KOHD

Oregon Child Abuse Bill Stems from Penn State

Fri, 03 Feb 2012 10:59:46 -0800

SALEM, Ore. -- The short legislative session could bring new laws to protect Oregon children.

Lawmakers are considering a bill that would require university coaches and employees to report child abuse to police.

It comes in the wake of the Jerry Sandusky sex abuse scandal at Penn State University.

Opponents argue the bill is too broad and might expand liability for schools and youth organizations.

Nearly a Quarter of Oregon Students Chronically Absent

Fri, 03 Feb 2012 10:50:35 -0800

SALEM, Ore. -- Nearly a quarter of Oregon students were chronically absent in the 2009-2010 school year.

The Oregon Department of Education says that means they missed more than 18 days a year and nearly a month in most cases.

Kids who live outside the most densely populated parts of the state were more likely to be affected.

The report also shows that it affected early grades, with 24 percent of kindergarteners and 18 percent of first-graders marked chronically absent.

Ducks Come Back To Beat Utes, 79-68

Thu, 02 Feb 2012 23:21:10 -0800

Courtesy: Oregon Sports Information

SALT LAKE CITY, Utah -- Senior guard Devoe Joseph had 20 points to lead the
University of Oregon men's basketball team to a 79-68 road win over Utah on Thursday
night.

The Ducks improved to 16-6 overall and 7-3 in Pac-12 Conference play. The Utes
dropped to 5-17 overall and 2-8 in league action.

Oregon shot 49.1 percent from the field, hitting 28 of its 57 shot attempts in the
game. The Ducks were 8-of-16 on 3-pointers (50 percent) and 15-of-17 from the free
throw line (88.2 percent).

Junior guard Carlos Emory had a career-high 14 points all of which came in the
second half. Junior forward E.J. Singler contributed 12 points and a team-high six
rebounds for UO.

Oregon had a 30-16 edge in points in the paint and 21-12 advantage in points off
turnovers. The Ducks had just seven turnovers while the Utes committed 13. Oregon
also had the edge in rebounds (33-29).

Three Utes scored in double-figures, led by Chris Hines who had 20 points. Cedric
Martin had 15 points while Kareem Story had 10 points and 11 assists.

Oregon (16-6, 7-3 Pac-12) will return to action Saturday with a road game against
Colorado (15-7, 7-3 Pac-12). The Buffaloes are coming off an 82-60 home win over
Oregon State on Thursday.

POSTGAME NOTES

- Oregon started Garrett Sim, Olu Ashaolu, Jeremy Jacob, E.J. Singler and Devoe
Joseph which marked the eighth different starting lineup on the season. It was the
first time for that starting combination.

- The Ducks improved to 14-1 overall when shooting for a better percentage than the
opponent ... UO is now 12-1 on the year when recording more assists ... Oregon is 7-1
when holding the opponent to under 70 points.

- Devoe Joseph has scored 20+ points in back-to-back games (only UO player to do
that this season). It's the eighth time this season Joseph has led the Ducks in
scoring. It was also the eighth straight game Joseph has scored in double-figures.

- E.J. Singler reached double-figures in scoring for the 18th time in 22 games this
season. Singler had a team-high six rebounds, marking the sixth time Singler has led
the team in rebounding.

- Junior forward Carlos Emory scored a career-high 14 points (all in the second
half). He was a perfect 4-of-4 on field goals (1-of-1 on 3-pointers and 5-of-5 on
free throws).

Beavers Blown Out In Boulder, 82-60

Thu, 02 Feb 2012 23:18:35 -0800

Courtesy: OSU Sports Information

BOULDER, Colo. --- Three Oregon State players scored in double-figures but the Beavers were unable to slow down a red-hot Colorado team in an 82-60 loss on Thursday night at the Coors Events Center that snapped a three-game winning streak.

"We weren't ready to play," Oregon State head coach Craig Robinson said. "The beginning of the game looked good. I don't know if it was the altitude or its complacency, but a lot of it has to do with the fact that they (Colorado) played really well. We didn't get back on defense and that was a big part of it. There were so many points from the paint in transition that you just can't win that way."

Jared Cunningham and Devon Collier each had 12 points and Roberto Nelson added 10 for Oregon State (14-8, 4-6 Pac-12), but the Buffs built a 46-31 lead at halftime, the Beavers biggest deficit at the break this season, and Colorado (15-7, 7-3 Pac-12) built a 28-point second half lead in front of a loud hometown crowd of 7,858.

Eric Moreland had nine points and nine rebounds and Angus Brandt had eight points and five rebounds as the Beavers fell in their first game after ending a 13-game conference road losing streak in last Sunday's Civil War victory over Oregon in Eugene.

"I don't know," Robinson said if this game was a letdown after the big win over the Ducks. "It shouldn't be a letdown. When you win three in a row, you should be looking to be really excited to win that fourth, but we are still learning. We have a lot of young guys out there and we might have been happy with just winning three in a row."

Colorado had five players score in double-figures, led by Andre Roberson who had 16 points and 15 rebounds for his 14th double-double of the season.

"You have to learn how to manage a game when you're on the road," Robinson said. "We are still learning how to do that. I'll take the blame for that. I still have to be better on teaching these guys how to manage a game on the road like this against a team who's at the top of the league.

Oregon State returns to action on Saturday against the Utah Utes in Salt Lake City, Utah at 2 p.m. PT (3 p.m. MT) in a game that won't be televised.

Beavers Sign 24 On National Signing Day

Wed, 01 Feb 2012 20:41:53 -0800

Courtesy: OSU Sports Information

HIGH SCHOOL

Name Pos. HT. WT Hometown (HS)

Gavin Andrews OL 6-5 300 Granite Bay, CA (Granite Bay)

Grant Bays OL 6-3 290 Oceanside, CA (Oceanside)

Chris Brown RB 6-0 195 Fresno, CA (San Joaquin Memorial)

Chase Eldredge OL 6-4 260 Palos Verdes Estates, CA (Palos Verdes)

Malik Gilmore WR 6-4 200 Lakewood, CA (Lakewood)

Tyler Hasty CB 5-11 180 Newcastle, WA (Bellevue)

Kendall Hill S 6-4 190 La Marque, TX (La Marque)

Rommel Mageo LB 6-2 220 Pago Pago, America Samoa (Samoana)

Chris Miller S 6-2 195 Pomona, CA (Diamond Ranch)

Josh Mitchell OL 6-3 285 North Bend, WA (Mount Si)

Cyril Noland S 6-2 200 Choudrant, LA (Ruston)

Garrett Owens PK 5-8 160 Arroyo Grande, CA (Arroyo Grande)

Zack Robinson ATH 6-3 200 Tahlequah, OK (Sequoyah)

Caleb Saulo LB 6-2 215 Kent, WA (Kentlake)

Isaac Seumalo OL 6-4 290 Corvallis, OR (Corvallis)

Joel Skotte LB 6-2 225 Bend, OR (Mountain View)

Caleb Smith TE 6-6 250 Renton, WA (Kentridge)

Dustin Stanton TE 6-6 220 Marysville, WA (Lakewood)

Noke Tago DL 6-3 290 Pago Pago, America Samoa (Leone)

Brent VanderVeen QB 6-5 210 Arroyo Grande, CA (Arroyo Grande)

Garrett Weinreich OL 6-6 285 Pismo Beach, CA (Arroyo Grande)

JUNIOR COLLEGE

Name Pos. HT. WT Hometown (HS/CC)

