From Kevin Hampton of the Gazette Times.  No new information in the article.  Just states that the Beavers need to fill some holes and one of the biggest is at defensive end (agreed).

The team should do well in the first half of the season, but it could get dicey late in the year with road games at USC,  at California and at Oregon.

From Sports Illustrated:

“The Beavers have some issues heading into spring practice. Quarterback Lyle Moevao will miss the spring after undergoing arm surgery this week that could require anywhere from six weeks to four months rehabilitation. That means senior Sean Canfield, who missed last year’s spring practice following surgery on his throwing shoulder, will take all the first-team snaps, which could spark a quarterback competition come August.

Meanwhile, the Beavers must find replacements for three offensive line starters and all four secondary spots. The good news? The Rodgers brothers (James and Jacquizz) seem to have recovered from their respective injuries. Receiver James (collarbone) may play some this spring, while tailback Quizz (shoulder) will be limited. Meanwhile, Oregon State coach Mike Riley tipped off The Oregonian that he may install a Wildcat formation. The Wild Quizz? Sounds exciting.”

The article also also asks, Who will start at quarterback for USC?, Is the football monopoly in Los Angeles over yet?, Can Washington’s two Pac-10 schools combine for more than two wins in 2009? and Which program is poised to make a leap in 2009?

The veteran of eight seasons from Oregon State experienced a lot of hamstring problems early in his career but has been quite healthy since. From 2001 to 2003, Houshmandzadeh missed 18 games due to injury.

A healthy Housh returned in 2004 to become a recognizable but tough to pronounce name in the fantasy community. He burst onto the scene as a contributor off the waiver wire by catching 73 passes for 978 yards and four touchdowns in 16 games. Proving it wasn’t a fluke, Houshmandzadeh followed up his breakout season with an improved 2005 showing. He nabbed 78 receptions for 956 yards and increased his touchdown output to seven scores … http://www.kffl.com/article.php/100344/74

Wimberly was a late addition to the 2007 recruiting class.  There were not enough scholarships for him so the staff asked him to grayshirt.  Unfortunately for the Beavers the University of Nevada swooped in and signed him in 2008.

He redshirted last year and was named the Wolfpack’s offensive scout team player of the year.

The NFL free agent market opens Feb. 27 and that’s good news for former Beaver receiver T.J. Houshmandzadeh who is one of the top free agents in the NFL.

“When Kelvin Hayden signs for five years, $43 million, with $23 million in guaranteed money,” Houshmandzadeh said, referring to the new deal for a low-profiled Indianapolis Colts cornerback with zero Pro Bowl appearances, “I mean … if he’s getting that, it’s got to be good for me. But you never know.”

Andy Levitre turned in the ninth best vertical jump at 30.5 inches and the fifth best 20-yard shuttle time among offensive linemen.

For updates on Oregon State player performances visist NFL.com.

(Found this in my draft folder.  I wrote it last year)

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Yankee Stadium is being closed at the end of this year (2008).  Stories abound from young and old alike in realation to the stadium. 

Heck, I even have one (I attended a three game series between the Red Sox and Yankees where a friend and I sat in the bleachers…wearing Red Sox gear in a sea of blue and gray fanatics.  We got a picture back and lo and behold it’s my friend and I, with Yankee Stadium in the background and a big middle finger from a Yankee fan.  Now that’s good stuff), but I bet you didn’t know that Oregon State has a Yankee Stadium connection.

After head coach Tommy Prothro helped guide his team to a 6-3-1 record that included a schedule with four nationally ranked teams Oregon State College was invited to play in the inaugural Gotham Bowl to be held in Yankee Stadium.

The team wasn’t expecting to receive a bowl bid as just one assistant coach and a student helper was on campus when the invitation was extended.  The rest of the coach staff were gone on recruiting trips.

The two accepted the bid with the game to be played on Dec. 10.  When Gotham Bowl director Robert M. Ready was asked by OSC Athletic Director “Spec” Keene who the opponent would probably be, Ready replied that they were going to invite Holy Cross.

For unknown reasons Ready renigged on their deal with Holy Cross and invited the Colorado Buffaloes, who politley declined saying they had too many injuries and their 6-4 record didn’t deserve a bowl bid.  Kind of ironic considering the state of today’s bowl game qualifications.

With Colorado not accepting the invitation Ready quickly re-invited Holy Cross, who rejected the offer feeling slighted.

Due to the scheduling nightmare Keene pulled the Beavers out of the game stating in his telegram:  “We were honored to receive the invitation…but information received since that time indicates preparations are incomplete…and perhaps plans for the year are premature. For this reason, Oregon State regretfully withdraws from the Gotham Bowl. REF: http://alumni.oregonstate.edu/eclips/newsletter/index_20051123.html“

As a result, the inaugural Gotham Bowl was called off.

The Gotham Bowl was played twice though with Utah State defeating Baylor in 1961 and Nebraska beating Miami in 1962 for its first bowl win.  If your interested in reading more about the Gotham Bowl, the New York Times has a nice piece on it.

V.J. Fehoko, a 5-foot-1, 216-pound linebacker from Farrington High in Hawaii, told The Sporting News that he has around 15 scholarhip offers, including one from Oregon State.

Fehoko is one of the top prospects in Hawaii for the 2010 class and is a one star recruit by Scout.com, which means he has not been evaluated yet, and #6 on Scout’s Northwest Hot 50.

You gotta the following quote: “If I see you on the field, and you have opposite colors, I’m real nasty,” Fehokotold The Sporting News. “I have no remorse. I want to dominate you. I play really smart football, and never take off plays. I’m pretty quick and strong. Those are my strengths on the field.”

Recently signed Oregon State recruit Rashaad Reynolds is on the verage of winning his fourth consectuive Los Angeles City Section championship.

He won titles at 125, 145 and 152.  This year he is wrestling at 171 pounds.  The city finals are set for Saturday, Feb. 28.

Tigers’ football coach Tom Hernandez described Rashaad as “the kind of kid who matured pretty quick.  He grew into the quarterback job.   He was All-City caliber at the end of his sophomore year and he improved every year after that.  And he was tough; he was not the kind of quarterback who avoids contact.”

The Fighting Irish became the lastest team to offer Yvenson Bernard’s younger brother, Gio, a scholarship.

Gio is now up to eight offers, including one from Oregon State.

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In other news,  WR Tehvyn Brantley of Mt. Zion Academy in Durham, NC is hearing from Oregon State, along with Cal, Michigan State, Clemson and USC according to GameCocks.com.

Brantley was awarded an extra year of eligibility after transferring from Victory Christian to Mt. Zion in the middle of the season because he wasn’t getting the ball enough.