SAN FRANCISCO - It didn’t take long for the Oregon State football team to get bowl week going.

The Beavers arrived at Oakland International Airport late Sunday morning to begin final preparations for Maryland, their opponent in Friday night’s Emerald Bowl at AT&T Park.

As soon as they stepped off the airplane the players were whisked off to Monster Parker for a 49ers game against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.

Then they went to their hotel for a welcome dinner put on by Emerald Bowl officials.

Watching the NFL game is the only beginning of bowl week. The Beavers are here to play their game, but there’s so much more happening before kickoff.

Each bowl game entertains coaches and players, and some are better than others. The Emerald Bowl, going into its sixth year, is trying to be one that earns positive reviews.

“It’s definitely a cool thing,” linebacker Joey LaRocque said of bowl-game festivities. “We always enjoy getting together as a team and having fun. That is what is fun about bowl games, getting to do things you don’t normally do.”

The players were happy to play in this game because it’s an opportunity to visit a city that’s not a normal stop in the regular season, and to see new sights.

While they were eligible to play in the more prestigious Sun Bowl for the second straight year - but where snubbed due to that bowl game’s business decision - a variety of activities during bowl week means more.

“I’m glad they are excited about San Francisco,” coach Mike Riley said. “That’s one of the rewards of being in a bowl game with the stuff that’s on the outside.

“It starts with what you do as a team and it heads into the city. That’s a great sidelight of this, but that’s not the focus.

“We can enjoy all these things, and see new stuff, but we can’t lose sight of what we want to do or we will feel bad if we don’t win the game.”

After today’s morning practice the Beavers will visit one of the city’s signature sights. They will be taken on a tour of Alcatraz Island, the historic prison in the middle of the bay.

“I’ve never been to Alcatraz,” said LaRocque, a Southern California native. “That’s something I wanted to do since I was a young kid so that will be interesting. I’m really looking forward to that, that’s one of my highlights of the trip.”

Next on the agenda is the California Pacific Medical Center to visit sick children on Christmas Day and then a video game challenge dinner Wednesday night.

Even the assistant coaches are treated to a special dinner that night.

Between the events there’s plenty of down time. The team is staying downtown so it will be able to partake in the big-city nightlife.

“That’s really good to experience something new in a new city ,” said Keenan Lewis, who is from New Orleans. “I’m also really looking forward to see the children and their faces, and how they are doing. That’s always fun to do. I want to see the city, too.”

The downside to all this is getting distracted so the players are not focused on the game. Even worse is getting into trouble with so much free time. It’s a major concern of the coaches.

“Our guys have to make good choices,” Riley said. “They can’t get into trouble. They could ruin their career doing something stupid.

“It doesn’t go without saying because we say it a million times. At the same time, I want them to see that city, it’s a great place.”

Riley joked about the possibility that a shuttle might be set up at Alcatraz to keep the players under a watchful eye.

“It’s easier,” LaRocque said of staying focused during bowl week. “You don’t have to worry about classes or midterms. You just wake up, get our work done and then have fun. We have to prepare for Maryland. It’s not a vacation. We have work to do.”

Going through a week like this is the reason old-school college football aficionados embrace the bowl system, and not a playoff.

Seeing the end of the season, going through a party in the final stretch and having a good chance to finish the season with a win makes the experience worthwhile.

“It’s the memories,” Riley said of why he loves bowl week. “It’s something they got to do, and played in the Emerald Bowl. It’s those things that come back to you as parts of the experience when you are older.”

Quick hits

The Beavers practice 10 a.m.-noon today-Wednesday at San Francisco City College. ... There will be a walkthrough at AT&T Park 2:30 on Thursday.

BOWL FESTIVITIES

The Oregon State football team will be busy when not in practice. Here’s a look at the itinerary:

SUNDAY: San Francisco 49ers game, team dinner hosted by the Emerald Bowl

TODAY: Tour of Alcatraz Island

TUESDAY: California Pacific Medical Center visit

WEDNESDAY: Video game challenge and dinner at Jillian’s at the Metreon

THURSDAY: Fan rally in Union Square, Kickoff luncheon, walkthrough of AT&T Park

FRIDAY: Emerald Bowl