| 25 August 2010
There is some bad news out of Oregon State, as documented by Beyond the Beat’s own Travis Margoni, but there are plenty of positives the Beavers can hang their hat on.
But first, Oregon’s quarterback battle: either Darron Thomas or Nate Costa will be selected on Saturday by head coach Chip Kelly. In Monday’s afternoon practice the two played very similarly, possessing strong, accurate arms to compliment their natural mobility. Costa did look a bit more comfortable, and threw perhaps the best pass of the two-hour practice, but Thomas did nothing to hurt his case. Safe to say, Kelly’s decision is not an enviable one.Contrasting Kelly’s last minute decision, Oregon State named sophomore Ryan Katz their quarterback long ago, and he has impressed head coach Mike Riley, applauding his poise and play-making ability after their most recent scrimmage. Katz has the right mindset for the job, downplaying performances and professing there is always room for improvement, and he has the skills to flourish at the helm, but can he lead the Beavers past Texas Christian University and Boise State—ranked third and sixth in the country by the AP?
Running back Jacquizz Rodgers will have a say against those two powerhouses, as will Jordan Jenkins, a fellow running back who is moving rapidly up the depth chart. The sophomore, who walked on as a freshman, earned a scholarship and, judging by Riley’s praise, may have a significant role on the Beavers. “Jordan Jenkins is a very, very versatile guy running the ball, catching the ball and on special teams," Riley said. "He has fought his way, many different ways, to find a niche on the team."
If all goes as planned he will make the Beavers backfield even more dangerous as the latest walk-on success story under Riley.
In non-football news, the Oregon soccer community will honor Jimmy Conway, who was a midfielder for the Portland Timbers from 1977-1980, with events beginning this Wednesday and concluding in mid-September.
Conway, now 64, spent 28 years with the Oregon Youth Soccer Association and was a head coach and, most recently, an assistant for the Timbers. He was a member of the Irish National Team, played for Fulham from 1966-1976, and, in 1988, became the first head soccer coach in Oregon State’s history.
Portland Trail Blazers guard Wesley Matthews is giving back to Madison, Wisconsin. The James Madison High School and Marquette alum held a free basketball camp for kids at his old high school this past weekend and wants to make it an annual event. He also attempted to live up to a promise made to his former English teacher, Kara Glauser, at the James Madison High offering her the $10,000 he vowed to give her when he earned the big bucks. She declined, but what a gesture. And what a high-character young man—the latest of many brought in by Portland.
The Portland Winterhawks have a new home. The hockey team is moving into the 45-year old Valley Ice Arena, which will be renovated and named Winterhawks Skating Center.
In other Winterhawks news, 16-year old defenseman Josh Hanson is one of 85 hopefuls to make the team, though he is seemingly a lock to do so. The Alaska native is well beyond his years skill-wise and his intelligence is off the charts, having attracted attention from Princeton and Yale by graduating from high school two years early as a National Honor Society member. Considering his smarts, maturity, and raw talent, the Winterhawks coaching staff has no doubt he will make an impact this year.
The Portland State Vikings Men’s basketball team will play three exhibition preseason games from September 9-15th in Nassau, Bahamas. The ten days of practice before the trip and the games themselves will give head coach Tyler Geving a solid look at his freshman and transfer students. Geving said it is a “good opportunity to evaluate the team's strengths and weaknesses” and believes it will give the players a great chance to bond before the season begins.
photo: ap
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