Sixty-five years ago, a conference rang a death knell, too
A friend recently sent me a program from a Washington-Oregon State game at Portland Multnomah Stadium on Oct. 25, 1958.
Nix clicks, and the Beavers have more questions than answers
EUGENE — There was little doubting Oregon’s superiority Friday night at Autzen Stadium.
With DJ and Big Dave, on Civil War Friday and the future
DJ Uiagalelei sounds as if he is prepared to play his first Civil War game.
On the surging Blazers, Duck and Beaver football and ex-Winterhawks heading for Seattle
Items of interest swirling around the dusty brain of a sportswriter …
On the Godfather’s return, Glickman’s final rest, Beaver baseball, Beaver and Duck football
Knocking it around on a few sports items on my mind …
Pro No. 12: For Mike Walter, 10 years with 49ers reaped 3 Super Bowl rings
It’s been almost 30 years, Mike Walter, since you laced up your cleats and played a game in the NFL. Does it feel like a long time ago?
An interview with broadcaster Mike Allegre
I did a recent interview with veteran Salem radio broadcaster Mike Allegre — the voice of the Willamette Bearcats — for the Sports Ticket and KYKN (1430 AM). We talked about my background, about the genesis of newspaper sportswriting, writing “Jerome Kersey: Overcoming the Odds,” the great Bill Schonely and other subjects.
With Mike Hass, Mike Riley and Dennis Erickson on Hass’ selection for the College Football Hall of Fame
Mike Hass never really made it in the NFL, but the former Oregon State great is getting a very nice consolation prize.
Hass was one of 18 players, along with three coaches, named Tuesday as part of the 2022 induction class into the College Football Hall of Fame.
How does ‘The Jackhammer’ do it? ‘I have no idea’ says the Beavers’ Colletto
There is no spot for Jack Colletto on Oregon State’s football Mount Rushmore. They likely won’t put his likeness in bronze on campus. He won’t make any All-America teams or cause NFL scouts to swoon.
But it’s safe to say that in 125 years of football in Corvallis — from the Farmers to the Hayseeds to the Aggies to the Orangemen to the Beavers — there has never been a player quite like “The Jackhammer.”
On Oregon State’s historic takedown of Troy, along with a look at that win back in 1960, and a nod to the late Steve Hall
Pontificating on one of the biggest Oregon State football victories this century …
• Every 61 years, the Beavers beat Southern Cal on its home turf.
The way they did it Saturday night in a 45-27 dismantling of the Trojans in LA Memorial Coliseum was impressive.
This isn’t a great USC team, and it seems in some disarray following the Sept. 13 dismissal of Clay Helton as head coach.
That doesn’t lessen the impact that the victory has on Oregon State’s program in the fourth year under Coach Jonathan Smith.
On the Pre Classic, Rich Brooks’ 80th birthday party, Adley (and Ad) Rutschman, Damian Lillard, Kevin Calabro and the Trail Blazers …
Sporting items on my mind as we swing into a new week …
I’ll put the Prefontaine Classic up against any 2 1/2-hour sports event in the state of Oregon — and yes, I’m including a basketball game involving the Trail Blazers.
The 47th annual invitational — with a crowd of 8,937 looking on at the newly refurbished track and field shrine called Hayward Field — featured nine meet records and seven world-leading marks in the first international meet since the end of the Tokyo Olympic Games two weeks ago.
‘The Whale’ spouts off on the great running backs in Oregon State history
By Jim Wilson
(Editor’s note: Oregon State’s spring practice began on April 6. To get Beaver Nation in football mode, radio analyst extraordinaire Jim “The Whale” Wilson offers his appraisal of the top five running backs in Beaver history.)
Jermar Jefferson officially ended his Oregon State career when he declared for the NFL draft in December 2020. That didn’t come as a surprise to most Beaver fans, but it does leave a huge vacancy in the Beaver backfield as Jefferson was one of the best to ever tote the football for the Orange and Black.
In three years — make that one full year and two partial seasons — Jefferson leapfrogged into the conversation as one of the top five running backs in Beaver history. He is fifth in career rushing yards behind a decorated group that includes Ken Simonton, Steven Jackson, Jacquizz Rodgers and Yvenson Bernard.
Thoughts on Tyler Shough, Ryan Crouser, Paul Castro, the Hops and Volcanoes, NBA-All-Star Weekend and the real G.O.A.T
A wintry weekend? Snow way!
Thoughts on some sporting subjects:
• Item: Oregon quarterback Tyler Shough enters the NCAA transfer portal.
With Scott Barnes and Bob de Carolis, talking everything Reser Stadium
On Tuesday, five days after the seismic announcement that Oregon State will “complete” Reser Stadium, I spoke for a half-hour with Scott Barnes via telephone.
The Beavers’ athletic director seemed flush with emotion over reaction to plans for a $153-million project that will upgrade the west side of Reser and augment the $80-million renovation to the east side that was completed in 2005.
‘The Hooker’ wasn’t well-known, but those around him were (Fifth in a series of reviews of sports books)
“Jim Hock: Father on the Line”
By Jim Hock
Rare Bird Books
On Beaver and Duck football, reffing in the NBA this season, Keanon Lowe’s movie, Terry Baker and the Heisman and death of a champion …
Knocking it around on a variety of subjects on a drizzly Sunday in the Willamette Valley …
• I can’t imagine Jonathan Smith got much sleep Saturday night.
Oregon State’s 27-24 loss to Stanford couldn’t have been much more painful for the third-year Beaver coach.
Losses like that are daggers to the heart a coach trying to build a program.
A fruitcake? A Christmas sweater? How about this for your holiday list …
Need a special Christmas gift? We offer this: A copy of “Civil War Rivalry: Oregon vs. Oregon State,” the book detailing more than 120 years of the intrastate football rivalry.
A game for the ages in the fog at Reser
Here is what’s on my mind after Friday’s epic 41-38 Oregon State victory over Oregon in the foggy, eerie solitude of Reser Stadium …
• The Beavers’ come-from-behind win over the ninth-ranked Ducks becomes an instant classic in this, the strangest of all football seasons in the most unsettling year of our lifetime.
Beavers flop, Ducks hop In their season openers
A few observations on the Beavers and Ducks after debut Saturday of Pac-12 football …
From Lincoln Logs to football stadiums: Jim Wilson’s thoughts on each of the Pac-12 venues …
It is a strange feeling to watch a football game without fans in the stands. It is even stranger to watch college football on Saturdays knowing that Pac-12 football stadiums are sitting idle.
Through these unprecedented times, I’ve learned how much I appreciate all the pageantry and build-up around the stadiums and the energy that college football fans bring to the overall atmosphere.
And I miss the stadiums themselves.