Spring comments

I kept up with the Beavers spring practice, but didn't feel the need to comment. The Beavers are getting tons of press coverage these days. There seemed to be a dozen journalists covering the practice sessions. This is unreal to me- since I played with OSU sucked, it's awesome that OSU has a program worthy of the attention.

Injuries were one of the unfortunate outcomes this spring. McCants going down was really bad.

The defense looks immature to me. Yes the spring game was good-but still. Lots of guys are playing new positions. The DB's are green as field turf. Luckily OSU has a defensive scheme that is above average even when it's run by average players. Banker is a stud. OSU's LB's are a concern too, and I am probably the only blogger who feels that way. My biggest concern is a lack of size. Height or weight-wise- OSU is small. Power teams will try and exploit this next year-trust me.

Net net- the Beavers looked good, and will field another competitive team in the Pac-10. The question is whether this team is going to over-achieve.

Based on history, I think they will.

Here is a killer video on Sammy Stroughter. He looks soooo much like Marvin Harrison, it's kinda weird.

Check it

Sammie Stroughter is practicing again

Good to have you back Sammie!

Read More from OSU


OSU Beaver Football Team Analysis:

Cliff Kirkpatrick did a good job reviewing the depth chart for the Beavers, but I am concerned about the lack of height in our Secondary this year. We have 1 guy over 6'-Keenan Lewis. I am not sure if OSU's coaching staff has noticed that the trend in the Pac-10 is 6'3" WR's. I remember when we played Louisville and they put a 6'5" WR on our puny DB's and we got clobbered. I don't expect this to be an issue for our game against Utah. But it will be an issue later.....Cincy got a couple 6'4" WR's. Yikes.

Sammie Stroughter explains his absence

Sammie Stroughter has suffered the loss of 3 people he knows this summer based on a today's press release- READ MORE

The cliff notes: 2 men who were close to Sammie and Coach Gilstrap died, thus causing him to wig out and bail on his team.

My Opinion: I've have lost multiple family members in a matter of 6 months before, and I know how difficult it can be to go through the grieving process. I've cried, I've asked why, I've hugged it out with remaining family members, I've gotten shit faced drunk, I've laid in bed for too long, etc. etc.

The only things that really helped with getting through the grieving process was to get exercise, dive back into work, and be around supportive people. Eventually you get through it and rationalize the loss and move on with your life like you should.

Sammy's behavior is kinda weird in my opinion. If I were him I would thank god everyday that I had football to take me away from thinking about the people I miss. I would want to be around my teammates too. I was on a team that could barely win a game, and I still loved the guys I played with.....well not all of them, but enough that being with them was important to me. The fact that the team needs me was also important....I am not saying they really needed me, but I felt like I would be letting people I cared about down. Sammy could care less.

Ok, I am glad that God and family is important to Sammy, but it is for a lot of us in the world. Sammie is immature. He doesn't get it. Maybe he is a world class student and is going to graduate school or something....maybe he has something to fall back on besides football..........but I doubt it. I know when I was playing all I could think about was football. It was only after I was done did I get to spend time learning and enjoying the real college experience.

I admit I don't know much about Sammy's family, income levels, academic background, etc.

But I can tell you he is screwing up. Coach Gilstrap would tell him to get back on the field and play for the people you loved that are gone. He would also tell him to play for himself.

Message to Sammie: Catharsis is good...use football to get free.......

Troubling Sammie Stroughter Situation

Sammie Stroughter is still missing practices. "Personal reasons" for missing practice is lame. If Sammie had a problem at home, I think OSU would say so. The fact that no one is at least doing a PR dance is telling.

Here are my top ten possible reasons for Sammy being MIA:

10)He thought practice was for second string players
9)He is mad at his position coach for making fun of him in practice
8)He is mad at the press for their pre-season evaluation of him
7)He is in debt to some gangbangers
6)He is mad that he wasn't on the cover of the 2007 Media Guide
5)He is mad about OSU's new uniforms
4)He is mad about Coach Riley's dismissal of Coye Francies
3)He knocked up a girl who is interested in blackmailing Sammy
2)He knocked up a girl who happens to be the daughter of an Oregon football coach
1)He knocked up a girl who happens to be the daughter of an OSU football coach

If anyone else some ideas, feel free to comment....I am out of possible reasons......

Sammie, if the reason is #4.....you are one major league donkey......