Herod (speech comm.), wide receiver Ruben Jackson (liberal studies), cornerback Kellen Marshall (economics), quarterback Matt Moore (speech comm.) and left tackle Ben Siegert (housing studies).

HAVE BALL, WILL PASS: Oregon State is one of only three programs over the last three years to finish in the top 10 in the nation for passing yards per game, joining Texas Tech and Hawai’i (‘06 opp.). Over those three seasons the Beavers averaged 312 yards per game through the air and completed 828 of 1,525 (.543) attempts. Oregon State and Hawai’i are also the only two programs over the three-year span with a receiver to finish in the top 10 nationally for yards per game.

NOT SINCE 1977: Oregon State entered the season returning all five starters on its offensive line for the first time since 1977. The line features Outland Trophy and Lombardi Award candidate sophomore left guard Jeremy Perry, and Rimington Award candidate junior center Kyle DeVan. The Beaver offensive line has combined for 101 starts.

6TH MAN: Sophomore Andy Levitre is truly the sixth man on the Beaver offensive line. Levitre is a backup at guard, tackle and has even practiced at times at center. He generally rotates into games early. Levitre’s older brother, Erick Levitre, is an offensive guard at Arizona.

THEY LIKE RAIN: Oregon has a reputation for its rain, probably undeservedly so, but that hasn’t stopped some sunshine staters from making their way to Corvallis and making an impact. OSU’s starters, in addition to Oregon, include individuals from California, Hawai’i, Florida, Arizona and Nevada. Cornerback Brandon Hughes, who may or may not start, throws a little confusion to it being from Illinois -- at least you don’t have to shovel rain.

THE BIG LEAGUES: Two Oregon State starters were drafted by Major League Baseball teams prior to starting their college football careers. Quarterback Matt Moore was drafted in the 22nd round by the Los Angeles Angels as a third baseman and running back Yvenson Bernard was a 30th round pick of the Minnesota Twins as a centerfielder.

LONG SEASON: For the first time ever the Oregon State University football program will play a 13-game regular season schedule. Within the schedule is 11 consecutive weeks with a game, marking the first time for a Beaver team since the 1989 club played 12 consecutive weeks (season ended at Hawai’i).

TOUGH HOME SLATE: The 2006 season features possibly the program’s best ever home schedule. The Beavers five conference home games feature opponents that combined for a 41-19 record in 2005.

NEW FACES: Several changes have occurred during the offseason within the Beaver coaching staff. Jay Locey, the highly successful head coach at Linfield, joined the program in June as assistant head coach working with the tight ends. Joe Seumalo joined the program prior to spring practice as the defensive line coach. Ten-year assistant Greg Newhouse moved from the defensive line to linebackers, a position he has coached in the past at OSU. Jim Gilstrap moved to the newly developed coordinator of support services position and successful in-state high school coach Gary Beck was appointed graduate assistant coach working with the running backs. Riley also added graduate assistant Brian Smith (administration) to the staff. Smith played for offensive line coach Mike Cavanaugh at the University of Hawai’i.

CORVALLIS REUNION: Beaver head coach Mike Riley and assistant coaches Jay Locey and Gary Beck played on the 1970 Corvallis High School state champion football team. Riley was the Spartans’ senior quarterback, Beck was the senior starting safety and backup quarterback, and Locey was a sophomore reserve linebacker and special teams contributor.

TEAM CAPTAINS: Seniors Matt Moore, Sabby Piscitelli, and Joe Newton, and junior Yvenson Bernard were selected team captains in June. The coaching staff also selects a game captain.

VOLUNTEER OF THE YEAR: Many Oregon State football student-athletes volunteer time to various charitable organizations, but safety Bryan Payton stands out. Payton has been nominated by the Boys and Girls Club of Corvallis for the Benton County (Corvallis) "Best Communities Celebration and Volunteer Recognition." The nomination recognizes those volunteers who have devoted time and effort in making Benton County one of the 100 Best Communities for children, youth, and families.

RILEY WITH THE LEAD: Oregon State is 25-5 when leading after three quarters under head coach Mike Riley, including 11-1 in the combined 2004, ‘05 and ‘06 seasons.

TOTAL RECLAMATION: It’s hard to imagine a college football coach entering a situation with a more daunting task than Mike Riley did in the winter of 1997. The Oregon State program had won three games over the previous two seasons and the former coaching staff ran the spread option offense. Riley not only had to change the entire offensive philosophy, but also the entire attitude of the program. Riley immediately moved the program to a competitive stage in his first two years and laid the foundation for five bowl appearances in the last seven years.

LATE ADDITION: Sophomore receiver Chris Johnson enrolled at OSU during the summer. His bio is not included in the media guide. Johnson played one season at Grossmont CC in California where he caught 40 passes for 625 yards and 10 touchdowns. He played four seasons of high school football at Dillard in Fort Lauderdale, Fla. He attended Norfolk State in Virginia as a true-freshman, but did not play.

BOCA RATON BOYS: Starting tailback Yvenson Bernard and strong safety Sabby Piscitelli are both from Boca Raton High School in Boca Raton, Fla. That’s 2,696 miles from Corvallis. So how did both end up at OSU? OSU Associate Athletic Director Bob Clifford learned through his son of Piscitelli not having a scholarship offer. Clifford’s son played with Piscitelli and Bernard at Boca Raton and that is where the relationship developed. Clifford, a native of Florida, was cooking hot dogs for the school’s booster club at home games while working at Florida Atlantic University.

FRESHMEN ACTION: True-freshmen to have played to this point in the season include Keaton Kristick, Kyle Loomis, Micah Strickland, Howard Croom, and John Reese.