Oregon State Closes Practices

Oregon State had planned to run open practice sessions throughout its preparation for Monday’s Fiesta Bowl. But Wednesday’s practice was closed, as will the remainder of Beaver practices.

Notre Dame spies? Embarrassing fights breaking out among team members? Secret plays being put in for the Irish?

Nope. Snow birds.

According to one team official, the open practices attracted 200 to 300 fans a day, many elderly and friendly and inclined to walk right up to players during practice and strike up a conversation.

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Coach Bob Davie’s Irish players have bent over backward to be respectful of Oregon State during media briefings, even though the Irish are the better-known team and the Beavers’ presence in this BCS bowl is a bit unusual in terms of college football lore.

Notre Dame quarterback Matt LoVecchio served as a prime example when he said, “One thing we have done well this season is respecting our opponent and just taking it game by game . . . We’re honored by the fact that the Fiesta Bowl chose us to come here and compete with Oregon State.”

It wasn’t quite so smooth shortly after the bowl berths were announced. In one of his first media sessions, Davie called Oregon State “Oklahoma State” the first three times he made reference to his Fiesta opponent. Later, he apologized and said he hoped that wouldn’t come back to haunt him.

Beaver running back Patrick McCall can empathize. When asked about the funniest characterization he has heard of his Oregon State team so far, he said, “‘Go Ducks, Go Ducks.’ That happened to me two or three times yesterday.”

The Ducks, of course, are Oregon State’s arch-rivals from the University of Oregon.

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Oregon State has had one of those near-miracle years that coaches love. The roster has been so injury-free and stable that, a few weeks ago, when the depth chart sent quarterback Nick Stremick from No. 3 to No. 2, replacing Tyler Thomas, it was the first such move in months. And when running back Antonio Battle missed a day of practice recently with back spasms, it was the first injury report of any significance that the team had had in quite some time. Battle, of course, is back.