Beavers Weekly Football Notebook

Up next for the Beavers (1-0) are the Boise State Broncos (0-1) Thursday in Boise, ID. Kickoff is set for 4:30 PM PDT, and can be seen on ESPN.

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CORVALLIS - THEME: The final game in what has been an entertaining four-game non-conference series takes place at Bronco Stadium Thurs., Sept. 7th. Every game of the four-game set has been nationally televised.

The Beavers enter the game looking to snap a four-game non-conference regular season road losing streak that dates back to a 35-3 victory at Temple Sept. 5th, 2002. One of those four losses was at Boise State, 53-34, Sept. 10th, 2004. Boise State has won 46 of its last 48 games at home.

THE SERIES: Oregon State has a 4-1 advantage in the series, but has struggled in Boise. BSU scored a 53-34 victory during the 2004 season while the Beavers posted a hard fought 37-30 win over then I-AA BSU during the 1989 season.

WILD GAMES: If you like offense, the last three games have not disappointed. In those three games, OSU has averaged 464 yards in total offense and 30 points; BSU has averaged 418 yards and 35 points.

BEAVER RECEIVERS THRIVE: Oregon State has had a receiver post some impressive numbers in the three most recent meetings with Boise State. In 2003, James Newson accounted for 208 yards on nine receptions, then the third- highest mark in school history for yards. In 2004, Mike Hass (like pass) set a Pac-10 record (still exists) with 293 yards and three touchdowns. Last season Hass had 178 yards on 11 receptions and one touchdown.

TRUE STUDENT-ATHLETES: Three Beaver football student-athletes (all starters) enter their last term of school this fall (Sept. 25) 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 Hawaii (‘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 Hawaii 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.

GRINDING IT OUT: Over the last nine games, Oregon State has averaged 150.6 yards per game on the ground. Not surprisingly, tailback Yvenson Bernard has rushed for 1,231 yards during that span.

NOT GRINDING IT OUT: Beaver opponents have found the yards tough to come by on the ground of late. Over the last five games opponents have averaged 52.4 yards. The breakdown -- Arizona (49 yards), Washington (19), Stanford (68), Oregon (140), and Eastern Washington (-14).

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 96 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, Hawaii, 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.

FAMOUS TRAINER: OSU assistant football trainer David Stricklin will be on the sidelines at Boise State. Stricklin was often interviewed on the field and in the clubhouse by Thursday’s sideline reporter Erin Andrews (ESPN) during the baseball team’s 2006 national title run in Omaha.

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 Hawaii).

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 has moved to the newly developed coordinator of support services position and successful in-state high school coach Gary Beck has been 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 Hawaii.

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.

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 REUNION: “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 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.

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