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
Entering the 1997 season, Oregon State was one of college football's worst programs. It had endured a record of 26 straight losing seasons and had just come off a lousy 2-9 campaign that ended Jerry Pettibone's tenure with the Beavers. As fall camp began, new head coach Mike Riley had a lot of work ahead of him, and it was in every aspect of the game.
This year's fall camp marks the 10-year anniversary of when the gutsy head coach first stepped onto the practice fields and began one of the biggest makeovers and turnarounds in college football history. For Riley-the former USC offensive coordinator-had to convert a group of wishbone offense players into the typical pass-happy offense that the Pac-10 is accustomed to. It was a task that was easier said than done for the Corvallis native.
"It was all about attitude, and it was one of those situations where the guys here hadn't been winning," said Riley, who is now entering his seventh season at Oregon State. "They weren't really happy with who they were and what they were doing, and it was all about building something positive for them. And we needed to give them a level of confidence and show them that they could succeed."
Starting from scratch was an understatement when Riley began fall camp a decade ago. At the time, there was mediocre fan support, no indoor facility, and a run-down stadium that was the smallest in the Pac-10. He and his newly appointed coaching staff utilized what they had for recruiting, training, and academics.
"We knew if we built the team and the attitude, then they would be infectious to the community," said defensive coordinator Mark Banker, who along with Greg Newhouse is the only assistant coach that has been at OSU since Riley began his first stint. "We used the Valley Football Center and would also use the press box on our recruiting weekends, and would paint pictures for them, showing them what the future will bring and this is what they were going to be a part of."
This year's fall camp marks the 10-year anniversary of when the gutsy head coach first stepped onto the practice fields and began one of the biggest makeovers and turnarounds in college football history. For Riley-the former USC offensive coordinator-had to convert a group of wishbone offense players into the typical pass-happy offense that the Pac-10 is accustomed to. It was a task that was easier said than done for the Corvallis native.
"It was all about attitude, and it was one of those situations where the guys here hadn't been winning," said Riley, who is now entering his seventh season at Oregon State. "They weren't really happy with who they were and what they were doing, and it was all about building something positive for them. And we needed to give them a level of confidence and show them that they could succeed."
Starting from scratch was an understatement when Riley began fall camp a decade ago. At the time, there was mediocre fan support, no indoor facility, and a run-down stadium that was the smallest in the Pac-10. He and his newly appointed coaching staff utilized what they had for recruiting, training, and academics.
"We knew if we built the team and the attitude, then they would be infectious to the community," said defensive coordinator Mark Banker, who along with Greg Newhouse is the only assistant coach that has been at OSU since Riley began his first stint. "We used the Valley Football Center and would also use the press box on our recruiting weekends, and would paint pictures for them, showing them what the future will bring and this is what they were going to be a part of."
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