Bleacher Report - Articles by Jake Bertalotto

Robinson Raises Morale at Oregon State, Now Must Capitalize

Jake Bertalotto — Sat, 20 Dec 2008 10:15:25 -0500

Last April, when Oregon State athletic director Bob De Carolis announced that Craig Robinson would be the next Men's Basketball coach, many heads turned.

Robinson, the brother-in-law of Presidential Elect Barack Obama, definitely brought unexpected attention to the Oregon State basketball program that was 0-18 in the Pac-10 conference last season.

It was reported that as many as 20 potential coaching candidates gave a polite "Thanks, but no thanks" to Oregon State during the job search. However, when De Carolis finally settled on Robinson, it brought immediate street cred to the ailing program.

Robinson spent much of his summer not only setting the foundation for his first year as head coach, but interviewing with numerous media outlets and occasionally campaigning for his brother-in-law.

Notably, Craig wore a orange tie up to the stage at the Democratic National Convention to introduce his sister, Michelle Obama, and shouted "Go Beavers!" as he raised a fist as part of his brief introductory speech. Michelle returned the favor when she appeared on "The View". Robinson was also on the stage after Obama delivered his acceptance speech on Nov. 4 in Chicago, IL.

Robinson replaced interim head coach Kevin Mouton, who took over the helm of the program after Jay John was fired in the midst of his sixth season at Oregon State. He compiled a record of 72-97 overall and was 28-68 in the Pac-10 Conference. The Beavers were 6-12 on the season, season and were 0-6 in the league.

"I want to thank Coach John for his contributions to Oregon State University and his tireless effort in trying to turn around the men's basketball program," De Carolis said after the firing. "I commend him for being an ambassador for the university and his solid record of graduating his student-athletes. However, our progress on the court has not been what we all had hoped for so we are moving in a different direction."

Many have drawn comparisons between Robinson's task at Oregon State, and the rebuilding job General Manager Kevin Pritchard and Head Coach Nate McMillian have done with the Portland Trail Blazers.

"Well, that’s exactly what we have to do" Craig Robinson said in an interview with Blazers Edge. "We have to get back to a winning mentality. The good thing is that, albeit awhile ago, this place has some history of winning. So I think if we can turn the corner a bit, we will get the support from the fans, the media, the high school coaches. So I do see this as a culture changing job and that’s what we’re going to be working on."

Almost immediately after his arrival in Corvallis, Oregonian columnist John Canzano named Robinson "The No. 19 Most Influential Person in Oregon Sports".

And Robinson isn't afraid to use his connection to the White House on the recruiting trail.

"We're in on some kids who this place hasn't been in on, maybe ever,'' said coach Robinson. When asked if the political thing gives him an advantage in some situations, he said, "absolutely. It has certainly done us well. It's no different that other people getting publicity for going to the Final Four, or a school having a Hall of Fame coach.''

Robinson, who inherited a program that hadn't won in 21 games, said that his inherited team is better than their 2007-2008 record. He said that he doesn't believe a lack of talent was the problem with Coach Jay John's team last season. Rather, the Beavers' players weren't developed properly, he said.

Prior to the first day of practice, OSU guard Ricky Claitt commented on the differences that Robinson brings to the program. Last season, a coach would say something to a player and "the player wouldn't listen," Claitt said. Claitt said they listen to Robinson and his staff, and it's not just because it's a new voice offering new directions. There's a different presence.

"A lot of it is going to be about mentally changing their view of themselves,'' he said..."we were 0-18 last year. We don't want to be 0-18 again.''

With the nation watching, Robinson must now prove that he can get the job done at Oregon State.

Oregon State is currently 3-5 on the year, and have won three of their last four games. The Beavers will begin the Pac-10 conference season on January 2, when they will play host to UCLA.

With Civil War Looming in Rear-View Mirror, Mike Riley Must Win Sun Bowl

Jake Bertalotto — Fri, 19 Dec 2008 18:23:26 -0500

Heading into last month's Civil War, many were calling this annual rivalry game "the biggest of Mike Riley's career."

In many ways, it was.

Oregon State (8-4, 7-2 Pac-10) was playing with a Pac-10 championship and a Rose Bowl berth on the line. It could have been Oregon State's first appearance in the "Grandaddy of them All" since 1965—Riley, now 55, was 12 at that time.

However, Riley and his team were embarrassed by the Oregon Ducks, who will play Oklahoma State in the Holiday Bowl. The Beavers gave up 694 yards of total offense—385 rushing—and were defeated, 65-38, in front of a record crowd at OSU's Reser Stadium. The Beavers were favored heading into the game, but never led.