Cade Cowdin LB 6-2 220 St. George, UT (St. George/College of Desert)

Stan Hasiak OL 6-4 295 Kapolei, HI (Kapolei/UCLA/Mt. San Antonio JC)

Dyllon Mafi LB 6-3 210 Oakland, CA (Oakland/Laney CC)

Recruiting Rankings (as of Feb. 1, 2012)

Rivals – No. 38

Scout – No. 46

Gavin Andrews, OL, 6-5, 300, Granite Bay, CA (Granite Bay)

Rivals three-star athlete … highly recruited by West Coast schools … led Granite Bay to the San Joaquin Section title in 2011 … two-time Sierra Foothill League Lineman of the Year, Sacramento Bee All-Metro Team, and All-Sac-Joaquin Section Team … three-year starter … played in the 2011 Holiday All-Star Game … from Andrews – “I love the (Oregon State) coaching staff and how they are one big family. The campus is beautiful and I just felt at home" … from Joe Davidson of the Sacramento Bee – “He's (Andrews) very strong, mobile, athletic and he has a nasty side to him. Loves to bully up foes. He has good feet and hand placement and he's eager to learn. His biggest strength is his size, strength and upside, plus he's very coachable, very likeable, very hungry to achieve” … from ESPN recruiting analyst Tom Lemming – “He plays the game at pad level, can bend his knees, shows good lateral agility to cut off edge rushers and is perfectly suited for the LT or RT positions. He has played both spots and seems comfortable at each. The word here is potential; Gavin has just scratched the surface of his potential. He's a smart, technically sound ball player who works hard to improve his game” ... from Granite Bay head coach Ernie Cooper (courtesy of The Oregonian) – “Great athlete for his size. Great drive blocker. Moves really well. Gavin could have gone pretty much anywhere he wanted, but he really liked the atmosphere at Oregon State’’ … accomplished wrestler with several national tournament titles and all-league honors … Granite Bay produced Beaver football standout and current Tampa Bay Buccaneer Sammie Stroughter.

Grant Bays, OL, 6-3, 290, Oceanside, CA (Oceanside)

Rivals three-star athlete rated the No. 9 center in the nation and the No. 87 overall prospect in California … started on the varsity team at age 15 … also played offensive tackle and nose tackle on defense … all-league as a junior and senior … All-CIF in 2011 … helped Oceanside to the CIF San Diego Section title in 2010 … as a senior, Oceanside lost in the title game – Oceanside was 20-6-1 over the last two seasons … former NFL standout Randy Cross is an uncle … also played baseball as a pitcher … from ESPN recruiting analyst Tom Lemming – “He proves to be very versatile. His quickness off the ball is noticeable and he's been blessed with quick feet, good agility, he can bend his knees, and plays the game aggressively. Very strong and athletic, he's a power blocker that accelerates quickly out of his stance, keeps his pads low and uses his long arms to hold off defenders when in pass protection. The scouts are impressed with his quickness and overall athletic ability.”

Chris Brown, RB, 6-0, 195, Fresno, CA (San Joaquin Memorial)

Rivals three-star athlete rated the No. 21 running back in the nation and the No. 49 overall prospect in California … highly recruited … Tacoma News Tribune Western Hot 100 member … for his prep career he rushed for 5,017 yards … 1,947 yards rushing as a senior, 1,884 yards and 21 touchdowns in 10 games as a junior and 1,186 yards and 16 touchdowns as a sophomore … set a school record with seven touchdowns in a 2011 game … runs the 40 in 4.5 … former school record holder in the 200 meters at 23.27 and is a member of the school record 4x100 relay team … from San Joaquin head football coach Anthony Goston (courtesy of BeaverBlitz) – “Oregon State is getting one of the top backs in the state and the country. Chris had three straight 1,000-plus yard seasons and he broke all of our rushing and touchdown records. He’s a true running back, an every down back with good size and speed.”

Chase Eldredge, OL, 6-4, 260, Palos Verdes Estates, CA (Palos Verdes)

Chase helped Palos Verdes notch an 18-5 record over the last two seasons, including two appearances in the CIF playoffs … All-Bay League as a junior and senior … courtesy of ESPN’s Nick Ekbatani – “He (Chase) is a very athletic OL/DL prospect with an impressive body. He is very lean, with large legs and long arms, which is just about what everyone likes to see in a developing lineman. Plays with great effort and is fundamentally sound in his technique. Looked good defensively as well; using a nicely executed swim move to penetrate and collapse the pocket” … from Avinash Kunnath of the SB Nation – “Eldredge has good burst off the snap and is very good at concentrating his power upward, pushing his man back and down. He's good at keeping his body in place and ensuring defenders don't get past him. There's a lot to like in his technique as a run blocker and he can hopefully develop into a solid pro down the line” … his father, Dirk Eldredge, is a special consultant for the Seattle Seahawks.

Malik Gilmore, WR, 6-4, 200, Lakewood, CA (Lakewood)

Rivals three-star athlete and is rated the No. 53 best wide receiver and the No. 42 best prospect in California … highly recruited … made 34 receptions for 479 yards and six touchdowns his senior season … 28 receptions for 463 yards and six touchdowns as a junior … participated in last March’s Los Angeles Under Armour Combine … played in January’s Semper Fidelis All-American Bowl in Phoenix … from Gilmore, courtesy of BeaverBlitz.com – “Meeting the players was great and all of those guys are excited for next year. I was relieved talking to them and to Coach Riley. I asked the players how they feel (after this season) and they all said they were looking forward to next year and they were excited for me to come. Everyone believes in the program and where we are going” … from Gilmore, courtesy of Scout.com – “I’m very physical and have great hands and run great routes. I can get good separation and I’m a competitor. I always try to dominate my opponent. I want to get faster. I’d like to become more explosive and break away better” … from ESPN recruiting analyst recruiting expert Tom Lemming – “If you are looking for a receiver who catches everything within reach I guess the comparison to (Steve) Largent holds water. He's a tall, athletic WR who can change directions in the blink of an eye; he can make tacklers miss, shows good running instincts and surprising strength. He comes off the ball well and is able to close the cushion on the CB quickly.”

Tyler Hasty, CB, 5-11, 180, Newcastle, WA (Bellevue)

Rivals three-star athlete … Tacoma News-Tribune State Player of the Year … one of 22 players on the 2012 Seattle Times’ “Red Chip” list (top prospects in the state) … Sports Illustrated Honorable Mention All-American …Associated Press Washington Player of the Year … runs the 40 in 4.66 and the 20-yard shuttle in 4.41 … KingCo 3A/2A Defensive Player of the Year … led Bellevue to the 3A State title and undefeated season … also played quarterback, where as a senior he threw for 1,243 yards and 11 touchdowns … as a freshman and sophomore he attended O’Dea High School ... from Dirk Knudsen of Washingtonpreps.com -- Hasty is a legit D-1 athlete with good speed and excellent overall athleticism. He is a born runner with a good enough arm and great vision, but defense is where this guy shines. He is a hitter and a ball hawk” … from Bellevue head coach Butch Goncharoff – “I haven't seen a better player in the state. He's a big-time talent” … former NFL standout defensive back James Hasty is Tyler’s father.

