The Dam Links 12/13/2013: Biletnikoff II

64 days until first pitch...

As you've probably heard if you know any Beaver fans on Facebook, Brandin Cooks won the 2013 Biletnikoff Award last night, given to the nation's most outstanding wide receiver in college football. The official release is here, and notable amongst the information is that is was the closest vote in the award's 20 year history. Lindsey Schnell has a reaction here.

Remember the last time Boise State played Oregon State? Lindsay Schnell does.

Steve Gress of the Gazette-Times believes that the Hawaii Bowl is a good fit for Oregon State.

Mike Riley believes that winning this game is absolutely essential for the Beavers.

The Pac-12 Blog provides a bowl primer for the Boise State Broncos. Ted and Kevin also provide their first impressions on the Pac-12 bowl slate; Kevin describes the Hawaii Bowl as a sneaky good game.

The Idaho Statesman breaks down the game. With the coaching change, Boise State's season is a little confusing, and the trip to Hawaii won't just be a vacation. Former Boise State OC Bryan Harsin, who was the current head coach of Arkansas State, was tabbed to be the Broncos' new head coach. Harsin is younger than I am. What am I doing with my life?

The Pac-12 announced its baseball television schedule. Oregon State will have a minimum of sixteen televised games this year, with the possibility of adding a couple more at the end of the season. Most of the games are all on the Pac-12 network, although the final game of the Civil War series actually got bumped up to ESPNU.

Athlon Sports announced its all-Pac 12 teams. Brandin Cooks is the only player on the first team, but Crichton, Seumalo, Rashaad Reynolds, and Victor Bolden (as a kick returner) made the second team. Only Cooks was named on their All-America team, although he did make the first team. Victor Bolden, really?

Cooks was also named a Walter Camp First Team All-American.

Ken Goe believes that since both Oregon schools are playing opponents with coaching issues, both teams' chances of winning their bowl games is improving.

A bit of sad news: John Didion, the starting center for OSU's Giant Killers team between 1966 and 1968, has passed away at 66. Didion gathered first team Pac-8 and All-America honors at OSU, and played in the NFL for 6 years.

Oregon State's mens' basketball team, who I think we can safety describe as "well rested," hosts a rescheduled game on Friday night at Gill, part of a double-header with the womens' team. The Oregonian's Connor Letourneau describes that the Beavers, who are apparently Division I's ninth tallest team, is going to continue to pound the glass.

John Gasaway attempts to rank the most masochistic fan base in college hoops, which really comes down to which is the worst program in recent memory. Oregon State can't even finish #1 on that list (although it's close).

The gymnastics' Orange & Black Exhibition, postponed due to weather, has been officially rescheduled to Friday, January 3rd.

In honor of Cooks' win, here's a highlight video from the first 5 games of this season.

And I think he's answered the question asked at the end of this video:

I added this after the article was posted, the actual video of the award presentation:

This week's episode of the Illegal Participation podcast is available for your listening pleasure.

As always, if I missed something, leave it in the comments below, and vote in the super-important-and-in-no-way-anachronistic poll below.