Sun Bowl Game Day
In a year when every game day has been like no other previously, it will end with one even more unlike any other. Also one surrounded by uncertainty, more than any Oregon State game in a long time. And at least until next season rolls around. Which is shaping up to be even more unusual, and more uncertain. But more on that in the months to come.
Today in El Paso, Tony the Tiger, and thousands of other Sun Bowl onlookers, Oregon State takes the field against Notre Dame, trying to make it 3 bowl wins in 3 tries against the Irish. Anyone who really knows what to expect really, really doesn’t. Other than a beautiful day at the stadium. And great bands.
Thank early exits to the NFL, transfers, and injuries, all of which have changed both teams to an unprecedented degree from the last time they played just a month ago.
Compound that with a coaching change at Oregon State, and the curious decision to assign a skeleton coaching crew, instead of the actual new coaches, and even more surprises are likely to ensue.
I actually wouldn’t be surprised if something like another 3-0 game that happened the last time the Beavers, injury hampered on offense then, were in the Sun Bowl happens.
While Oregon State is enroute to a near total rebuild of their defense, it hasn’t happened yet, as a number of seniors are still on hand. And the effect of the experience and skill holes that do exist might be minimized by the fact that the Notre Dame offense, which wasn’t close to the most potent one the Beavers faced this year, has suffered a lot of their losses.
The OSU offense is another matter, minus more starters than are present from the one that lined up against Washington just before Thanksgiving. And up against a Notre Dame defense that is more whole than their offense.
That suggests a lot of futile offense is in the offing. That doesn’t bode well for the Beavers, who also suffered from the transfer bug in their kicking game.
But one thing that does seem likely is the players still on hand for both teams will play hard, and put forth a strong effort, whether it produces good results or not. A number of other bowl games this season support that notion, where closer, and more exciting, games than might have been expected happened.
The veteran players who do play are a proud group that has been through the battles, and won more often than not. They aren’t just going to go away now if they haven’t already. The players suddenly getting their shot after spending all season, or several of them, practicing, lifting, studying game video, and pouring over the play book, even though they might not even get into a game, or get many plays, and probably not meaningful ones, are going to take advantage of possibly their only shot to audition, or to make a mark before they go out.
Happens a lot when the season is ending, and ever more so when a program is built on something other than star power, at least initially, like Oregon State has been.
And that makes game day singular, and the best day of the winter. And the best day until the end of August. No matter what happens. Let’s see what happens!
Go Beavers!