Oregon State in Pursuit of First 3-0 Start Since ’67

Oregon State Coach Dennis Erickson has been in this type of game before, only from the perspective of the little guy.

Oregon State (2-0) plays host to Division I-AA powerhouse Georgia Southern (2-0) today in Corvallis, and the Beavers have a lot more on the line than their opponents. Erickson has a chance to give Oregon State its first 3-0 start since 1967, and the top-ranked Eagles could ruin it all.

“It’s a no-lose situation for them,” Erickson said. “They come up and beat us, it’s the greatest thing in the world. If they don’t, they go back and get ready for their league and can still win their national championship.”

Erickson, who coached at I-AA Idaho from 1982-85, said the Vandals got energized for games against bigger schools. His teams went 3-2 against Division I teams, including a 41-22 home defeat of Oregon State in 1984.

Oregon State also lost to Montana, another strong I-AA team, in 1990 and ’96.

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Herman Ho-Ching is back in the good graces of his Oregon teammates and Coach Mike Bellotti.

Ho-Ching, suspended for last week’s game for unspecified violation of team rules, will back up Reuben Droughns at tailback today when the Ducks play host to Nevada.

Ho-Ching was cited for possessing less than an ounce of marijuana on Aug. 27. He was cited for the same violation in February. During practice last week, he dropped to No. 4 on the depth chart. He dressed for the Texas El Paso game but did not play.

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Nebraska Coach Frank Solich knows the timing for an overhaul of his offense was far from ideal.

Not with Southern Mississippi coming to Lincoln today. Solich said the Golden Eagles (2-0) will be the best team the No. 4 Cornhuskers (2-0) have faced so far this season.

“You’re always a little leery of making a change, but thinking it all through it seemed like that would probably be the best thing for this football team,” Solich said.

Today’s game will be Nebraska’s first with its new offense. Solich is giving up on the two-quarterback system of Bobby Newcombe and Eric Crouch. He’s going with Crouch as the starter and moving Newcombe to wingback. Dan Alexander gets his first start at I-back after the sudden departure of DeAngelo Evans, who quit the team after two games.