Kendall Hill, S, 6-4, 190, La Marque, TX (La Marque)

Also played wide receiver at La Marque … helped La Marque to the 2010 state semifinals and 2011 quarterfinals … first team All-District wide receiver and second team all-county … from ESPN – “Hill is productive as both a defensive back and wide receiver. However we feel his size and athleticism are best suited for the safety position at the major level of competition. Has a long frame which appears capable of handling additional bulk over time” … will be 17 years of age at the time of enrollment … excellent student who participates in the national Academic Decathlon series that matches students from across the nation in art, economics, essay, interview, language, literature, mathematics, music, science, social science and speech.

Rommel Mageo, LB, 6-2, 220, Pago Pago, America Samoa (Samoana)

Rommel (Raw-Mo) Mageo (Mang-ayo) played on the 2011 International Federation of American Football Team vs. a team from the USA … defensive leader on the Samoana High School Sharks roster ... has five years of football experience ... named defensive player of the week during the season, recording four sacks, nine solo tackles and 16 assisted ... greatest football memory was winning the 2009 American Samoa High School Athletic Association championship … his brother played football at North Carolina State and his father was a professional rugby player.

Chris Miller, S, 6-2, 195, Pomona, CA (Diamond Ranch)

Rivals three-star athlete and is rated the No. 54 best safety in the country … Hacienda League and All-Valley Second Team defensive back … helped Diamond Ranch to the CIF Southern Section playoffs (second round) … from Diamond Ranch head coach Roddy Layton – “Chris is an exceptional athlete. He plays running back and safety, and could easily play either spot in college. When I talked to Chris, they mentioned running back but also said they like how he comes downhill at safety and can really lay the wood on people. I’m very happy for him and it’s a great pickup for the Beavs” … from ESPN – “Miller is a versatile athlete who can move the chains on offense as a runner or line up in the box and help defend the run on defense. Most likely will end up on the defensive side of the ball as a hybrid type safety”

Josh Mitchell, OL, 6-3, 285, North Bend, WA (Mount Si)

Rivals three-star athlete … first team all-KingCo conference offensive tackle and defensive tackle, and named the league’s Lineman of the Year … 3A All-State First Team offensive lineman … one of 22 players on the 2012Seattle Times’ “Red Chip” list (top prospects in the state) … three-year letterman and the only class in Mount Si history to advance to the state playoffs all four years … state heavyweight wrestling champion in 2011 (27-3) and as of Jan. 23 was 20-0 in 2012 with 19 pins … helped Mount Si to the 2011 state playoffs … from ESPN – “Mitchell is very productive playing both offensive and defensive tackle; flashes the playing strength necessary to dominate at his present level of play however we feel his height and athleticism are better suited for the offensive guard position at the next level of competition.”

Cyril Noland, S, 6-2, 200, Choudrant, LA (Ruston)

Rivals three-star athlete and is rated the No. 29 best prospect in Louisiana … from Noland about his recruiting trip in January (courtesy of BeaverBlitz) -- "The highlight; it is hard to find just one. I really liked everything, I really did, so I guess I'd say the trip was a series of highlights" … runs the 40 in 4.61 … 51 tackles and three interceptions last season … first team all-district and all-state … defensive back MVP of the 2011 Houston Nike Football Training Camp … his SPARQ (standardized test for athleticism) rating is No. 17 in the nation … helped Ruston advance to the state quarterfinals in 2011 … Keynon Codrington of ESPN ranked him a “Rising Senior Honorable Mention” at last summer’s Texas Combine and said -- “Noland has a rocked-out frame and body type to be a capable backside defender” … three-year varsity letterman … also participates in track.

Garrett Owens, PK, 5-8, 160, Arroyo Grande, CA (Arroyo Grande)

Owens earned first team All-CIF as a senior and is rated the No. 3 kicker in the nation … The Tribune (San Luis Obispo) 2011 County Co-Player of the Year … helped Arroyo Grande to its fifth championship and first CIF title since 1998 … kicked a 57-yard field goal as a senior and for his prep career had four of 50-plus yards … also an outstanding wide receiver and cornerback, and was named the KSBY Friday Night Highlights Player of the Week twice in 2011 … caught a 76-yard touchdown pass from Brent VanderVeen in the title game … Cal-Hi State Player of the Week in late September after making 10 receptions for 126 yards, making eight tackles, kicking eight touchbacks and was perfect on five extra point attempts … Cal-Hi Second Team All-State … from Chris Sailer of the Sailer Kicking Academy – “Garrett is the top kicker on the west coast; an incredible gifted athlete that will have great success in college. He has a big leg and hits a great ball off the ground. He has it all” … from Arroyo Grande head coach Tom Goossen – “He may not be big, but he packs a lot of punch into his body, and he’s athletically gifted, a complete football player” … Garrett also participates in the hurdles and relay teams in track, and has played soccer and basketball … Garrett’s father, Heath, played football at Cal Poly … his mother, Laurie, was a five-time All-American hurdler at Cal Poly and his sister, Karlee, is a track athlete at Arizona State.

Zack Robinson, ATH, 6-3, 200, Tahlequah, OK (Sequoyah)

Rivals three-star athlete … four-sport athlete … During his senior season at Sequoyah, Robinson led the Indians in pass break-ups with seven while hauling in three interceptions … he also had 27 tackles while starting at cornerback and as a wide receiver caught 33 passes for 571 yards and eight touchdowns … All-America honors as a senior … from Sequoyah head coach Brent Scott – “Zack was recruited at defensive back and wide receiver. But, it’s wherever he fits into the team’s system. I’m very happy for Zack. It’s well deserved, and I think he has a lot of upside at the next level” … Three Rivers Oklahoma Second Team wide receiver … Oklahoma 3A All-State First Team kick returner … Christian Littlehead of Oklahoma State and Chris Hummingbird of Tulsa are former prep teammates.

Caleb Saulo, LB, 6-2, 215, Kent, WA (Kentlake)

Saulo (pronounced SAW-LOW) was the MVP of the Washington Prep 5-Star Camp … also played quarterback at Kentlake… from ESPN – “Saulo is productive on both sides of the ball as a quarterback and linebacker; at either position we see the playing strength and speed needed to make plays. Has the size and athleticism for either position at the major level of competition” … helped Kentlake to the 4A state playoffs after an 8-0 conference record; the school’s first conference title since 2003 … First Team All-South Puget Sound League as a senior after making 49.5 tackles … one of 22 players on the 2012 Seattle Times’ “Red Chip” list (top prospects in the state) … transferred to Kentlake from Mount Rainier High School prior to his senior year … 2010 Seamount League First Team All-Conference as a quarterback and linebacker … anticipates enrolling at OSU for spring term.

Isaac Seumalo, OL, 6-4, 290, Corvallis, OR (Corvallis)

Seumalo (pronounced Say-oh-malo) is a Rivals four-star athlete; rated the No. 3 offensive guard in the country, the No. 1 overall prospect in Oregon and the No. 52 overall prospect in the country … Tacoma News Tribune Western Hot 100 member … from Chris Nee of Rivals -- Seumalo is everything you want in an offensive guard. He is a talented blocker who understands when to anchor in or when to move his feet to stay in front of the oncoming rusher. He is great with his hands in tight spaces and athletic enough to move outside and make a block in space. He performed extremely well during his time at the Under Armour game” … Tom Lemming ranks Seumalo No. 19 in his ESPNU Top 150 recruits – “He’s college ready; he is technically sound and no one is on par with him from a production standpoint” … No. 2 offensive lineman in the nation per SurperPrep … 94 tackles and nine sacks as a defensive lineman as a senior … 5A First Team All-State as an offensive and defensive lineman as a junior and senior … offensive line MVP of the 2011 Stanford Nike Camp (MVP of 4 summer camps) … Under Armour and ESPN All-American … selected to play in last month’s Under Armour All-Star game … highly recruited, particularly by Pac-12 institutions … son of OSU defensive line coach Joe Seumalo and his brother, Andrew, is a defensive tackle at OSU.

