Second thoughts

Oregon State Coach Mike Riley and the Beavers ate at In-N-Out after beating UCLA on Saturday night.
Oregon State Coach Mike Riley and the Beavers ate at In-N-Out after beating UCLA on Saturday night.

— In-N-Out cheap eats for Beavers

Beating UCLA on Saturday night at the Rose Bowl in Pasadena, Calif., wasn’t the biggest highlight for the Oregon State Beavers.

“Just finished our business in LA, now it’s time for a little fun, headed to In-N-Out as a team!#GoBeavs2012,” Oregon State Coach Mike Riley tweeted after the Beavers’ 27-20 victory over the Bruins.

Riley told his players before the game that if they beat UCLA, they would get In-N-Out for dinner. After the game, the Beavers ordered 200 double doubles and french fries at the California fast-food restaurant.

Despite many questions from his Twitter followers, ESPN business reporter Darren Rovell reported Monday that Oregon State did not commit an NCAA violation.

According to NCAA rules, a school can provide $15 for each player for meal money.

“While In-N-Out certainly has a cult following, it’s actually cheaper than providing the players with money,” Rovell wrote. “Let’s assume that each player got two double-doubles, two fries and two drinks. That’s still only about $13 a player.” East vs. West

Washington State quarterback Connor Halliday said Monday that he would rather play No. 2 Oregon in Pullman this weekend instead of in Seattle.

But this is Washington State’s annual game in Seattle, intended to appeal to the sizable alumni base in the state’s largest city, and a big crowd is expected at Century Link Field, home of the NFL’s Seattle Seahawks.

“It’s not a true home game. It’s frustrating we don’t get to play the game in Martin Stadium,” Halliday said in a conference call from Pullman. “I wish all of our home games were here. I don’t see why we have to go someplace else to play a home game.”

Washington State began playing an annual “home” game in Seattle about a decade ago, often in front of crowds of 50,000. Martin Stadium has a capacity of 33,000.

The game used to involve only nonconference opponents, but last year they played Oregon State in Seattle, losing 44-21 before a crowd of 49,219.

This year’s game with Oregon is expected to draw a huge crowd of Ducks fans, as well as Washington State fans, which could push the crowd to more than 60,000, Washington State officials have said.

“The state is full of Cougar fans, and more of them are over there than any other area,” Coach Mike Leach said.

“Martin Stadium is my favorite, of course, but we are excited to play anywhere.”Hard hit

From Brad Dickson of the Omaha (Neb.) World-Herald:

“Southern California Coach Lane Kiffin held a press conference that lasted 29 seconds.

You know what [Nebraska] Coach Bo Pelini calls a 29-second presser? ‘Marathon session.’

“Still, during the 29-second press conference, USC was subject to two NCAA investigations.” They said it

From the satirical sports website sportspickle.com:

“RG3 the most popular first name among DC-area babies.”

“Regular NFL refs oddly remembered as competent.”

“NHL owners say they can’t afford to give players the huge contracts they’ve been giving them.”

Quote of the day “I’m asking you as fans don’t give up on those players, don’t give up on us. It’s our program. It’s a state of Alabama program.” Arkansas Coach John L. Smith during his speech at the Little Rock Touchdown Club

Sports, Pages 16 on 09/25/2012

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