ESPN crew films segment on football team’s No-Shave November

Many Oregon State University football players have put away their razors this month in a show of team unity.

On Tuesday, an ESPN crew was in Corvallis to shoot a feature on the squad’s “No-Shave November.”

About 50 hairy-looking Beaver Believers were filmed outside the Valley Football Center, chanting pro-beard and pro-OSU slogans.

“Beware the beard!” they shouted.

The segment will air at 7 a.m. Saturday as part of the College GameDay program. At 4 p.m. that day, the Beavers play the University of Oregon in the Civil War, and a berth in the Rose Bowl is on the line for OSU.

Jonathan Smith of Philomath, a senior in speech communications and a longtime Beaver fan, said he grew a beard just to support OSU. “I heard they were doing No-Shave November, so I thought I’d grow mine out along with the team,” he said. “It’s been a great season.”

Smith added that quite a few people were letting their facial hair grow on campus this November.

“The rest of the year, you’re stuck shaving every morning,” said Evan Connet, a junior history major. He and his friends decided to participate in No-Shave November on a lark, because they’d never grown beards before.

“I know several who have started and dropped out midway through,” he said. Many claim obligations where they can’t grow a beard, such as work. But Connet thinks they’re just embarrassed by their patchy facial hair.

“No-Shave November” is an informal movement where men don’t shave during the month. The Web site noshavenovember.org is dedicated to raising awareness and money for social issues through men growing their beards.

Strength and conditioning coach Adam Lang, who also hasn’t shaved this month, watched the scene and said most of the Beavers were growing beards — or trying to, at least.

“Some of the guys, you can’t really tell. … (Quarterback Sean) Canfield’s a little patchy. But it still looks nice,” he laughed.

Kicker Justin Kahut said all of the players on offense are growing beards, but his attempt was more peach fuzz.

“Some people make fun of it. My girlfriend’s not the biggest fan,” he said. “I wouldn’t typically grow it out like this, because there’s not much stuff there.”

Eight-year-old Wyatt Chaffey of Salem also was at the event, wearing an evil-looking black goatee. And as usual, he had his countdown to the Rose Bowl sign, which he’s brought to practices and games.

“It used to be 153 days,” he said.

While the Beavers look scruffy, he doesn’t think they should shave until after the Rose Bowl, for good luck.

Kyle Odegard covers Oregon State University. He can be contacted at kyle.odegard@lee.net or 758-9523.