Joel Skotte, LB, 6-2, 225, Bend, OR (Mountain View)

Skotte (pronounced Scott-EE) is a Rivals three-star athlete; rated the No. 30 inside linebacker in the country and No. 5 overall prospect in Oregon … 5A Defensive Player of the Year … Tacoma News Tribune Western Hot 100 member … made 89 tackles in leading Mountain View to a 12-1 overall record and the state 5A title … from Jake Worthen of Scout.com – “Skotte is a physical player that can take on blockers at the point of attack. He has the speed to really attack the ball carrier once he has made a read on the play. His tackling form is near perfect, hitting low, wrapping up and driving through the offensive player. Most schools are recruiting him as a middle linebacker, but I could also see him playing outside” … Scout lists his strengths as tackling technique and speed … also played running back at Mountain View … 162 tackles as a junior … from Skotte, courtesy of The Oregonian -- "Since my freshman year in high school, I always liked Oregon State and thought how great it would be to play football there. Coach Riley and his staff have an excellent reputation and it just felt like a great fit for me” … also plays basketball and participates in track.

Caleb Smith, TE, 6-6, 250, Renton, WA (Kentridge)

Rivals four-star athlete; rated No. 11 tight end in the country and No. 7 overall prospect in Washington … caught 37 passes for 570 yards as a senior; ran for 425 yards and overall scored 11 touchdowns … Tacoma News Tribune Western Hot 100 member … attended Oregon State’s elite camp last summer … from Caleb – “I’m on track to graduate early and plan to be on campus in April which will give me a step ahead of others in my class and hopefully that will give me an opportunity to get on the field as a freshman” … played quarterback until midway point of his junior year … 2011 Seattle Times Preseason All-State Team … South Puget Sound North League All-Purpose Player of the Year for 2011 and first team tight end … Tacoma News Tribune and Associated Press First Team All-State … one of 22 players on the 2012 Seattle Times’ “Red Chip” list (top prospects in the state) highly recruited, particularly by West Coast schools.

Dustin Stanton, TE, 6-6, 220, Marysville, WA (Lakewood)

Rivals three-star athlete; rated the No. 30 tight end in the country and the No. 10 overall prospect in Washington … 21 receptions and four touchdowns his senior season … 42 tackles last year while playing linebacker … 19 receptions, 291 yards and four touchdowns as a junior … played H- Back in some of Lakewood’s formations … two-time recipient of Lakewood’s Coaches Award for leadership and hustle … Cascade Conference First Team tight end as a senior and second team as a linebacker … All-Area and all-conference as a junior … one of 22 players on the 2012 Seattle Times’ “Red Chip” list (top prospects in the state) … also played basketball and participated in track at Lakewood … his father, Marty, played football at Eastern Washington.

Noke Tago, DL, 6-3, 290, Pago Pago, America Samoa (Leone)

Tago (pronounced Tah-GO) played his first year of organized football in the 2011 season … from Scout – “A raw, but explosive talent” … born in Western Somoa.

Brent VanderVeen, QB, 6-5, 210, Arroyo Grande, CA (Arroyo Grande)

Rivals three-star athlete; rated the No. 10 dual threat quarterback in the country and the No. 55 overall prospect in California … threw for 2,422 yards and 20 touchdowns as a senior, and 1,402 yards and 11 touchdowns as a junior … 203 yards passing and 89 yards rushing in leading Arroyo Grande to the CIF Southern Section title in 2011 – the school’s first since 1998 … first team all-area and All-Pac-7 ... Tacoma News Tribune Western Hot 100 member … from Arroyo Grande head coach Tom Goossen – “He has major college size, that’s No. 1; and No. 2 he has a major college arm. I think what really got DI coaches interested was his athletic ability, his ability to run and throw the ball, and when you add all that up, it’s a pretty good package” … Scout lists his strengths as decision making, touch and size … a standout basketball player, he scored 28 points and grabbed 16 rebounds in the championship game of a high school tournament in December … also plays baseball.

Garrett Weinreich, OL, 6-6, 285, Pismo Beach, CA (Arroyo Grande)

Weinreich (pronounced WINE-rick) is a Rivals three-star selection and ranked the No. 38 offensive guard in the nation and the No. 96 best overall prospect in California … Scout four-star player … Arroyo Grande won 13 games his senior year … from Scout’s Brandon Huffman – “Weinreich has very good flexibility, is a natural knee-bender, and has good balance and control of his body. Very good in pass protection and run blocks well. Has good size and footwork” … strengths listed as body control, balance, flexibility and pass protection … from ESPN recruiting analyst Tom Lemming – “Garrett showed the scouts what they are looking for in an LT prospect -- length, long arms, quick feet and athletic ability. He shows good run blocking skills, does a good job of sustaining his blocks and keeps his pads low” … All-Pac-7 First Team (off. lineman of the year) and third team all-state following his senior year … throws the shot put and discus … from Arroyo Grande head coach Tom Goossen – “All you need to do is look at his efforts in track and his success in track to know he comes by his successes honestly. Nothing has been given to him and he's taken full advantage of the gifts he's been given … finished third in the shot put last spring at the CIF Championships … from Weinreich – “I always wanted to play in the Pac-12; it's always been a dream of mine -- and now it's a reality. I never thought I was going to be playing at such a high level” … high school teammate of fellow OSU recruit, quarterback Brent Vanderveen.

JUNIOR COLLEGE

Cade Cowdin, LB, 6-2, 220, St. George, Utah (St. George HS/College of the Desert)

Rivals three-star prospect who was recruited by several FBS teams … signed LOI during JC signing period Dec. 21 … No. 32 on the SuperPrep Juco 100 … two years of eligibility remaining to be completed in two seasons … helped the Roadrunners to the 2011 Beach Bowl … played linebacker and fullback while at St. George High School in Utah. He was an all-state selection by the Deseret News and Salt Lake Tribune, honorable mention all-region following his senior year … from College of the Desert head coach Dean Dowty -- “Cade is an outstanding human being, a proven leader both on the field and off, and plays with a great sense of urgency and focus. He can make plays in and out of the box, has great speed and I am sure he will prove to be a great leader, teammate and student for Oregon State.”

Stan Hasiak, OL, 6-4, 295, Kapolei, HI (Kapolei/UCLA/Mt. San Antonio JC)

Hasiak (pronounced Hay-Zee-ack) has two years of eligibility remaining without a redshirt year available … helped Mt. San Antonio to the state title game last fall … rated among the top 50 California junior college recruits by 247Sports … was on the UCLA roster in 2009 and ’10, playing three games … did not play in 2010, but was a member of UCLA’s scout teams … lettered four seasons at Kapolei HS and was a three-year starter at guard and tackle … SuperPrep All-American … Rivals four-star athlete out of HS, and rated the No. 4 offensive guard in the country, the No. 108 overall prospect and the No. 2 player in Hawai’i … Tacoma News Tribune Western 100 … Played in the UnderArmour All-Star Game ... Long Beach Press-Telegram Best in the West ... .Earned All-State honors from Honolulu Advertiser ... Holds his high school's record for most pancake blocks ... An OIA All-Star ... Played in the inaugural Hawaii-Polynesia vs. Mainland All-American game in Honolulu.

