Beavers Playing Money Game

After watching Fresno State take in about $900,000 from its home game against Oregon State on Sunday night, the Beavers might ask for a bigger piece of the pie when the teams meet in Fresno in 2003.

The Bulldogs’ 44-24 rout of No. 10 Oregon State was one of the highest-grossing sporting events in Fresno State history.

A record crowd of 42,410 turned out at Bulldog Stadium after extra bleachers were put up.

Knowing that the Beavers were the highest-ranked team to ever visit Fresno, athletic officials raised ticket prices to $40-$45, compared with $16-$20 for other games. Oregon State was paid $125,000 under a contract negotiated by former Athletic Director Dutch Baughman.

Fresno State will get the same payout for coming to Corvallis next year, and Oregon State will again get that amount when it travels to Fresno in two years.

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Oregon State Athletic Director Mitch Barnhart said he would seek to renegotiate terms if Fresno State elevates ticket prices for the 2003 game.

“If an opponent is going to raise ticket prices, then we’re going to get a piece of that,” he said.

Oregon linebacker David Moretti will miss Saturday’s game against Utah because of a broken right thumb.

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Colorado Sports Information Director Dave Plati has been disciplined for telling a TV reporter that star running back Marcus Houston wasn’t in uniform for the opener because the player “was being taught a lesson.” Houston is recovering from a partial thigh muscle tear in his thigh.