It happened again. There was a team that was flying high in terms of wins, confidence and just thinking that they were becoming something big. It is funny how this kind of thing has happened in Corvallis on more than one occasion. Now ASU feels the pain that USC fans have felt on a few trips to play the Beavers.
It was cold, bone chilling cold for the hardy fans of the Beavers, but they were ready for something special to happen at some point during the season. This has been one of "those" years for Oregon State. Injuries to the offensive line, defensive line, learning under a new offensive coordinator, and just not having the ability to make plays when they want to. It has added up to a frustrating year for the fans and coaches alike.
The Devils were not mentally ready for what happened. They may not have physically ready for playing in conditions like the terrible cold on Saturday night, but if you worth your weight in gold as a team, you find a way to deal with adverse conditions and win the game. Coach Graham had put the edict out that anybody complaining of the cold was to be put on the bench for a period of time, if not, for the entire game. I would have loved to seen Jaelen Strong or DJ Foster complain and Graham pulling the string on that. Something tells me that he probably would not have done the benching for those two guys, maybe a series, but not a game. Anyways, the Devils didn't look like themselves. Taylor Kelly looked so uncomfortable in the pocket, running the zone read plays, and just running around that I knew something could go wrong for the Devils. I believe that there is something to thought of warm weather teams going to the cold and it being an advantage for the cold weather team.
The Beavers were hungry, desperate, and flat out ready to do anything for a win. The Devils come out wearing thermals under their uniforms. Not Oregon State. They are bare armed and ready to do battle. There was something about the Beaver players mannerisms that caught my eye. They were bouncing around, yelling, screaming, and looking like they were the number six team in the country. The Devils were the exact opposite. They were quiet, barely moving around, and looking timid from the get go. Even though at half they were up ten and looked like they were in control. Looks can be deceiving.
Oregon State came out with the same enthusiasm as they did in the first half, but this time they made some adjustments in their offensive scheme. The Sun Devils blitz quite a bit. You live by the blitz. You can die by the blitz, and that is exactly what happened to them. The Beavers Sean Mannion, the all-time leading passer in Pac-12 history found a little rhythm thanks to max protection by his depleted offensive line. When you max protect against a blitz you have one on one with your receivers and if you are running the ball, all your running backs have to do is get past the defensive line and you have tons of open running space. The Beavers found that and exploited that during the game.
By doing this. The Beavers ripped the Devils hearts out and the Devils hopes of getting to the college football playoff. It was a magical night for Oregon State fans, coaches, and players who needed something positive to come from this lost season. Though the season is not lost for the Sun Devils, their big aspirations of the playoff are gone. Now they have to fight just to win their south division in the Pac-12. They are not in control of the division anymore and you can sense the disappoint in how people are talking today about the season.
Football can be a fickle game, a mysterious game, and a very frustrating game to play and watch. But, how I love the chaos that has ensued due to the Oregon State Beavers.
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