Dyllon Mafi, LB, 6-3, 210, Oakland, CA (Oakland/Laney)

Mafi (pronounced Mah-FEE) is a Rivals three-star athlete … rated one of the top outside linebackers in the nation by Rivals … NorCal First Team All-Conference … received Laney’s outstanding freshman defensive player award in 2010 and was the team’s 2011 Linebacker of the Year … 21 tackles last season against national champion San Francisco City College … two years of eligibility remaining with a redshirt year available … JC Bureau First Team All-American … played safety at Oakland High School … played basketball at Oakland High School … runs the 40 in 4.62 … track athlete at Oakland HS.

Ducks Sign 21 On National Signing Day

Wed, 01 Feb 2012 13:34:51 -0800

Courtesy: UO Sports Information

Recruits Listed Alphabetically

Addison, Bralon ATH 5-10 185 HS Missouri City, TX (Fort Bend Hightower)
Allen, Chance WR 6-3 191 HS Missouri City, TX (Fort Bend Elkins)
Amoako, Eric DB 5-11 195 HS Arlington, TX (Martin)
Amoako, Stephen DB 6-0 190 HS Arlington, TX (Martin)
Armstead, Arik DL 6-8 280 HS Elk Grove, CA (Pleasant Grove)
Ausherman, Dylan P 6-3 180 JC Visalia, CA (College of the Sequoias/El Diamante)
Bafaro, Brett LB 6-2 220 HS Hillsboro, OR (Liberty)
Bair, Stetzon DL 6-9 265 JC St. Anthony, ID (Iowa Western CC/South Fremont)
Balducci, Alex DL 6-4 262 HS Portland, OR (Central Catholic)
Baylis, Evan TE 6-5 225 HS Aurora, CO (Grandview)
Brown, Pharaoh TE 6-6 220 HS Lyndhurst, OH (Brush)
Buckner, DeForest DL 6-7 230 HS Honolulu, HI (Punahou)
Carriger, Cody DL 6-6 230 HS Butte, MT (Butte)
Daniel, Terrence ATH 6-6 230 HS Oakland, CA (Bishop O'Dowd)
Daniels, Reggie DB 6-1 185 HS Chandler, AZ (Hamilton)
Dunmore, Oshay DB 6-2 195 HS Newport, OR (Newport)
Lockie, Jeff QB 6-2 175 HS Danville, CA (Monte Vista)
Long, Kyle OL 6-7 308 JC Charlottesville, VA (Saddleback CC/St. Anne's-Belfield)
Marshall, Byron RB 5-10 195 HS San Jose, CA (Valley Christian)
Rodrigues, Jake QB 6-3 210 HS Rocklin, CA (Whitney)
Stanford, Dwayne WR 6-5 185 HS Cincinnati, OH (Taft)

BY POSITION
Offense (8):
Allen (WR), Baylis (TE), Brown (TE), Lockie (QB), Long (OL), Marshall (RB), Rodrigues (QB), Stanford (WR)
Defense (10):
E. Amoako (DB), S. Amoako (DB), Armstead (DL), Bafaro (LB), Bair (DL), Balducci (DL), Buckner (DL), Carriger (DL), Daniels (DB), Dunmore (DB)
Athletes (2):
Addison (ATH), Daniel (ATH),
Special Teams (1):
Ausherman (P)

BY STATE

California (6), Texas (4). Oregon (3), Ohio (2), Arizona (1), Colorado (1), Hawaii (1), Idaho (1), Montana (1), Virginia (1)

Recruits Bios (Provided by UO Sports Information)

Bralon Addison
ATH - 5-10, 182
Missouri City, Texas (Fort Bend Hightower HS)
U.S. ARMY ALL-AMERICAN
A three-year letterwinner at Fort Bend Hightower High School for head coach Shane Hallmark ... Selected to the 2012 U.S. Army All-American game and played at wide receiver ... Primarily a quarterback for the Hurricanes, Addison was the Texas all-state first-team QB as a senior, completing 134 of 238 attempts for 2,158 yards and 22 touchdowns against only three interceptions ... Also rushed for 1,625 yards and 20 scores on 190 carries (8.6 avg.) on his way to all-Sun first-team honors ... As a junior, passed for 1,858 yards (118 of 199) and 28 touchdowns with just three interceptions, and rushed 144 times for 1,068 yards (7.4 avg.) and 15 TDs ... Saw the bulk of his time at wide receiver during his sophomore campaign, catching 18 balls for 331 yards (18.4 avg.) ... Lettered twice in basketball.

Chance Allen
WR - 6-3, 191
Missouri City, Texas (Fort Bend Elkins HS)
A three-year letterwinner at Fort Bend Elkins under head coach Dennis Brantley ... 5A Texas Region III all-district selection ... Finished his prep career with 126 receptions for 1,920 yards and 22 touchdowns ... Led the Knights with 52 receptions for 892 yards and 10 touchdowns as a senior ... Caught 51 balls for 678 yards and eight TDs as a junior after posting totals of 23 catches, 350 yards and four scores as a sophomore ... Also a starting guard on the Knights' basketball team, ranking second on the squad in scoring as both a junior and a senior.

Eric Amoako
DB - 5-11, 195
Arlington, Texas (Martin HS)
A two-year letterwinner under 2011-2012 District 4-5A Texas Coach of The Year Bob Wager... As a senior, Amoako tallied 50 total tackles, six pass deflections and two interceptions as his team compiled a school-record 12-2 season ... Named second-team Class 5A all-Area team as a defensive back ... Considered the No. 25 defensive back nationally by Scout.com ... During his junior year he racked up 59 tackles, three interceptions, three pass deflections, two fumble recoveries, and a pair of sacks on his way to being named to first-team all-league.

Stephen Amoako
DB - 6-0, 190
Arlington, Texas (Martin HS)
Played under 2011-2012 District 4-5A Texas Coach of The Year Bob Wager... As a senior, Amoako played the defensive back position opposite of his brother Eric, also a UO signee ... Earned second-team all-University Interscholastic League ... Named a Gatorade National
Performer ... He totaled 20 tackles, five pass deflections, and three interceptions during his senior season.

Arik Armstead
DL - 6-8, 280
Elk Grove, Calif. (Pleasant Grove HS)
U.S. ARMY ALL-AMERICAN/PARADE ALL-AMERICA
A two-way standout on the defensive and offensive lines for head coach Joe Cattolico at Pleasant Grove High School ... Selected to the U.S. Army All-American game and a member of the 2012 Parade All-America team ... Tallied 42 tackles, 3.5 sacks and broke up three passes in his final prep campaign, helping lead the Eagles to the California Sac-Joaquin Section Division I championship game ... Named to Cal-Hi Sports all-state first team as an offensive lineman ... 2011 Sac-Joaquin Section first-team offensive lineman ... Recorded 45 tackles, two sacks, two pass breakups, one blocked punt and one blocked field goal as a junior ... Named all-NorCal first-team selection on the offensive line, as well as first-team all-Metro by the Sacramento Bee during junior campaign ... Named Delta River League Lineman of the Year in 2010 ... Posted 39 tackles, two sacks, four pass breakups and recovered one fumble as a sophomore ... Also a two-year letterwinner in basketball for Pleasant Grove.

