Oregon State Keeps Looking For Luck With The Wishbone
PULLMAN - Oregon State's wishbone, frequently bent and usually broken by opponents the past two years, is back for another season.
Does Jerry Pettibone know what he's doing?
Now in his third season as Oregon State's head football coach, Pettibone is not producing the results long-suffering Beaver officials and fans would like - three victories in 24 games.
That is a record littlebetter or worse than the failed administrations of Dave Kragthorpe (17-48-2 in six years), Joe Avezzano (6-47-2 in five years) and Craig Fertig (8-36-1 in four years).
Pettibone, however, remains dedicated to the wishbone while preaching the gospel of patience going into a Pac-10 Conference game against Washington State today.
The Cougars are favored by 11 points to extend their string of consecutive victories over Oregon State to 10. Counting a tie in 1982, Beavers haven't beaten Cougars in 13 straight games, since 1978.
But because Oregon State opened its season by winning at Wyoming, 27-16, and because it scored a lot of points before losing at Fresno State, 48-30, a week ago, Pettibone has some evidence that the Beavers are better.
Improvement has come in "general understanding of our program, the way we execute on offense, defense and the kicking game, and in the players' understanding of what we want them to do," Pettibone said.
In part because of its dedication to running the ball, Oregon State leads the Pac-10 in rushing, averaging 334 yards per game. Washington is second at 200. But the Beavers are last in passing. They've completed just six of 27 pass attempts for 53 yards.
The statistical leaders of the Beaver wishbone are halfbacks Chad Paulson and J.J. Young. Paulson, a senior from Bend, Ore., averages 8.5 yards per carry and has scored three touchdowns. Young, a junior from South Pasadena, Calif., averages 8.6 yards per carry.
Pettibone said Paulson and Young are prototype wishbone halfbacks.
"Both were recruited as defensive backs," Pettibone said. "We moved them to offense. Both are tough. They like to block people."
Ian Shields, a senior from Oregon City, is the quarterback whose accomplishments reflect the wishbone. He has accounted for more yards rushing (120 on 41 carries) than passing (six of 25 for 53 yards).
Pettibone, 54, is not wavering in his wishbone zeal, which paid off in winning records at his previous coaching stop, Northern Illinois.
"I believe in option football," Pettibone said. "I think it's the most positive yardage offense ever devised. I think it's the best offense for Oregon State to use in trying to move the ball and control the block and keep other offenses off the field."
Also, because Oregon State is the only Pac-10 school to use it, it is a good recruiting tool.
"You can offer something to the option quarterback in high school," Pettibone said. "Linemen don't have to be as big. Running backs don't have to be as big as long as they're tough."
Today's game is scheduled for 3:30 p.m. in Martin Stadium.
STARTING LINEUPS:
WASHINGTON STATE
Offense
Split end - Keith Reynolds, 6-0, 184, Sr.; tackles - Michael Bailey, 6-4, 275, Sr. and Clay Reis, 6-8, 290, Jr.; guards - Josh Dunning, 6-3, 298, Sr. and Marc McCloskey, 6-4, 284, So.; center - Steve Wolfe, 6-4, 296, Sr.; tight end - Brett Carolan, 6-4, 245, Sr.; quarterback - Mike Pattinson, 6-1, 198, Sr.; running back - Delton Johnson, 5-7, 185, Sr.; slotback - Shane DeLaCruz, 5-8, 170, Sr.; flanker - Deron Pointer, 5-11, 182, Sr.
Defense
Ends - Ray Hall, 6-4, 270, Sr. and DeWayne Patterson, 6-1, 257, Jr.; tackles - Chad Eaton, 6-5, 272, Jr. and Brian Ford, 6-3, 290, Sr.; outside linebackers - Ron Childs, 6-1, 208, Jr. and T.J. Folkers, 6-2, 224, Sr.; middle linebacker - Anthony McClanahan, 6-2, 222, Sr.; cornerbacks - Torey Hunter, 5-10, 180, Jr. and Greg Burns, 5-10, 170, Jr.; strong safety - Singor Mobley, 6-0, 182, Jr.; free safety - John Rushing.
OREGON STATE
Offense
Split end - Chris Cross, 6-3, 201, So.; tackles - Adam Albaugh, 6-5, 276, Sr., and John Garrett, 6-4, 271, Jr.; guards - Starling Latu, 6-1, 295, Jr., and Alai Kalaniuvalu, 6-3, 285, Sr.; center - Johnny Feinga, 6-1, 302, Jr.; tight end - Brad Barcroft, 6-3, 240, So; quarterback - Ian Shields, 5-11, 198, Sr.; halfbacks - J.J. Young, 5-10, 185, Jr., and Chad Paulson, 6-1, 205, Sr.; fullback - John Young, 5-10, 185, Jr.
Defense
Ends - Chad de Sully, 6-5, 259, Sr., and Mark Schulz, 6-2, 252, Sr.; tackle - Tom Holmes, 6-1, 272, So.; outside linebackers - Tony O'Billovich, 6-1, 206, Sr., and Dennis Edwards, 6-2, 231, Sr.; inside linebackers - Cory Huot, 6-3, 225, Jr., and Rico Petrini, 6-1, 222, Jr.; cornerbacks - Reggie Tongue, 6-0, 191, So., and Herschel Currie, 6-1, 193, Sr.; strong safety - Michael Hale, 5-11, 192, Jr.; free safety - William Ephraim, 5-10, 159, Jr.