What a difference a year makes. And a new head coach makes.
I’ve enjoyed watching all five games Oregon State has played this football season. Even the two games they narrowly lost at first. And especially the three games they’ve won since, including their Pac-12 conference opener yesterday against Colorado State in Fort Collins.
JaMarcus Shephard has brought much-needed fresh energy, positivity, and enthusiasm to the OSU sideline — the only place I’ve seen him, aside from post-game interviews.
I can’t remember the name of the previous Oregon State coach. Whoever it was, he was fired last year after a 0-7 start. Thankfully. That guy had zero charisma, pitiful coaching ability, and less personality than a slice of bread.
The announcers of yesterday’s game, which OSU won 56-26, noted that the Beaver players call their coach “Shep,” not Coach, which they said is unusual. But it fits in this case, because Shephard is so likable and approachable. I loved how he congratulated his players on offense and defense when they came off the field after performing well.
One of his genius moves was bringing the offensive co-coordinator, Mitch Dahlen, with him from Alabama, where Shephard also coached the offense. Dahlen called a terrific game. OSU racked up 727 yards of total offense, an all-time school record. An Oregonian story says:
Braden Atkinson (31 of 34 for 427 yards with five touchdowns) opened with a program-record 16 straight completions, which could have been 22 if not for a drop by DeCorion Temple.
Atkinson once again connected with Jesse Legree at will, with the freshman making five catches for 156 yards and three highlight-reel touchdowns. Legree was credited with 138 yards of OSU’s 360 yards after the catch.
“The whole week our biggest thing was yards after catch,” Atkinson said. “We felt like we could break a lot of tackles this week.”
It was the fifth straight 100-yard game for Legree, tying the program record. He took a shallow pass 50 yards down the sideline for OSU’s first score, then spun off tackles on his way to a 28-yard touchdown and added a 52-yarder to cap the onslaught.
The icing on the football game cake was the Colorado State defensive coordinator being fired during the game. Sportswriter John Canzano said in his Substack column (I’m a subscriber):
It was Oregon State 56, Colorado State 26 on Saturday in Fort Collins, Colo.
OSU’s pass game was creative. The run game was dominant. It was a piece of offensive art, engineered by Dahlen. Picasso couldn’t have painted it better. And one of Colorado State’s coaches was so frustrated that he basically knocked over the easel and walked off.
Rams defensive coordinator Tyson Summers was fired at halftime. Not kidding. No joke. Dahlen was so effective that the poor guy on the other side was demoted on the spot after two quarters by Colorado State head coach Jim Mora. He literally threw in the keys and went home.
After the game, Mora told reporters: “Tyson was relieved of his playcalling duties. He left the field and is no longer with this football program.”
…The Beavers are now 3-2 this season. They looked every bit like a team that could challenge Boise State for the Pac-12 championship should this keep up. Beavers fans have to be thinking it, so I’m writing it. If Oregon State continues along on this trajectory and stays healthy, it’s going to be a tough out in November.
…Oregon State’s turnaround has been miraculous. Shephard changed the energy around the program. He brought Dahlen with him to call the offense. Those two first-timers in their respective roles are making Barnes look smart for hiring them. And in this era, the pivot that OSU just made shouldn’t be discounted.
The Beavers needed fresh energy.
They found it.
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