Emerald Bowl notebook

By Cliff Kirkpatrick
Gazette-Times Reporter

SAN FRANCISCO - Ryan Gunderson’s final game as an Oregon State football player is Friday in the Emerald Bowl, but it’s not his last with the program.

The senior backup quarterback plans to return next year as a graduate assistant or a volunteer coach. Gunderson graduated this fall with a degree in engineering.

Coach Mike Riley considers him another assistant coach, to the quarterbacks anyway, but without the title.

“I’ll be back, that’s the plan,” Gunderson said after Tuesday’s practice. “I want to coach and get an MBA. It’s something I’ve been thinking about for two, two-and-a-half years.”

With Gunderson’s understanding of the offensive system, the Portland native helped push and guide starters Derek Anderson, Matt Moore, Sean Canfield and Lyle Moevao in his five seasons in the program.

“I’m just another set of eyes, another opinion,” Gunderson said. “(Riley) runs things by me and I give him my thoughts on it.”

Details will be worked out later, but Riley said one way or another Gunderson will be around next season. It depends on graduate assistant Gary Beck’s situation.

Beck is finishing up his second season as the offensive GA, working with the running backs. GAs are given scholarships to attend class, while learning the coaching field on the job.

It’s usually a two-year scholarship, but can be three if the person makes a certain amount of progress toward a graduate degree.

“Gary committed to do if for two years,” Riley said. “He’s eligible for a third. If he can do that, we would do that and we would find another spot for Gundy as he worked into it.”

Beck says he doesn’t have enough credits to come back a third year, and plans to look for another coaching job. He’s a 30-year high school coach at Corvallis and Redmond before joining OSU.

“I have to get on applying to other places,” Beck said. “I’d look in college first, that’s why I came here. If I went back to high school, I’d be a much better high school coach after working here. But it will take care of itself. Whatever happens, I’ve had as good a time as I’ve had.”

The other GAs are Inoke Breckterfield for defense and Ahmed Zarrugh, who is in charge of administration. Both are in their first seasons.

Redshirt report

There are 30 players redshirting this season, including All-American wide receiver/punt returner Sammie Stroughter.

The senior filed for a medical redshirt after bruising a kidney at Arizona State. A decision on if he is allowed to play another season is pending in March.

Many of those redshirts are expected to play a vital role in next year’s team. There are only 22 players who regularly play who are not seniors.

Tough schedule

OSU’s schedule going into the Emerald Bowl ranks as the 21st most difficult in the nation based on the combined records of opponents at 59-21.

It’s the fourth most difficult in the Pacific-10 Conference, trailing Washington (82-55), Arizona (69-50) and Oregon (74-54).

Maryland’s schedule is tied for 27th most difficult (65-51).

Top 25 killers

OSU and Maryland have each upset two top-25 teams this season. The Beavers defeated No. 2 California and No. 18 Oregon, both on the road. The Terrapins beat No. 10 Rutgers on the road and No. 8 Boston College at home.

Kickoff coverage

The Beavers lead the Pac-10 and are seventh in the nation on kickoff coverage. They allow 18 yards a return. Maryland, however, is the nation’s leader with 16.1 yards allowed.