Gazette-Times Reporter

A major task for Oregon State football coach Mike Riley and his staff will be getting the players to perform in whatever bowl game they attend, particularly if it’s the Sun Bowl.

History is filled with stories of teams on the verge of a major bowl, falling short, then not showing up mentally for the secondary postseason game and being blown out.

That could be the case of the No. 25-ranked Beavers after losing the Civil War this past Saturday to end the regular season. However, they want to avoid that pitfall that is set up in front of them.

The Beavers are in limbo waiting for the final games of the season by other teams this weekend to find out their bowl destiny. It’s between the Rose Bowl or the Sun Bowl.

“Whoever the opponent is, we’ll be excited about it,” Riley said. “I’m just glad we are in a bowl game. After that game (the Civil War), we need another chance with this team.”

If UCLA upsets Southern California on Saturday the Beavers head to the Rose Bowl for a rematch with Penn State.

An expected USC victory more than likely sends the Beavers to the Sun Bowl against Pittsburgh, West Virginia or Notre Dame.

“We are hoping (the Bruins) have a good game against USC, but we’ll get ready for our bowl game from there,” quarterback Lyle Moevao said.

A motivational plan for the bowl game and last practices is already formulated. Riley said he may need one.

So what he’ll tell his team goes like this: The Beavers want to finish the season with a win, and send out the seniors on a high note.

Seniors with pro potential will want to refine their game during the last practices in hope of getting a shot at the NFL, and younger players look to begin working toward next season.

“These guys are invested a lot time in this, so they should be disappointed,” Riley said. “But these kids will bounce back. And they will play better.”

Reaching nine wins is another goal. A win in the bowl game will give the Beavers at least nine wins in each of the last three seasons, and that’s the best stretch of success in terms of wins in the program’s history.

“We do want to get to nine wins, and we want to move up in the rankings a little better,” Riley said. “That would be good for the program. We have a lot to shoot for. And I’ll use to on them.”

For now the players are resting up, forgetting last weekend and preparing for fall term finals next week.

Then it’s on to bowl practice and the eighth postseason game in 10 years.

“Healing up, that’s the main thing,” Moevao said of the next month. “We have a lot of injuries. We weren’t at full strength at this game.

“ We’ll heal up, use this time wisely and get ready for our bowl game.”