Around Oregon Sports: Bad News For Beavers, Calling All-Americans, And Should McMillan Really Worry?
| 24 August 2010
No news is good news, generally speaking, when it comes to college football in August.
Unfortunately for the Oregon State Beavers, offensive lineman Tyler Thomas made news this weekend. Again. This time, the redshirt freshman was Tasered and arrested early Sunday on charges of first-degree criminal trespass, second-degree criminal mischief, and resisting arrest after a 32-year-old woman reported there was a naked man in her residence. This is Thomas' second alcohol-related incident as a Beaver. OSU coach Mike Riley has cut Thomas from the team; it remains to be seen whether or not Thomas' younger brother, Connor, will continue with his commitment to play for the Beavers next year.
Beavers backup running back Jovan Stevenson had surgery Monday on his shoulder, and he'll take a medical redshirt for the upcoming season. The good news is that Stevenson will still have three years of eligibility after sitting out the season.
Still, Beavers and Ducks fans have their eyes on a handful of All-American hopefuls this season. Rivals.com named OSU defensive tackle Stephen Paea a first-team preseason All-American. LaMichael James and James Rodgers appear on the second team roster, and Jacquizz Rodgers joins Ducks linebacker Casey Matthews on the Rivals third team roster.
Speaking of career years, Dave at BlazersEdge wonders whether or not Nate McMillan's job might be in jeopardy in the near future if he doesn't have his own career year on the sidelines. Meanwhile, McMillan has been serving as assistant coach to the USA Men's Basketball squad, which has been trimmed to a final roster heading into the FIBA Wold Championship.
You won't find any Blazers on that roster -- both LaMarcus Aldridge and Brandon Roy declined invitations to try out for the US National Team. For now. However, Nic Batum is a key member of the French team, Patty Mills is point man for Australia, and Rudy Fernandez (yes, still a Blazer) and unsigned 2009 first-round pick Victor Claver are playing for Spain. SJ over at Rip City Project wonders who will benefit more from the World Championships: Nic or Rudy. While Batum certainly has the court time and freedom to focus on continuing his development, Rudy is in a position where he needs to prove he's a valuable player, whether he stays with the Blazers, moves to another NBA team, or gets his wish to return to Europe. You can get your summer basketball fix beginning this Saturday. Speaking of LaMarcus Aldridge, Wendell Maxey goes behind the NBA face mask with LA and Oklahoma City big man Nick Collison - and it's not always a pretty view.
College basketball chatter is beginning to pick up now, too, and Oregon's Joevan Catron and Oregon State's Roberto Nelson are two guys to keep an eye on this season. ESPN's Doug Gottlieb doesn't give either the Ducks or the Beavers much of a shot in the Pac-10 this season. No doubt players and coaches for both teams will cherish that underdog role while it lasts.
Finally, in McMinnville, players, coaches, families, and school officials are trying to move on from a frightening situation involving multiple high school football players receiving treatment for a soft-tissue disorder in their arms. But should we all simply be moving on from this? Surely the team needs to go on preparing for the season. But several players required surgery, and the condition, rhabdomyolysis, can cause kidney damage or failure. Did their protein shakes contain a substance that might be to blame for the medical scare? Did coaches push the players too hard in high temperatures, indoors, without water for too long? These are possibilities, and they need to be fully considered and investigated, whether that leads to banning more substances, drafting and revising strict workout regulations, or clearing the names of coaches.
photo: kraftbowl.com
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