Rain Can't Dampen Spirits At Oregon St. Homecoming

The rain that Oregon St. University President Ed Ray noted could be an advantage for the Beavers against California if it persists until Saturday night damped everything else at Oregon St.'s Homecoming Parade an Pep Rally Thursday night, but the steady drizzle couldn't dampen the spirits of Beaver Nation.

The Oregon St. ROTC Color Guard presented the colors.

Like any good parade, we had horses,

and being an agricultural college, tractors,

and a Beaver Mobile,

as well as participation by fraternities,

and of course, a marching band. The one Oregon St. women's basketball coach Scott Rueck declared to be the best in the Pac-12, having seen and heard all of them,

and of course, Benny!

Men's Basketball head coach Wayne Tinkle and women's coach Scott Rueck were the co-Grand Marshalls for the Parade.

President Ray and Benny fired up the crowd for the Pep Rally,

and football head coach Mike Riley reviewed the band, his co-favorite OSU group along with his own team.

The Oregon St. women's basketball team, fresh of being ranked #20 in the nation in the AP preseason poll released today, were all on hand to participate. It's the first time the OSU women have been ranked in 18 years.

That news alone was enough to warrant cueing the fight song one more time.

Andy_Wooldridge@yahoo.com