Dylan Ausherman
P - 6-3, 180
Visalia, Calif. (College of the Sequoias/El Diamante HS)
Spent two years at College of the Sequoias, playing for head coach Robert Dougherty ... Punted 67 times over 10 games in 2011 ... Had six punts of 50-plus yards and dropped eight inside the 20-yard line against only one touchback ... Student of the Chris Sailer Kicking school ... Top punter at the Nike Summer Camp in Los Angeles in 2011 ... Punted and played wide receiver at El Diamante High School for head coach Mark Rogers ... Helped the Miners to a 9-2 overall mark and unblemished 6-0 conference record as a senior, and an 11-2 (6-0) mark as a junior.

Brett Bafaro
LB - 6-2, 220
Hillsboro, Ore. (Liberty HS)
A two-way standout and three-year letterwinner for head coach Eric Mahlum at Liberty High School ... Recorded 91 total tackles, including six sacks and 10 tackles for loss ... Rushed for 659 yards on 66 carries and hauled in 27 receptions for 373 yards, scoring a total of 10 touchdowns as a senior ... Named to the all-state first-team at linebacker and was the Northwest Oregon Conference defensive player of the year ... Selected second-team all-NWOC at running back ... Was invited to "The Opening" at the Nike campus, a football camp featuring 150 of the nation's top high school players ... Lettered three years in baseball.

Stetzon Bair
DT - 6-9, 265
St. Anthony, Idaho (Iowa Western CC/South Fremont)
Spent one season at Iowa Western Community College, where he played under head coach Scott Strohmeier ... In nine games at WCC, he compiled 22 total tackles, 10 tackles for loss, and seven sacks ... As a senior at South Fremont High School in 2007, he totaled 41 tackles, two blocked punts and a sack on defense, while hauling in 11 receptions for 152 yards and two touchdowns at tight end ... Younger brother of former Oregon defensive tackle Brandon Bair, now of the Kansas City Chiefs.

Alex Balducci
DE - 6-4, 262
Portland, Ore. (Central Catholic HS)
U.S. ARMY ALL-AMERICAN
Played three seasons at Central Catholic High School for head coach Steve Pyne ... Selected to the U.S. Army All-American game, where he had two quarterback hurries and two tackles ... As a senior, tallied 68 tackles, including 40 solo stops, had seven sacks, deflected one pass, and forced two fumbles, while recovering one fumble for the Rams, who finished 10-3 and advanced to the semifinals of the OSAA Class 6A playoffs ... Named first-team all-state as both a defensive lineman and an offensive lineman, while also being named the Mt. Hood Conference and Class 6A Defensive Player of the Year in 2011.

Evan Baylis

TE - 6-5, 225

Aurora, Colo. (Grandview HS)
As a senior, caught 24 passes for 225 yards and two touchdowns, while recording 108 tackles and eight sacks at linebacker, helping Grandview to a 5A Centennial League championship under head coach John Schultz ... Named to the all-league 5A Creek first team at tight end/fullback as a senior ... Selected to the 2011 all-Colorado first team (defense) and named to the 2011 5A all-state first team at linebacker ... Hauled in 33 passes for 456 yards and six touchdowns, averaging 13.8 yards per catch as a junior ... Named to the 2010 Colorado all-league 5A Creek first team on offense as an H-Back and was honorable mention all-state.

Pharaoh Brown
TE - 6-6, 220
Lyndhurst, Ohio (Brush HS)
OFFENSE-DEFENSE ALL-AMERICAN
A two-way standout, Brown was a three-year letterwinner at Brush High School under head coach Rob Atwood ... Played in the Offense-Defense All-American Bowl, where he was named the West's offensive MVP ... Caught 32 passes for 753 yards (23.5 average) and 10 touchdowns as a senior, while racking up 12 sacks at defensive end ... Named second-team all-Ohioan in 2011 ... His best game on offense came against Normandy High School (Parma, OH), where he made seven catches for 173 yards, helping his team to a 34-0 win ... Also a standout basketball player for the Arcs, averaging 18.5 points, 11.0 rebounds and 3.0 blocks per game thus far during his senior season ... First-team all-conference and MVP as a junior, when he averaged 16.0 points and 14.0 rebounds per contest.

DeForest Buckner
DE - 6-7, 230
Honolulu, Hawaii (Punahou HS)
SEMPER FIDELIS ALL-AMERICAN
Competed in the 2012 Semper Fidelis All-American Bowl game at defensive end ... Recorded 73 tackles while helping lead Punahou to a second-place finish in the state playoffs under head coach Kale Ane... Named first-team all-state at defensive end as a senior ... As a sophomore, named all-state honorable mention, while receiving athlete of the year for his class ... Four-year letterwinner in basketball, averaging 11.3 points and 8.9 rebounds per game as a senior, helping lead his team to a third-place finish in Hawaii ... Named to the all-state first team and all-ILH League first team in basketball.

Cody Carriger
DE - 6-6, 230
Butte, Mont. (Butte HS)
Carriger was a two-year letterwinner at Butte High School under former Arie Grey ... He played defensive end, linebacker and tight end for the football team, while also playing basketball and running track ... He was Montana's lone representative in the Gridiron University Prep Stars Classic in Las Vegas, playing tight end and outside linebacker ... An alternate for the East-West Shrine Game this summer, he was voted first-team Eastern AA all-conference at defensive end and second-team Class AA all-state at tight end ... As a junior, he was chosen second-team Eastern AA all-conference and honorable mention Class AA all-state, both at defensive end ... On the track, he logged 11.47 in the 100 meters during his senior year.

Terrence Daniel
DE - 6-6, 230
Oakland, Calif. (Bishop O'Dowd HS)
A two-year letterwinner at Bishop O'Dowd High School under head coach and former NFL All-Pro linebacker Hardy Nickerson ... Recorded 63 tackles and 7.5 sacks on the defensive side of the ball, while adding 28 receptions for 437 yards and nine touchdowns as a tight end during his senior season, helping his team to a 9-3 record, 7-0 in conference ... Was an all-Hayward Area
Athletic League performer on both offense and defense as a senior ... Posted 25 total tackles and 4.5 sacks to go with six catches for 89 yards and a touchdown as a junior.

Reggie Daniels
S - 6-1, 185
Chandler, Ariz. (Hamilton HS)
A three-year letterwinner for Hamilton High School under head coach Steve Belles ... Tallied 90 total tackles, averaging 6.4 tackles per game and had five interception, three sacks, six pass breakups and two fumble recoveries as a senior, assisting Hamilton to a 13-1 record ... Helped lead the Huskies to two Division I state titles in three seasons ... Selected to the Arizona Football Coaches Association Top 25 Team at defensive back and was chosen to the Division I all-state first team on defense in 2011 ... Recorded 46 tackles, two sacks, three interceptions and four pass breakups, earning an all-region selection as a junior.

Oshay Dunmore
S - 6-2, 195
Newport, Ore. (Newport HS)
PARADE ALL-AMERICAN
Played quarterback and defensive back at Newport High School for head coach Kurt Hargett ... As a senior, passed for 790 yards and eight touchdowns, while rushing for 2,134 yards and 25 TDs, helping lead Newport to the first round of the state playoffs ... Contributed 79 tackles, two interceptions, and blocked two field goals, averaging 7.2 tackles a game during his final prep season ... Named class 4A first-team all-state at defensive back and second-team quarterback in 2011 ... Received offensive and defensive player of the year awards for the 4A Oregon West Conference ... Earned 4A Oregon West Conference first-team quarterback and first-team defensive back honors ... Selected to the 2012 Parade All-America High School Football Team as an all-purpose player ... Threw for 832 yards and seven touchdowns and had 247 carries for 2,152 yards and 26 scores on the ground as a junior ... Also played basketball and competed in track and field for the Cubs ... Was the highest individual scorer at the 2011 OSAA Track and Field State Championships, finishing first in the triple jump and second in the pole vault, long jump and discus.

