Oregon St. will unveil their new "All Orange" look Friday night against USC, orange pants and jersey, and also orange helmets, which they showed off in advance for the media.
Head coach Mike Riley also had some injury updates after walk-through, and there's good and bad news for Beaver fans in it.
Riley ruled out LB D.J. Alexander and DT John Braun, who have worked in practice, but only on a limited basis late in this short week of preparation. Riley had earlier mentioned that even limited, part-time action by the two would be a help, but it sounds unlikely that that will happen.
Alexander suffered a stinger late in the Stanford game, and it's affects haven't completely cleared up. Braun has a shoulder injury. With LB Michael Doctor still not back after his early season foot surgery, the front 7 will be a little thin against USC.
Riley did have some somewhat encouraging news about TE Connor Hamlett, who he believes will be able to play, after missing 2 1/2 games with a knee injury. Hamlett had rested the knee through most of the Beavers' last bye, but it bothered him enough to have to come out of the Washington St. game in the first half.
Hamlett had the knee scoped and some debris cleaned up, and missed both the California and Stanford games, but has moved well in practices the coaches limited as a precaution more than any residual effects did this week.
Oregon St. can use Hamlett's contributions, as TE Caleb Smith, who went out of the Stanford game in the first quarter with a strained back, is highly doubtful for Friday night. Being a home game, Smith might don his orange uniform, but without having been able to do anything in practice. its doubtful Smith will see action.
Andy_Wooldridge@yahoo.com