Once Oregon State shook up the college football world with a 27-21 defeat of (then No. 1) USC on Nov. 25, they gained control of their own destiny. The Beavers preceded to win their next six Pac-10 games, with each victory bringing them closer to the Rose Bowl.

"Everybody wants to go to the Rose Bowl, and we had forged a path to get there" Riley said. "We held the cards right until the end, and we lost our opportunity."

The heightened stakes of the Civil War made the loss that much harder to swallow for the Oregon State program, and overcoming the residual disappointment of not qualifying for the Rose Bowl will be one of Riley's greatest challenges as he prepares his team to play Pittsburgh.

Riley will head into the Sun Bowl with a depleted roster. James and Jacquizz Rodgers, who have accounted for precisely 50.1 percent of Oregon State's offensive production this season, will likely both be sidelined due to injury.

James was a key threat at receiver this season, but his most notable contribution was in running the ball out of Oregon State's "fly sweep" package. In his two seasons at Oregon State, he's already rushed for 994 yards on 96 carries, for an average of 10.3 yards per carry. He'll sit out the Sun Bowl with a broken collarbone, suffered in the Civil War.

Jacquizz, who rushed 37 times for a season-high 186 yards against USC, emerged as one of the nation's top rushers as a true freshman. He currently is the 13th-leading rusher in the nation, with an average of 114 yards per game. However, he'll likely miss the Sun Bowl as well with an AC Joint sprain and a fractured scapula, suffered in a win over Arizona on Nov. 22. He wasn't able to play in the Civil War game against Oregon.

Most importantly, Riley needs to win the Sun Bowl to salvage as much as possible from a great season and send his talented group of seniors out with a victory. Oregon State will lose much of its defensive front seven for the second consecutive year, as well as its entire starting secondary.

On offense, the Beavers will lose All-Pac-10 First Team receiver Sammie Stroughter, as well as All-Pac-10 linemen Andy Levitre and Adam Speer. Wideout Shane Morales and offensive lineman Tavita Thompson will also be playing in their last collegiate game in the Sun Bowl.

With the Civil War loss now in the rear-view mirror, the 2008 Sun Bowl becomes the biggest game of Riley's career. He's a perfect 4-0 in bowl games at Oregon State, but the fifth consecutive win could be the toughest one to attain.

RB Duel at Sun Bowl Not to Be; Jacquizz Rodgers Likely Sidelined vs. Pitt

Jake Bertalotto — Fri, 19 Dec 2008 09:58:39 -0500

When Oregon State (8-4, 7-2 Pac-10) and Pittsburgh (9-3, 5-2 Big East) accepted bids to play in the 75th Brut Sun Bowl, the game looked to be one of the best matchups of young running backs bowl organizers could have hoped for.

Pittsburgh sophomore LeSean McCoy has rushed for 1,403 yards and 21 touchdowns this season-- he currently is the 10th leading rusher in the nation. The back they simply call "Shady" is rewriting the record books at Pittsburgh, as he's broken some of former WR Larry Fitzgerald's records already.

Oregon State's Jacquizz Rodgers rushed for 1253 yards and 11 touchdowns on the season before being sidelined with a shoulder injury. The freshman from Richmond, Texas was the 10th leading rusher in the nation before the injury; he's now slid to 13th.

It would be a sight to see McCoy (5'11", 210) and Rodgers (5'7", 193) on the same field together, but Oregon State head coach Mike Riley is highly doubtful that Jacquizz will play in the game.

Jacquizz's older brother, James, is already out for the game with a broken collarbone he suffered in the Civil War game against Oregon last month.

On top of this, the Oregon State athletic department announced earlier this week that 3rd string running back Jeremy Francis had left town to tend to his ailing mother in Florida. However, the team is now reporting that Francis will join the team December 26 in El Paso, just early enough for him to play in the game.

That news brings much needed relief to Oregon State, who would have been left with only freshman Ryan McCants at running back if both Jacquizz and Francis couldn't play.

In what could have been a matchup between two prolific runners, the Sun Bowl looks like it could easily become a matchup between the experienced LeSean McCoy and Ryan McCants, who's served as Jacquizz Rodgers' backup for much of the season.

And if something happens to McCants or Francis between now and December 31, Oregon State only has one other back on the active roster—a redshirt freshman. There are two other backs who are redshirting this year, however, and their redshirts could be lifted if absolutely necessary.

When asked about depth at running back, all Riley had to say was "I'd say we are thin.''

The Sun Bowl will be played December 31 in El Paso, Texas at 2:15 EST on CBS.