Gazette-Times Reporter

It’s not often fans turn into the ones in uniform, making the plays.

However, that’s what happened with Andy Stewart.

The senior fullback for the Oregon State football team was part of the student body watching the games early in his college career, but felt he could at least be on the special teams.

Now the Portland native plays a vital role for the Beavers, was awarded a scholarship this term and expects to compete in his first Civil War this Saturday in Autzen Stadium.

Stewart played at Sunset High and was a three-year letterman as a running back. He was named second-team All-Metro League twice.

However, no one recruited him. Not even small colleges.

“I figured I’d come here for school because I had become a Beavers fan during high school,” Stewart said. “But I thought sports were over for me.”

After watching the first few home games, Stewart started to believe he could play. He went to assistant director of operations Dan Van De Riet to ask about walking on and playing on the scout team, at least.

There was no room on the roster his first three years. Stewart kept nagging the Beavers for a shot, and eventually put a highlight video together.

By his third year at OSU, Van De Riet and late assistant coach Jim Gilstrap received enough interest from the students for a tryout, so they organized one in the spring.

About 30 showed up and they were tested in the 40-yard dash, agility and lifting weights. Three passed the tests and started with the team in the spring of 2006.

“It’s rare for this to happen, but Andy was a good high school player at Sunset,” coach Mike Riley said. “He wanted to find out if he could do it in college. He went through this deal and in the end earned a scholarship. It’s a good, typical Oregon State type of story.”

Stewart was awarded a scholarship for this fall when fellow fullback Micah Strickland was academically ineligible, which left the Beavers with an extra one. Stewart was given the scholarship as a way of saying thank you for his dedication.

Stewart was about 190 pounds at the time of joining the team. His training to that point involved long-distance running and only limited weight workouts. He bulked up after joining the team and is now 5-foot-11, 226 pounds.

“Right when I was invited to spring ball, I thought I made the team,” Stewart said. “But they can let guys go before fall camp. I realized that about a week in and that’s when I went 100 percent every single play and tried to prove myself, especially at special teams. There were a few reps at tailback, but not much.”

Stewart gained recognition in the spring game because of injuries to other running backs. That led to an invitation back to training camp in August. He was the only one of the three who passed the tryout to move on.

It was evident Stewart was suited for fullback with limited side-to-side speed, but he possessed the strength to always fall forward. Plays for a blocking fullback were developed for him and Strickland.

They shared the fullback load by quarters. Strickland had the first and third quarters of each game, and Stewart the second and fourth. He only touched the ball once last season, catching it for six yards against Eastern Washington.

His highlight was being the blocking back for Yvenson Bernard on the game-winning two-point conversation in the Sun Bowl.

Stewart is the only fullback on the team now, and has been used much more this season. He has 12 carries for 19 yards and two touchdowns, and two receptions for 13 yards and a score.

“I’m having a lot of fun,” Stewart said. “I thought I would be on special teams and scout team this year. To actually get in the game is amazing. I thought if I got into the game and got one or two carries that would be a successful season for me. Having three touchdowns is way beyond what I thought.”

Stewart has yet to play in a Civil War. A fullback play was not called in his quarters last year, and he wasn’t on any of the special teams.

He should be in as a fullback Saturday, and he’ll be in on the kickoff returns and punt team.

“Being in the crowd for three years, and I watched the 2005 Civil War in the freezing cold and fog, I had given up by then,” Stewart said. “So to watch that game and now be on the field, it’s going to be pretty exciting for me.”

The last thing he wants to accomplish is beating the Ducks in Autzen. That hasn’t been done since 1993, and it has been 10 years since a visiting team has won in this rivalry.

“We want to try to break the streak,” Stewart said. “If we can break that down there, that would be great. There are so many memories so far. And if we can break it down there my senior year, that would be the best.”