Once a Center; Always a Center
New Beaver head coach Gary Andersen has stated that he is the CEO of the program and that he allows his coaches to coach. From all indications that is almost all true, but not entirely.
Coach Andersen reverted back to his playing roots as a standout All-America center at Ricks College in Idaho and at Utah during the mid-1980s when during the middle of practice he snapped to the seven Beaver quarterbacks currently at the position. He later worked individually with center Josh Mitchell and quarterback Seth Collins after the practice had concluded and while awaiting his turn to address the media.
Today was full of firsts overall. Tuesday’s practice marked the first day since April 3, 2003 a new head coach directed the Beavers in a practice. It also marked the earliest practice ever for Beaver football with a crisp 7 a.m. start.
A few players also saw their first practice as a Beaver. In addition to Collins, who enrolled early after graduating from Granite Hills High School in California, true freshmen Anthony Bottaro (RB, Beaverton), Xavier Crawford (CB, Concord, CA), Ricky Liuchan (LB, Escondido, CA) and Zach Standish (PK, Gresham) wore the Orange and Black for the initial time as well as transfers Rayshun Spearman (RB, Killeen, TX) and Shane Wallen (RB, Chico, CA). The Beavers also practiced in a new-look helmet with the Beavers script affixed – a look that won’t be used in games.
For those of you who walked by practice or were just in the general area you no doubt heard the debut of “The Creature.” The creature is slang for a practice management system that is designed to enhance practice through choreographed music, sound, communications and clock control per the company’s website. Coach Andersen has been quoted about his assembling of a coaching staff about being “an 80s band getting back together.” It sounded like he might have also picked the music as there were some classics rockin’ Prothro Field. The key word of the day though was “tempo, tempo and more tempo.”
It’s back on the field Thursday morning bright and early for the second practice. Remember, Saturday’s 11:30 a.m. practice at Reser Stadium is open to the public and we hope as many of Beaver Nation can be there as possible – you’ll like what you will see.
OSU football is also inviting any 3rd-8th grade boys and girls to the annual Boys and Girls Club of Corvallis Youth Football Mini-Camp Sat., March 14 from 3-5 p.m. at the Merritt-Truax Indoor Facility on the OSU campus. To register or for more information please go to bgccorvallis.org/Athletics.
The response has been strong to the Coach Andersen hire as season ticket sales are pacing at nearly a 50 percent rate above last year with the excitement continuing to build for the new era of Beaver football. The season officially kicks off Friday, Sept. 4 at Reser Stadium vs. Weber State in a nationally televised game. To get in on the action go to beavertickets.com or call 800-Go-BEAVS during business hours.
Players Make Plays; Players Win Games.