Jeff Lockie
QB - 6-2, 175
Danville, Calif. (Monte Vista HS)
A two-year starter at quarterback for Monte Vista High School under head coach Craig Bergman ... Won the East Bay Athletic League (EBAL) MVP in 2011 ... Completed 234 passes, piling up 3,278 passing yards with 31 passing touchdowns, while rushing for 136 yards and seven additional scores as a senior ... His best individual game came against Heritage High School,
when he completed 20 passes for 355 yards and five touchdowns ... As a junior, Lockie threw for 2,449 passing yards and 26 touchdowns, while adding 205 yards on the ground.

Kyle Long
OL - 6-7, 308
Charlottesville,Va. (Saddleback College/ St. Anne's-Belfield High School)
U.S. ARMY ALL-AMERICAN
Switched to the offensive line at Saddleback for the 2011 season, where he played for head coach Mark McElroy ... Initially a defensive end, recorded 16 tackles, two tackles for a loss and one sack in 2010 ... Prepped at At. Anne's-Belfield High School under head coach John Blake ... Participated in the U.S. Army All-American game as a high school senior ... Recorded 45 tackles in his junior season ... Named to the Division 2 all-state VISSA first team as both an offensive and defensive lineman as a junior in 2006 ... Helped St. Anne's Belfield to back-to-back state championships his final two prep seasons ... Was a two-sport All-American in high school and earned all-state honors for both football and baseball in his sophomore, junior, and senior seasons ... Was also a very accomplished pitcher and first baseman ... Accepted a baseball scholarship at Florida State out of high school ... Son of Howie Long, a former all-pro defensive end for the Oakland and Los Angeles Raiders, and a member of the NFL Hall of Fame ... Brother Chris plays defensive end for the St. Louis Rams.

Byron Marshall
RB - 5-10, 195
San Jose, Calif. (Valley Christian HS)
U.S. ARMY ALL-AMERICAN
A four-year letterwinner at Valley Christian under head coach Mike Machado ... Played in the 2012 Army All-American game ... As a senior, rushed for 914 yards and nine touchdowns, averaging 9.38 yards per carry and caught seven passes for 86 yards and one TD, despite missing three games due to injury ... Named to the all-Mercury News football team second-team ... Carried the ball 145 times for 1,360 yards and 20 touchdowns, as well as catching 10 passes for 115 yards ... Selected to the all-CCS first-team at running back as a junior ... Had a break-out year as a sophomore, rushing for 1,035 yards and 17 TDs, while catching 11 passes for 331 yards and four more scores ... Was the Cal-Hi Sports State Sophomore of the Year ... Named to the all-state first team in 2009 ... First-team Central Coast Selection and first-team West Coast Athletic League at running back as a sophomore ... Chosen as the 2009 Old Spice Red Zone Player of the Year ... Also lettered in track, placed third place at the National Indoor Championships in the 60M and was the ranked number one among sophomores in California with a time of 10.67 seconds in the 100 meters.

Jake Rodrigues
QB - 6-3, 210
Rocklin, Calif. (Whitney HS)
A three-year letterwinner at Whitney High School under head coach Mike Gimenez ... Helped team win the Capital Athletic League Championship as a senior ... Named Sac-Joaquin Section all-league and offensive player of the year as a senior ... Threw for 2,036 yards and 26 touchdowns, while rushing for 684 yards and 15 TDs during his senior year in 2011 ... Named Whitney Football player of the year ... Was a finalist in the 2011 Elite 11 Quarterback Competition ... As a junior, threw for 2,039 yards and 21 touchdowns and ran for 1,300 yards and 22 TDs, earning CAL MVP honors ... In 2010, he was named Sac-Joaquin Section all-league offensive player of the year.

Dwayne Stanford
WR - 6-5, 185
Cincinnati, Ohio (Taft HS)
U.S. ARMY ALL-AMERICAN
Played for head coach Mike Martin at Taft High School ... Competed in the 2012 U.S. Army All-American game ... As a senior, caught 32 passes for 720 yards and nine touchdowns, averaging 22.5 yards per catch ... Named all-Ohio Division III first-team offense at receiver ... Caught 44 balls for 865 yards and nine touchdowns during his junior campaign, helping his team win the Cincinnati Metro Athletic Conference league championship ... Selected as the CMAC Offensive Player of the Year and all-Ohio first-team receiver as a junior ... Also a standout basketball player for the Senators, helped lead the team to a 26-1 mark and the OHSAA Division 3 title in 2011.

Report: 1 in 4 Oregonians Have Almost No Savings

Tue, 31 Jan 2012 13:51:28 -0800

WASHINGTON -- A new report says one in four Oregon residents have almost no savings to draw from in case of a financial crisis.

The national nonprofit Corporation for Enterprise Development released their 2012 Assets & Opportunity Scorecard, which ranks each state and the District of Columbia base on five areas: Financial Assets & Income, Businesses & Jobs, Housing & Homeownership, Health Care and Education.

Oregon ranked 27th on the list.

The group says many Oregonians have jobs but they don't have enough savings to cover expenses for three months if they lost their job.

Click here for view the report.

OSU Study: Ads Favored More After Close Games

Tue, 31 Jan 2012 11:35:22 -0800

CORVALLIS, Ore. -- A new study suggests that advertisers who air commercials during a sport event, such as the Super Bowl, benefit the most when their commercials air right after viewers watched a close, exciting event.

The study found that no matter which team won, if the game was intense enough, they would respond positively to the ads that aired after the event was over.

"An ad with more zip and high energy paired with a close game resulted in increased favorable responses toward the ad and brand," said Colleen Bee, an Oregon State marketing expert and author of the study.

The study will be published in the spring issue of the Journal of Advertising.

University of Oregon Associate Professor of Business Robert Madrigal co-authored the study.

Beavers Use Second Half Surge To Beat Ducks In Civil War

Sun, 29 Jan 2012 21:01:40 -0800

Courtesy: OSU Sports Information

EUGENE, Ore. --- Jared Cunningham led a ferocious Oregon State rally that saw the Beavers score 53 second half points to drop intrastate rival Oregon, 76-71, in the 336th edition of the Civil War Series, Sunday afternoon at Matthew Knight Arena.

"We haven't won here very often," Oregon State head coach Craig Robinson said. "It's hard to win here. I thought we were being too conservative in the first half. For most of these guys this was only their second Civil War game. I'm still nervous coming down here. This was a big game for our team and our fans. I told these guys, `when you get halfway through your conference schedule you're not your year anymore. So let's stop leaning on how young we are'. That's what I told them; I didn't know if it was going to work."

Cunningham scored 24 points in the second half, going 5-of-7 from the field and 6-of-8 from the stripe in the final two minutes, to finish with a game-high 27 points and become just the 36th Oregon State player to score 1,000 career points.

"I told Jared that our best player will help us win games on the road," Robinson said about his junior guard. "So not only did he have the pressure he was putting on himself, but I put that added pressure on him."

With the win, Oregon State snapped a 13-game conference road losing streak that dated back to two years ago when the Beavers won their final Pac-10 road game of the season, 49-44, over USC on Feb. 27, 2010 at the Galen Center in Los Angeles, Calif.

