Beavers Believe A Victory Is Near

Not too many coaches would be caught saying this: “We’re at a point where we can start to win games.”

But Jerry Pettibone isn’t any coach. He’s the coach at Oregon State.

The Beavers have a 14-game losing streak - longest among major schools - and are still looking for their first winning season since 1970.

It probably won’t happen this year, but Pettibone promises the Beavers (0-4) will win in ‘96, and he’s especially hopeful after last week’s 48-42 overtime loss to undefeated California.

“That was the first game this year that really spoke to me, that even though we lost we played well enough to win,” said Pettibone, 10-45-1 in his sixth season in Corvallis.

“Now we have something to show them. There were so many good things we did in that game. Even though everyone cried their eyes out in the locker room, after that was over they realized we did do some good things. I hope we can use it as a springboard.”

When your team rarely wins, even a close loss can be turned into an emotional victory.

Pettibone, 33-32-1 at Northern Illinois before arriving at Oregon State, said last week’s game was the most exciting he’s ever coached.

“It was gut-wrenching, but I felt like a 17-year-old again. It was great,” he said.

With the score tied 35-35, Oregon State opened the tiebreaker with a TD for a 42-35 lead. The Bears tied it on their possession. In the second round of overtime, Cal missed a field goal but blocked an attempt by the Beavers that would have won the game. In the third tiebreaker period, the Beavers missed a long field goal and Cal scored a TD for the victory.

“We were down 14 points with 9 minutes-plus to go and came back to make it 35-35,” Pettibone said. “We made a few big plays, the defense picked off a pass deep in our territory and stopped them from scoring. We hadn’t done anything like that - come back on the road against a Pac-10 team - in six years here.”

Five of Oregon State’s final seven games are at home, and Pettibone figures his team - led by running back Akiki King, a transfer from Army, and free safety Buster Elahee - has a chance next week against Washington State, Stanford on Oct. 19 and Northern Illinois on Nov. 16.

“I really believe that before this season is over, we’ll have another game tied and we’ll go into an extra period,” Pettibone said. “And because of our experience against Cal, we will win that game. I sense it will happen. It might happen against Washington State.”

And it might not.

Top five times two

In consecutive weeks, No. 3 Ohio State played Notre Dame when the Irish were ranked fifth - and won 29-16. On Saturday, the Buckeyes played No. 4 Penn State - and won 38-7.

The last time a team played top-five teams on consecutive weeks was in 1994. On Oct. 15, Kansas State lost to then-No. 2 Nebraska 17-6; the next week the Wildcats lost to then-No. 2 Colorado 35-21.

The last time a team beat top-five teams in consecutive games was in 1988-89. On Nov. 11, 1988, No. 1 Notre Dame beat USC 27-10, then defeated West Virginia 34-21 in the Fiesta Bowl on Jan. 2, 1989.

And finally, the last time a team beat top-five teams in consecutive weeks was 1980. On Oct. 10, Florida State beat No. 3 Nebraska 18-14 and then defeated No. 4 Pittsburgh 36-22.

Bumper sticker

Spotted on the back of car in Lexington, Ky.: “Got A Couch, Need A Coach.”

A really big win

The big news out of Ames, Iowa, last week was Troy Davis’ 378 yards and four TDs in a 45-31 win over Missouri. The 378 yards was the third highest single-game total in Division I history.

But Iowa State coach Dan McCarney had a different take on the victory.

“It was the first time in 69 games that we had two wins in a row here at Iowa State,” McCarney said. “It’s not a big deal for some programs, but it’s a big deal for a program that was winless 22 months ago when we got here.”

Iowa State (2-2) did not play over the weekend. The Cyclones play Texas A&M next Saturday.

Flag throwing

Is Colorado becoming the Oakland Raiders of college football?

After four games, the 10th-ranked Buffaloes (3-1) have been penalized 47 times for 415 yards, including 11 flags for 107 yards in a 24-10 win last week over Texas A&M.

In 11 games last season, the Buffs were flagged 97 times for 860 yards.

“I’m inclined to make sure we’re stressing it, and maybe talk to individuals making more mistakes than others,” coach Rick Neuheisel said this week. “The team knows the issue. It isn’t like they don’t understand the significance of not shooting ourselves in the feet. We’re going to make sure we coach it real hard and all that kind of stuff. But I’m not going to harp and harp and harp on it.”

Here’s the breakdown:

Offense: 33 penalties, 262 yards

Defense: 9-88

Special Teams: 3-35

Unsportsmanlike conduct: 2-30

Colorado did not play Saturday; the Buffs are at Oklahoma State next Saturday.

Around the nation

People at Florida State are worried about the Seminoles’ sluggish offensive performance. Their 13-0 win over North Carolina last week represented their lowest offensive output since 1992. The 213 yards in total offense was the lowest output since 1986. “We’re using modern formations and playing old-fashioned 1948 football out there,” said coach Bobby Bowden. “Bear Bryant would’ve loved that game.” … Florida is the only Southeastern Conference school to be ranked No. 1 during the regular season in the 1990s (Alabama jumped to No. 1 after it beat Miami in the 1993 Sugar Bowl). The last SEC team to be ranked No. 1 in the regular season was Auburn on Sept. 24, 1985… . Miami has posted consecutive shutouts for the first time since 1983… . Colorado State coach Sonny Lubick had this to say about competing against Nebraska. “It’s like a small grocery store competing with a Safeway,” said Lubick after watching Nebraska demolish his team, 65-9… . Florida guard Donnie Young has come up with a new term for weak opponents. “I don’t care if it’s Rooster Poot Junior College,” said Young. “We can’t let up on anybody.” … Say What Award of the Week: Arkansas’ Danny Ford on his team’s chances of beating Florida this week: “The best chance we’ve got is an icy field. I’m not sure Florida’s used to that.”