The Dual Edge of Success

by rvm on Oct 4, 2008 12:09 PM PDT Comment 7 comments

Olzeke’s post “Don't Blame Lame Refs. Things are looking up” got me thinking again about something that I’ve thought a lot about over the years. That is the expectations we now have for OSU football to be a successful program.

I think this is a big reason the Utah loss really hurt. We see those signs of greatness but the team is not able to completely break through (yet). I also think it really is highlighted with a team like the Beavers who for years we had no expectations besides beating some Portland or Idaho school and losing the rest. I sat through many of those games and then 1998 happened and the signs of a new team became evident (Civil War victory memories anyone?). Then of course came 2000, and watching that season was a bit surreal for me. It was probably the greatest year of our program, but you know what my favorite year was? It actually was 2006 and wow were fans on the team and Riley early on that year. And I’m sorry to say olzeke that I think we did have some booing going on then.

I went to the Idaho game that year and we won pretty easily and showed brief signs of excellence, but I was saying oh boy is California going to cream us next week, and they did. Then we lost to WSU and it looked all gone to hell. But then Moore was pulled in the UW game and he came back in to win the game, and the season went into the history books as one of OSU’s best (and again my personal favorite).

But, I have digressed into memory lane a bit here. My point is that many fans and I are now in a wonderful but challenging position with the OSU football program. Success has spoiled us for better and for worse, and you know I wouldn’t trade it for anything and especially wouldn’t trade it for having no expectations!

The Utah game was tough, but strangely enough it was rewarding in that I could seriously expect a Beavers football team to win against a ranked team at their stadium.

Thank you olzeke for reminding me again of all of this!

This is a FanPost and does not necessarily reflect the views of SB Nation or the Building the Dam staff. FanPost opinions are valued expressions of opinion by passionate and knowledgeable Oregon State fans.

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Riley could have jumped ship

After that year. ASU, UCLA, and Alabama among others came calling that year. Riley, I commend you for your loyalty to us, even when we may not have been so loyal to you.

But I do remember we really didn’t boo in 2005 when we finished 5-6. It was after going 5-6 (and dropping home games to Stanford and Arizona) and then starting off with blowout loses to Boise State, Cal at home, and then losing to WSU at home that people started booing.

Was it necessary? No, not really. But was it justified? I think just a little bit.

The Artist Formerly Known as OrState GoBeavs

by The VD Special on Oct 4, 2008 12:32 PM PDT reply actions 0 recs

That is one reason it was so rewarding that year - 2006

Is that it started out so rough. I mean don’t get me wrong I remember opening questioning having Moore as the starter early that season, and what he ended up doing that year was truly amazing especially those UO, Hawai’i, and Sun Bowl wins. I remember in that Oregon game afterwards him saying something to the effect, “oh, I just figured I needed to the do the Elway and drive us down the field to win it.” Very fun having him grow so much that year.

-RVM

by rvm on Oct 4, 2008 12:48 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

yeah, it is pretty awesome

how far the wins, football stadium, and overall program has come in about 10 years. makes me look forward to the next 10 when we will really break through

Woof

by Charles Barkley McLovin on Oct 4, 2008 1:32 PM PDT reply actions 0 recs

couldnt agree more

this was a very well written blog and it definitely makes you think. i mean it is nice to be upset after losing a game on the road to an undefeated #15 team in the country instead of just being glad you didnt get blown out. this beaver program continues to be on the up and up and i honestly dont believe a rose bowl or holiday bowl is out of the question this year (and either would be huge for the program). i definitely think in the next 5-10 years we will be talking about a team who is consistently winning double digit games, bowl games, and competing for pac 10 championships.

out of curiosity, does anyone else have the feeling that not only is the beaver football program but the entire athletic program about to take off nationally? our baseball team has already won 2 national championships in the last 3 years. our volleyball team is very good this year. the gymnastics program is good as is both our soccer teams. and i dont know about you guys but im already starting to drink the kool-aid on craig robinson and this rally the legend campaign…. thoughts?

by beavsfan10 on Oct 4, 2008 8:58 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

The athletic program is in fact on the up

And just the simple fact that Craig has gotten a few good recruits in the short time he’s been here has me excited. However, if he turns this thing around in the next 3-4 years, there are going to be A LOT of big schools and big money coming calling as he turned around one of the saddest programs (currently) in the country. Money is the only thing going to stop the athletics program from blowing up. We are going to always have to do more with less, it’s as simple as that.

The Artist Formerly Known as OrState GoBeavs

by The VD Special on Oct 5, 2008 6:54 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

Yes the entire program

You bring up a good point and not only football but the entire athletic program is indeed on the up. Lots of national exposure and that will serve us well for the upcoming years. Beaver baseball a very early Pac-10 title favorite next season.

But I do agree with VD Special that money and “prestige” will always be an issue and doing “more with less” is a great way of looking at it. Again, as many have pointed out that is what Riley does with recruiting. Maybe I’m just bias but Riley seems to get the most out his recruiting buck than anyone around the country. Okay, I will give some good will towards Boise State for they have done a great job too, and will be interesting to see how well they keep that going. I’m sure there are others out there and if you feel I’ve slighted your program feel free to list them!

Remember that Riley also always comes up on the short list of the most underpaid coaches in the nation.

Basketball = yep, that will be very very interesting. Personally, I’m quietly optimistic right now, waiting to see.

-RVM

by rvm on Oct 6, 2008 10:02 AM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

Spot on. Good post. It is very true how expectations for this program have changed rather quickly, of which I am part of. You make a great a point that I had never really analyzed.

Yes, I was there on in the 80’s and early ’90’s, sitting in the rain, watching the Beavers lose again. I was always a Beaver Believer, thinking a miracle could happen with Pettibone. That miracle never came. When 1998 rolled around, miracles started to happen, and Erickson eventually took us to a win at the Fiesta Bowl. We’ve expected that to happen ever since.

I am corrected, Moore did get a few boo’s a couple of years ago.

Jeremy

by olzeke on Oct 6, 2008 5:05 PM PDT reply actions 0 recs