| 15 September 2010
Coming off a tough loss to sixth-ranked Texas Christian University, the Oregon State Beavers are preparing for their upcoming game against 1-1 Louisville as if it is their Super Bowl. Head coach Mike Riley said labeled it as such, and players followed suit, especially cornerback James Dockery, who added, “We’re 0-1. We can’t look past anybody. This is the biggest game of the year. This is the biggest game of my career.”
The last time the two teams met was in 2005, when the Cardinals blasted the Beavers 63-27. How will Oregon State fair this time around?
While Riley and the Beavers aspire to defeat Louisville, Portland State Vikings first-year head coach Nigel Burton believes a conference championship is in the near future for his football program. Referring to newly remodeled football office at the University, Burton said, “hat’s where the Big Sky Conference championship trophy goes. Nothing else. Nothing goes there until we get one.”
The Vikings play the Oregon Ducks Saturday, and are certainly not being looked past by their 5th ranked opponent. Burton is certainly confident in his team, a team that has never finished higher than second in the conference they joined in 1996, but will the high expectations come to fruition?
When asked about their chances against an Oregon team that has scored 120 points in its first two games, he shrugged and said, “It’s just an opportunity to play more football. Stranger things have happened this year.” Could Portland State be the James Madison to Virginia Tech’s Oregon? Saturday awaits for the answer.
The eligibility of “former members” of the Ducks men’s basketball team during the last two seasons is under investigation, according to Bob Clark of the Register Guard. The University confirmed the report Tuesday night, and one of these former members happens to be Michael Dunigan, whose eligibility has allegedly been compromised by extra benefits he received. Oregon is not only in a world of hurt on the court, but now off it as well.
Sticking with the Ducks and Dunigan, head men’s basketball coach Dana Altman didn’t seem to care about his departure, saying his leaving to play professionally in Israel “doesn’t affect us at all” and adding “we’ll go with the players that we have.’’ Contrary to his belief, Dunigan’s decision does affect the program, as they lose one of their few big men, but they still have time to add one or more scholarship players for the upcoming season.
Altman believes that is a possibility. “We’ll have some walk-ons, so we’ll be able to put 10 [players] out there,’’ he said. Can the 10 put together a successful season? Many questions loom over Altman, but this may be the biggest given the roster’s depletion.
While optimists hoped center Joel Przybilla would be healthy for the season opener, Portland Trail Blazers General Manager Rich Cho puts a November to December time-frame for the return of the immensely valuable and longest tenured Blazer.
photo: google images
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