Nick Daschel is a veteran sports writer and columnist who has worked on the West coast for nearly three decades. Nick has covered the Pac-10 for about 15 years, primarily focusing on the Northwest schools.
Here’s how we see things unfolding for the Beavers in 2009:
Click here to listen to Buster Sports expert and former UCLA coach Terry Donahue’s take on Oregon State’s upcoming season.
Buster predicted record/finish: 8-4, 5-4
Best case scenario: For the first time in years, Oregon State gets off to a good start, sweeping its September schedule that includes two bowl teams of 2008. The offense is clicking as you might expect with a senior quarterback, two of the league’s best skill players and some talent at receiver. The defense is the Pac-10’s surprise; OSU has eight new starters, but plays as if all are returning. But all good things must come to an end, as they always do in Tempe; OSU loses its 17th consecutive game at Arizona State. The Beavers also can’t do much about revenge-minded USC, or soon-to-be Pac-10 champ California. But, speaking of revenge, the Beavers use their bye week to figure out Oregon’s spread offense, and wipe out the 2008 embarrassment with a Thursday night romp in Autzen Stadium. The Beavers earn their first-ever Holiday Bowl appearance.
Worst case scenario: No matter how the schedule is drawn up, Oregon State cannot cope in September. Cincinnati comes to Corvallis and beats the Beavers on Sept. 19. Two weeks later, OSU is powerless to stop its struggles at Arizona State. OSU manages to win the rest of its road games, and of course, the free square, a game at Washington State. But the defense, as some feared, is disappointing because of youth. The offensive line, which showed signs of weakness in preseason camp, isn’t up to its normal powerhouse standards. It’s a 7-5 season for OSU, not bad, but during this era of raised expectations, not exactly what Beavers fans were hoping for.
Game not to miss: Oregon State at USC, Oct. 24. The Beavers kept USC from an appointment in last year’s BCS Championship game. So if the Trojans say, nah, no revenge, they’re lying. And before you think the Beavers are in trouble, well, consider they have played USC better than any team the past five years. And, OSU gets a bye week to get ready for the game.
Player not to miss: Jacquizz Rodgers might be the league’s reigning Offensive Player of the Year, but it’s his brother James who can really light up a football field. Fly sweep, short pass and run, kick returns … James Rodgers is good for at least a couple of dynamite plays per game.
What the fans are saying: oneHeisman at OregonLive.com: “Moevao is a modern day Joe kapp. Players play better around him and they win games because of him not just based only on his own stats. the quarterback position is the only position that can win games for you with an "ok" performance. It's about being a leader and being fearless and having fun.”
Coach on the hot seat? Not now, and probably not ever for Mike Riley.
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