Spring Break
Decade of respectability
Ten years ago, head coach Mike Riley changed identity of football program, resulting in sucess
Sean McLean
Issue date: 8/8/07 Section: Sports
With hard work and lots of patience, Riley instilled a passing attack that Oregon State had not seen since the "Air Express" days of the late 1980s. The hardest part for him and the coaching staff was transitioning the offensive line from run blocking almost every down to a pro-style offense.
"That was one of the biggest, hardest things to do," Riley said. "They had never passed blocked before. They had done a little pass blocking, but never really pass protected in a drop back, pro-style passing offense."
As the 1997 season began, it marked a new era for the football program. Led by an athletic quarterback Tim Alexander, the Beavers won their opening game over North Texas and jumped out to a 3-2 overall record. Although the team lost its last six games, laying down a sturdy foundation was the biggest key to the year.
From there, the Beavers made a big push the following season. With a remarkable job by former offensive line coach Jim Gilstrap, the newly structured offensive line helped OSU generate their first 1,000-yard rusher in 27 years. Freshman tailback Ken Simonton rushed for 1,028 yards that season and finished off the Oregon Ducks in the famous 1998 Civil War on a 17-yard touchdown run. With a 44-41 double-overtime victory, Riley led the Beavers to their first five-win season since 1971, and the resurgence of Beaver football was beginning.
"They were improving, and with the hard work they put in, they felt really good about it," Riley said. "There was a level of growth in those two seasons, and we all could really feel the tide was turning after that season."
Riley would leave for the NFL the next season, but his impact on what OSU would achieve the following years under Dennis Erickson were unfathomable. While he was gone from 1999 to 2002, the Beavers won the Fiesta Bowl, made two other bowl games, built an indoor facility, and began the Raising Reser project. All the success that was accomplished under Erickson's guidance started with the foundation that Riley laid down a few years earlier.
"That was one of the biggest, hardest things to do," Riley said. "They had never passed blocked before. They had done a little pass blocking, but never really pass protected in a drop back, pro-style passing offense."
As the 1997 season began, it marked a new era for the football program. Led by an athletic quarterback Tim Alexander, the Beavers won their opening game over North Texas and jumped out to a 3-2 overall record. Although the team lost its last six games, laying down a sturdy foundation was the biggest key to the year.
From there, the Beavers made a big push the following season. With a remarkable job by former offensive line coach Jim Gilstrap, the newly structured offensive line helped OSU generate their first 1,000-yard rusher in 27 years. Freshman tailback Ken Simonton rushed for 1,028 yards that season and finished off the Oregon Ducks in the famous 1998 Civil War on a 17-yard touchdown run. With a 44-41 double-overtime victory, Riley led the Beavers to their first five-win season since 1971, and the resurgence of Beaver football was beginning.
"They were improving, and with the hard work they put in, they felt really good about it," Riley said. "There was a level of growth in those two seasons, and we all could really feel the tide was turning after that season."
Riley would leave for the NFL the next season, but his impact on what OSU would achieve the following years under Dennis Erickson were unfathomable. While he was gone from 1999 to 2002, the Beavers won the Fiesta Bowl, made two other bowl games, built an indoor facility, and began the Raising Reser project. All the success that was accomplished under Erickson's guidance started with the foundation that Riley laid down a few years earlier.
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