Gazette-Times Reporter

EL PASO, Texas - Entire rosters can come to bowl games, also rewarding redshirts and scout team players who put in work without playing time.

The Oregon State football team even brought players who have been hurt, such as cornerback James Dockery and receiver Kyle Brown.

However, one big name is missing at this year's Sun Bowl. Senior offensive guard Jeremy Perry is not with the team, and his whereabouts are unknown.

He was one of the better guards in the nation in 2005 and 2006, but recurring knee injuries have kept him out of most of the last two seasons.

"I'm heartbroken for the guy," offensive line coach Mike Cavanaugh said. "He had a love of the game. He played like a warrior when he was able to play. To have that taken away from him just breaks your heart."

If Perry developed at a steady pace through his OSU career he would be one of the top NFL prospects in April's draft. However, the idea of even signing as a free agent when healed is remote, according to OSU coach Mike Riley and Cavanaugh.

"Physically he never got to the point he could play, which is very unfortunate," Riley said. "I don't know what that means for the future in football for him. I hope he gets his degree, and sees what happens in that part of his life."

Perry first hurt his knee in the 2006 season finale at Hawaii. He came back the following season and broke an ankle and hurt the knee in the season opener.

The knee was diagnosed late because the injury was thought to be to the ankle only. He tried to come back late in the season, but the knee wouldn't let him.

Perry tried to come back this fall after off-season surgery. There were times he started to practice and was close to playing, but a setback always happened.

"It's hard for him," Cavanaugh said. "Something was taken away from him he loves dearly. It's hard for him to be around.

" I can understand where he's coming from. And I don't know about his (football) future. His knee is pretty bad. I'm not sure where he's at.

I've heard different things about where he's at."

Trying to reach him since the regular season ended didn't work. Old phone numbers are disconnected, updated ones OSU has are disconnected and friends such as fellow lineman Tavita Thompson don't know where he's been.

"I feel bad for him," offensive tackle Andy Levitre said. "He was really coming along with his football career. It's kind of sad to see what happened to him and how things have gone against the way we thought it would go from him. But the last time I saw him he was in good spirits. He was trying to cope with what happened to him."

Paea will play

Starting defensive tackle Stephen Paea's injury is an MCL sprain of the same knee, but on the other side of his leg, that he had bursa sack problems with during the regular season.

The Nov. 8 UCLA game was the last time he played pain-free, but Paea said he's 85 percent now and should be better by Wednesday's Sun Bowl.

"It's a huge thing for morale to have him back," defensive end Victor Butler said. "He brings a big energy to the game. When you are missing that energy it's a slump. To see him back practicing, it gets my hopes up."

Paea and backup defensive tackle Mitchel Hunt practiced the entire time Sunday. It was the first time since the regular season ended for Hunt and first time in a week for Paea.

Stroughter update

Wide receiver Sammie Stroughter is practicing at full speed after missing the last two practices in Corvallis. He thought it was a knee issue, but an MRI showed no problems, Riley said.

Bowl rookies

Pittsburgh hasn't been to a bowl game since the 2004 season, and the players are living it up. The Beavers, however, are more businesslike.

"It has been a good experience, but I hope not too good of an experience," Pittsburgh coach Dave Wannstedt said. "Our kids are having a good time."