The Beavers, coming off a 9-4 campaign and a No. 19 national ranking, open the ’13 slate Sat., Aug. 31 against Football Championship Subdivision power Eastern Washington  at home. The University of Hawai’i visits Corvallis the following Saturday on Sept. 7 as OSU opens the year with back-to-back home games for the first time since 2005 after the 2012 schedule was modified due to the postponement of the opener against Nicholls State.

OSU plays a pair of road games starting Sept. 14 with the Pac-12 opener at Utah followed by a Sept. 21 trip to San Diego State to face former OSU defensive coordinator Rocky Long and his Aztecs.

The first ever visit to Corvallis by the Colorado Buffaloes occurs Sept. 28 in the sixth game of the series (two played in Portland) – Colorado and OSU last played in 1988 and it marks the first league game ever between the two teams. The first of two byes is Oct. 5, with the second Nov. 9.

The middle portion of the schedule begins with a pair of road games against Washington State Oct. 12 in Pullman and at California Oct. 19 which ends a stretch of playing four away games in a five-contest span. The Beavers and Arizona Wildcats are the only two teams in the conference to have a schedule that features four road games in a five-game set. The game at WSU is OSU’s first since 2009 as the ’11 game was played in Seattle.

The latter half of the schedule features five games, all against 2012 bowl participants – the only team in the Pac-12 with this challenging of a conclusion. Stanford ventures to Reser Stadium Oct. 28 for Homecoming, followed by a short week as USC visits Fri., Nov. 1.

Following the second bye week, the Beavers play at Arizona State Nov. 16; the latest regular season contest ever for OSU in Tempe. The home finale is Nov. 23 against Washington followed by another short week as the 117^th Civil War, presented by PacificSource Health Plans, the NW Ford Dealers, McDonald’s and Wells Fargo, is Fri., Nov. 29 in Eugene.

Due to the schedule rotation in the Pac-12, the Beavers will not play UCLA or Arizona during the 2013 or ’14 seasons. The Beavers and Bruins had played eight consecutive years through 2012 while this will be the first time since 1989 the Wildcats are not on the slate. OSU did not play Colorado or USC in 2011 and ’12.

For the second year in a row, fans all across the country will be able to watch every football game played at Pac-12 sites. A combination of the ESPN channels, ABC and FOX will broadcast 44 games nationally and Pac-12 Networks will offer 35 games to a national audience. Exact broadcast schedules will be determined at a later date.

The Beavers will be one of the more experienced teams in the league entering next season with 15 players who started the Valero Alamo Bowl expected to return to the roster, 302 combined starts returning, and a likely top 25 ranking in the preseason.

If you’re interested in becoming a new season ticket holder for 2013 please contact the OSU Ticket Office at 1-800-GO-BEAVS between 9 a.m. and 5 p.m. or visit BeaverTickets.com to place a $50 per seat deposit. Current season ticket holders will receive their renewal information by Feb. 1.

2013 Schedule

Aug. 31             Eastern Washington

Sept. 7              Hawai’i

Sept. 14            at Utah

Sept. 21            at San Diego State

Sept. 28            Colorado

Oct. 5               Bye

Oct. 12             at Washington State

Oct. 19             at California

Oct. 26             Stanford (Homecoming)

Nov. 1 (Fri.)        USC

Nov. 9               Bye

Nov. 16             at Arizona State

Nov. 23             Washington

Nov. 29 (Fri.)      at Oregon

(courtesy of http://www.osubeavers.com)

The Beavers host Pac-12 North Division games against Stanford and Washington, while have away dates vs. California, Oregon and Washington State. The Nov. 12 game against California will be played at AT&T Park in San Francisco as the Bears’ home venue, Memorial Stadium in Berkeley, is being renovated. In addition, OSU plays conference games at Reser Stadium against South Division teams UCLA and Arizona, and travels to Arizona State and new member Utah. The Beavers will not play Pac-12 foes USC and newcomer Colorado in 2011 or 2012; both the Trojans and Buffaloes appear on OSU’s schedule in 2013 and 2014 in the rotation while in those years UCLA and Arizona do not.

