A fan of Oregon State football can walk into the glass double doors of the brand new Valley Football Center and see former QB and head coach of the football team, Jonathan Smith, talking to coordinators Tim Tibesar & Brian Lindgren about revving up spring practice, but just four months ago, this was a very different, and uncertain, picture. previous head coach Gary Andersen agreed to mutually part ways with the program midway through the season, leaving $10 million on the table to help fund Oregon State's success. Left with the ruins was defensive backs coach Cory Hall, who accepted the interim role of head coach. After losing all remaining 6 games and ending the season 69-10 against in-state rival Oregon, it capped off a 1-11 season for the Beavers, after being predicted to secure almost six more wins than the overall result. Soon after, Hall and the rest of Andersen's staff leave Oregon State, and the team is left with no coaching staff. Fast forward a short few weeks, and Coach Smith returns to OSU after almost 10 years not as a player, but as a head football coach.
This change brings new life to the team, change that is necessary to bring back and excite a fanbase that needs new life. In coaching overhauls, the change can be bumpy, with players transferring and an outcry to bring their coach back. In the early days of Andersen's departure, it seemed as if this would be the case for OSU, with players citing the departure as "abrupt" and "unfair." However after all of the dust settled, players have fit in snug and are excited to bounce back after a season filled with overconfidence and disappointment.
Players were loyal to Andersen despite the shaky coaching choices throughout the season, so transfers were a possibility, however, as we approach the start of spring practice, there have been zero transfers that have stemmed from this issue. Instead, the only transfer has been longtime beaver Seth Collins, who has decided to use his final two years of eligibility to play somewhere else, after battling injury, sickness, and position changes for most of his career at OSU.
One player who is dedicated to the process is Senior Linebacker Bright Ugwoegbu, who touched on the coaching change.
"It's been an amazing transition...We (The Linebackers) are in a great position under coaching minds like Tim (Tibesar) and Trent (Bray)" said Ugwoegbu.
Ugwoegbu is no stranger to coaching changes, experiencing 3 at his time in OSU. He was recruited by Mike Riley in 2014, witnessed the arrival and departure of Gary Andersen in 2015-2017, and now is able to be a part of Coach Smith's debut season before he has hopes to be a part of the 2019 NFL draft.
Another leader and supporter of the team is quarterback Jake Luton. Luton originally committed to Idaho, playing for the Vandals as a backup for one season, before deciding to go to Ventura Community College in Ventura, California to help refine his playing abilities before returning to Division-1. He signed to Oregon State, but an unlucky hit to the head while sliding to the ground on a QB keeper left him with a thoracic spine fracture, thus leaving him off of the gridiron for the rest of the season.
Despite this, Luton is extremely eager to start the new season and compete for the starting role he had a firm hold of.
"The change has been seamless. The team has come back and taken care of business. When you come off of such a poor season, you let that eat at you every single day in the weight room, and it shows." Said Luton
Luton's introduction to Oregon State was clearly very rocky, but his faith has not diminished one bit. Offensive minds like Brian Lindgren (QB coach at Colorado 2014-2017, Oregon State Offensive Coordinator), Jonathan Smith (QB for Oregon State 1998-2001, Offensive Coordinator/QB Coach for the Washington Huskies 2014-2017, Oregon State HC) and Mike Riley (Former HC of Oregon State for 13 years, 3 year HC at Nebraska, Assistant HC for Oregon State) have reaffirmed his hope in the team and looks to start practice impressively.
"Being able to play for guys like them is a special situation for a college QB because of the success they've had at the position. I can't wait to get into spring ball and watch our team make big strides under this new staff." added Luton
Off the heels of the change is the new and intricate plan by athletic director Scott Barnes that plans to move the athletic department to new heights and success, starting with football. This will put more towards the facilities, coaches, and player health, which are all showing their improvements
Since coach smith's arrival, the change hasn't just been about the coaches. Players are working harder in the weight room, repping the "OSU" logo with more pride, and are already counting down the days to kickoff in the locker room with a digital stop clock that is counting down every second. Not only are returning players excited to start, but Smith's first round of recruits are ecstatic to play. One of these recruits, three star wide receiver I'Shawn Stewart, is ready to arrive in Corvallis and get to work.
"I looking forward to playing with the guys the most. Getting established and learning the new offense early is exciting, as well as getting used to the college life." Said Stewart
With the new staff solidified and players, new and old, highly optimistic, the future may have a dim light at the end of the tunnel, however at the end of the tunnel is 2018's season opener at Ohio State, a team that finished 12-2 and first in the B1G (Big 10) barely being snubbed out of a College Football Playoff spot. Regardless, whether they play Alabama or Akron, the Beavers look to impose and impress in 2018 with their new squad.
Oregon State begins spring practice on April 4 at the Tommy Protho practice fields, with an annual spring scrimmage concluding practice on April 28. This event is free to the public.
At a Glance:
What: The Oregon State Football Team
Where: The Valley Football Center
When: April 4th
Who: Staff and players of the Oregon State football team
Links: Official Oregon State Football Roster and Staff
Beaver Football Twitter
Season Tickets
2018 Oregon State Football Schedule
Comments
Post a Comment