"It's our rival school and it was a big game and a great crowd," Cunningham said. "We had a lot of Beaver fans out there. I think we turned the corner with this win, winning our first road game, especially with it being the Civil War game. It means a lot to Beaver Nation."

The Beavers (14-7, 4-5 Pac-12) scored 23 first half points, their fewest in a half this season, and trailed 28-23 at the break before coming out on fire in the second half when they forced 13 turnovers with seven steals and went on a 31-13 run to take a 61-49 lead with 6:54 to play.

Oregon (15-6, 6-3) cut the lead to 73-70 in the final minute but E.J. Singler missed a three-pointer that would have tied the game and the Ducks turned the ball over after getting the offensive rebound. Cunningham, Roberto Nelson and Ahmad Starks each split a pair of free throws and Singler knocked down one with 11 seconds to play for the final margin.

Starks scored 12 second half points to finish with 15 and knocked down 4-of-8 three-pointers to give him a triple in 20 of 21 games this season, including at least one in 18 consecutive games. Devon Collier played his typical consistent game, going 5-of-7 from the field to finish with 13 points, while Joe Burton had 10 points and five rebounds.

Eric Moreland had a career-high four steals at the top of the 1-3-1 defense and senior team captain Kevin McShane provided his usual high-energy off the bench when he picked up a loose ball and was fouled.

Oregon State returns to action on Thursday when it plays new Pac-12 member Colorado at 6 p.m. PT in Boulder, Colo., in a game that won't be televised but will be streamed live at cubuffs.com.

Two Trails Added to Oregon's Scenic Bikeways List

Fri, 27 Jan 2012 13:12:24 -0800

SALEM, Ore. -- The state of Oregon has approved two new scenic bikeways -- one in Bend and one in Cottage Grove.

Two more routes have been added to the list of Oregon scenic bikeways.

In Cottage Grove, the Covered Bridges Scenic Bikeway caters to riders of all ages. The 36-mile route has several covered bridges, including the only covered railroad bridge west of the Mississippi River.

The Twin Bridges Loop Scenic Bikeway in Bend is also 36 miles. It is more moderate in difficulty. It starts at ends at Drake Park.

These two trails now bring the program's total to eight.

Click here for more information.

Oregon Graduation Rate Continues to Increase

Fri, 27 Jan 2012 12:55:49 -0800

SALEM, Ore. -- State Schools Superintendent Susan Castillo announced Friday that student graduation rates are on the rise.

The four-year graduation rate for 2011 was up to 67 percent -- a rise of a percentage point from 2010.

Castillo says all of the state's historically underperforming subgroups saw increases in their graduation rates and in many cases their graduation rates grew faster than for the state overall, indicating a slight closing of the graduation gap.

Oregon also hit an all-time low in the number of students dropping out of high school.

Click here for more information on how the rate was calculated.

Liquor Sales on the Rise in Oregon

Thu, 26 Jan 2012 18:29:03 -0800

By Lauren Mickler

LANE COUNTY, Ore. -- The OLCC says liquor sales in Oregon are on the rise.

It reports that the state saw a $20 million increase in liquor sales in 2011, something neither they, nor liquor store owners, were expecting to see.

The Mohawk Liquor Store stocks just about every selection of spirit you could ask for, and they sell a lot of liquor too.

Tom Hammond and his wife Connie say about 25 percent of their business is with local bars, but most comes from every day over-the-counter sales.

"We could kind of see that people are spending a little more time at home so the over-the-counter sales were a little bit more," Hammond said.

Sales at the Hammond's store went up by about $20,000 in 2011, contributing to the $20 million total increase across the state.

OLCC Representative Mark Jeahnig says this much of an increase surprised the agency.

Jeahnig says the spike wasn't really about more people buying liquor but more about what kind of liquor people are buying.

"With the economy getting a little better, people are buying more expensive drinks. In 2008 and 2009, it wasn't really about quantity, it was really about less expensive drinks," Jaehig said.

The OLCC expects liquor lovers to keep up the pace.

"We expect for the 2013-2015 biennium to actually top a billion dollars, so we have some pretty high expectations," Jaehig said.

And that's just for Oregon. The Hammonds hope the increase will continue and help their store do even more business in the coming years.

"I am hoping that things keep going up and some of the bars make a comeback, and we have some of them that are opening back up, and we're hoping that that increases our business," Hammond said.

Ninety-five percent of the reported 2011 revenue came from hard liquor sales, the other 5 percent comes from beer and wine and miscellaneous licensing fees.

Barner: I was "extremely close" to entering the NFL draft

Wed, 25 Jan 2012 19:50:29 -0800

By Jake Zivin

EUGENE, Ore. --- To most Duck fans, Kenjon Barner's decision to return to school for his senior season was a no-brainer. But for Barner himself, it wasn't easy.

"Until I talked to my mother, and coach [Chip] Kelly and [running back] coach [Gary] Campbell, I thought it was time to go. I was extremely close," said Barner on Wednesday. "The promise to my mother [that I'd complete] my degree was really the main thing that got me to come back."

It's such a similar situation to Chip Kelly's. Both Kelly and Barner flirted with leaving Oregon for the NFL, but both ultimately chose to return to the Ducks. That point wasn't lost on either player or coach, who spoke on the phone a few days ago.

"He asked me, 'did you think I was going?', and I said 'yes, absolutely, that's what was reported'," said Barner, with a smile. " He explained that it was a similar situation [to Barner's]. You have to make the best decision for yourself, and the best decision for him was to be here."

After three years playing in the relative shadow of his best friend, LaMichael James, Barner will now be the Ducks feature back. More so, he'll be the public face of the program, and the internal leader of the team, roles that he's been groomed for.

"Coach Kelly forced me into this role even before [James and quarterback Darron Thomas declared for the NFL draft]," said Barner. "Now I'm trying to be more vocal, to do the right things and say the right things to lead this team in the right direction."

It's now Barner's decision to organize off-season workouts and to keep the team focused between now and spring practice. But motivating teammates is not something that Barner is worried about.

"We won [the Rose Bowl] and now we want it again. You have to be hungry, you can never get complacent," said Barner.

OSU Researchers Create USDA Plant Hardiness Zone Map

Wed, 25 Jan 2012 13:40:43 -0800

CORVALLIS, Ore. -- Gardeners, as you get ready for this next season, there is an updated resource you'll want to check out.

Researchers at Oregon State University created an updated, interactive plant hardiness zone map for the USDA.

This map shows the latest zone boundaries in the United States, which helps people know the best places to plant certain vegetables, fruits, berries, etc.

"Low temperature during the winter is a crucial factor in determining where particular plants will survive," said Chris Daly, a professor of engineering at OSU. "This new map updates and reflects those conditions based on temperatures from 1976 to 2005."

Zones are based on the area's temperature, elevation, climate, and other factors.

Click here to view the map.

Unemployment Rate Drops in Central Oregon

Wed, 25 Jan 2012 12:07:54 -0800

SALEM, Ore. -- The Oregon Employment Department has released the state's unemployment rate for December 2011.

In central Oregon, Deschutes County's seasonally adjusted unemployment rate for Dec. 2011 was 12 percent. This went down from 12.3 percent in November 2011.

For Jefferson County it was 12.7 percent. Crook County's was 15.3 percent.

The state's seasonally adjusted unemployment rate for December 2011 was 8.9 percent, which went down from November's 9.1 percent.

Nationally, the unemployment rate was 8.5 percent, down from 8.7 percent the month before.