In addition, Oregon State hosts a to-be-determined opponent Sept. 3 and BYU Oct. 15 (originally scheduled for Sept. 3), plus play its lone non-conference away game at Wisconsin Sept. 10. The Beavers have a bye Sept. 17.

The 2012 schedule will include the same set of opponents as the 2011 slate, with games played at opposite sites. Dates of those games are to be determined.

2011 Schedule (as of Nov. 5)
Sept. 3 TBD (home game)
Sept. 10 at Wisconsin
Sept. 17 Bye
Sept. 24 UCLA
Oct. 1 at Arizona State
Oct. 8 Arizona
Oct. 15 BYU
Oct. 22 at Washington State
Oct. 29 at Utah
Nov. 5 Stanford
Nov. 12 at California
Nov. 19 Washington
Nov. 26 at Oregon

As students lined up for Beaver tickets on a chilly Monday morning in front of Reser Stadium, OSU football players Keaton Kristick and Jacquizz Rodgers delivered donuts to them at 7:30 a.m. Monday morning. James Rodgers and Mike Riley also participated in a show of support and appreciation for the students involvement at games. Photo by Dave Nishitani

Max Cohen, right, listens to coach and owner of Corvallis Pride Women’s Tackle Football Team Beth Buglione as they go over plays for their first game of the season. Cohen is an information technology consultant for OSU by day, and a line coach for the women’s football team in the evenings and on weekends. (photo: Theresa Hogue)

For years, Max Cohen has been a problem solver. He has worked for a variety of different companies, often with a technological slant to them, and for the last four years, he’s been working with people across the OSU campus as an information technology consultant.

“I really like dissecting things and putting them back together,” Cohen said. “I enjoy the nature of the work I do. I’m interacting with hundreds of different people.”

A Philadelphia native, Cohen spent most of his growing up years in Eugene, and his mother, Nora Cohen, is a professor in the OSU College of Education. He said he’s always been drawn to teaching, due to his mother’s influence.

“Teaching is in my blood,” he said.

Last fall, Cohen found a unique way to support his love of teaching. Blake Vawter, associate director of admissions, knew Cohen had played football in high school, and a little in college, and he was looking for a line coach for the Corvallis Pride Women’s Tackle Football team, where Vawter is defensive coordinator. He asked Cohen if he’d be interested in coaching for the team, and Cohen thought it sounded like a great way to get back into the sport he’s loved since childhood.

“I love the game,” he said. “I love the contact, the aggression, the emotion.”

For Cohen, who has never coached before, the most exciting part of coaching has been the enthusiasm of the players. Because football is not a sport traditionally associated with women, for many participants it’s their first chance to play competitively.

“I get so fired up getting out there on the field. These women have wanted to play all of their lives, and they’ve never had the opportunity (until now),” he said. “I teach them to do it well.”

One challenge Cohen and the other coaches face is the difference in skill level between the players. Some have been playing for years, others have never even worn a helmet before. He has to strike a balance where advanced players feel challenged but new players don’t feel intimidated. Their enthusiasm for the game is what helps strike that balance.

“I don’t have to worry about motivation,” he said.

Cohen jumps in to demonstrate a move for a player during a weekend practice. (photo: Theresa Hogue)

Although this is his first time coaching, Cohen believes there’s little difference in how to approach a women’s team versus a men’s team, except that he thinks coaches get better results when dealing with female players in a positive manner, rather than an in-your-face approach.

“That’s not my style anyway,” he said. “I’m not a negative-style coach.”

Instead, Cohen is as enthusiastic on the sidelines as the players are on the field.

“I’m the biggest cheerleader on the team, as far as I’m concerned,” he said.

Friends and family have been very supportive of Cohen’s newest adventure.

“The response has been overwhelmingly positive,” he said. “Most of my friends have bought tickets or are helping out with the team.”

Corvallis Pride was formed in 2002, and had a fairly consistent lineup, Cohen said, but this year it has seen a downturn in numbers as players retired or stopped due to time conflicts or family commitments. They are down to 15 players, which would have meant they weren’t qualified to compete in their league this year, but the team made an agreement to join up with a Redding, Calif., team in a similar situation.

Now the biggest challenge is practicing together. The teams have taken turns going up and down the I-5 corridor to practice with each other.

“It’s been amazing,” Cohen said. “The camaraderie is great. There are no ego clashes. Everybody gets a chance to play.”

Cohen believes the two teams have been merging well, and compliment each other’s strengths and weaknesses. They played their first game in Seattle on April 11, and will have their first home game on April 25, 1 p.m. at Corvallis High School.

The team includes a number of OSU students and faculty and staff members, and they are hoping to expand their numbers. Anyone interested in participating can go to www.corvallispride.com for more information.

~ Theresa Hogue

“My grandparents started taking me to OSU football games when I was 6 months old, and to OSU basketball games when I was 9 months old,” Hollis said.  “I come from a sports family and I love it!”

Malisa Hollis produces the TV show “Beavers All Access” for Fox Sports Net.

Her passion for sports is evident, and as the coordinator of video production for OSU’s athletic department, it couldn’t be a better fit.   Since graduating from OSU in 2001, Hollis mixes together team highlight tapes, fundraising tapes and produces the TV show “Beavers All Access” for Fox Sports Net.

Co-worker Jeff Taylor says, “She’s an encyclopedia for OSU athletics.”

“She is very knowledgeable technically and her creative editing skills are phenomenal,” said intern Matt Riley.

“Malisa is really a special, special person for Athletics and probably taken for granted sometimes just because of her commitment to her job,” said Steve Fenk, assistant athletic director. “She goes beyond the call of duty every day. She is an extremely talented producer, works under incredible deadlines and often works through the night. Even when exhausted she still has a smile and is willing to help in any way.”

Hollis’ life-long love affair with Beaver sports began with her grandparents, Bert and Shirley Babb, who have deep roots at OSU. Bert’s father, Graydon Babb, played baseball for the Beavers, and Bert himself was going to pitch for OSU but a serious car accident derailed that plan.

Malisa Hollis with family friend, Ralph Miller.

The Babbs not only have season tickets to Beaver football games, but also men’s and women’s basketball, gymnastics, wrestling and baseball.

Hollis’ grandparents were good friends with Ralph and Jean Miller.  “I’d be with my grandparents in the summer time, and I remember being around coaches all the time.  A lot of people see Ralph Miller as cranky, but he was gentle and grandfatherly to me.  He never treated me like a tag-a-long.”  (Hollis and Miller share the same birthday–March 9.)

Hollis’ heart, though, is reserved for Gary Payton.  Even though she was only 10 years old, Hollis remembers sitting next to Payton on the bus on the way to a practice before the 1989 NCAA Tournament.  “He was my absolute idol; I had a huge crush on him,” she recalls. “It was really cool.”

But it’s the football games Hollis recalls the best.

The biggest game to her is the 1998 Civil War game.  “We hadn’t had a winning football season in 28 years,” said Hollis.  “Oregon was heavily favored, and we had taken a beating by their fans for years.  After OSU won in the second overtime on a Ken Simonton touchdown, people were tearing up turf and tearing down goal posts.  It was intense, emotional and as much energy as you’ve ever seen.  It didn’t matter if we lost any after that– 44-41 said it all.”

In 1999, Hollis recalls the Beaver’s ending a 20-year losing streak to California.  “Grown men were rushing on the field crying.  So many times we couldn’t win and now it was over,” said Hollis.  The 2006 win over USC also stands out in Hollis’ mind.  “We beat the number one team in the country.”

Asked if she plans on making all the home football games the next 29 years, Hollis replied, “I hope so. I’d love to be able to do that.”

~ by Jeanne Silsby

Video

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2006 baseball champs

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2007 baseball champs

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Ken Simonton breaks the streak

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Beavers break USC’s win streak in 2000

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Beavers win the Sun Bowl in 2006

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’98 Civil War win

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Gary Payton in Beaver orange

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