Colorado Daily – Oregon State

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Colorado Daily – Oregon State

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October 27th – Game Day!

Steven Montez: “It will be huge for us this week to get some positive things going on offense”

From CUBuffs.com … The Buffs play three of their final five contests at Folsom. They head to Arizona next week, followed by back-to-back home games with Washington State and Utah before the regular season finale at Cal.

But in order for those games to increase in importance, CU needs to take care of business Saturday against an Oregon State team that has lost five straight games. In order to do that, the Buffs need to rediscover the offensive consistency that has evaded them the last couple of weeks, while continuing to play solid defense.

Most of all, according to CU quarterback Steven Montez, the Buffs need to have a little edge to their attitude in the wake of two consecutive losses.

“It’s kind of like being backed into a corner and the only way you are getting out of there is to come out swinging,” Montez said. “That is what we plan on doing Saturday.”

Colorado’s offense should have that opportunity against the Beavers. OSU is ranked last in the Pac-12 and 127th in the nation in scoring defense, yielding 47.3 points per game, and 128th in total defense, giving up 541 yards per game.

But Colorado’s offense has been firing on all cylinders on a consistent basis the last two weeks. After averaging almost 38 points per game while starting the season with five straight wins, the Buffs hit a rough patch, scoring just 20 and 13 points in their last two games.

They would love to turn that trend back in the other direction against a team that is giving up 276 yards per game on the ground and 266 in the air.

“It will be huge for us this week to get some positive things going on offense,” Montez said. “We have a good offense here. Oregon State is going to be a good team so we just have to see who brings their A-game on Saturday.”

… Continue reading story here …

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October 26th

… CU in a few minutes … 

More than bowl eligibility at stake for Buffs against Oregon State 

From the Daily Camera … Despite the consecutive losses, CU goes into this week well aware that much more than bowl eligibility is at stake. The Pac-12 South title is still very much in play with five games to go, as the Buffs are just a half game behind Utah (5-2, 3-2) and USC (4-3, 3-2).

“Everyone in the Pac-12 is good, I think,” CU senior safety Nick Fisher said. “The standings show that. We’re keeping it about Colorado football. As long as we do that, the chips are going to fall where they do and all we can do is play hard.”

Oregon State has been the Pac-12’s worst team for the past two years, but CU head coach Mike MacIntyre has no intention of letting the Buffs overlook this game. In fact, he’s placed extra importance on Saturday’s contest.

Every year, MacIntyre calls CU’s November schedule the “gold games,” because of their importance.

“We moved November up a week, because we have to basically run the table,” MacIntyre said. “We do feel like we have a chance (in the South).

… Continue reading story here …

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Neill Woelk Friday’s Fast Five

From CUBuffs.com … October has not been particularly kind to the Colorado Buffaloes.

After a 1-0 record in August and a 3-0 mark in September, the Buffs are just 1-2 in the 10th month of the year.

But they have a chance to finish October on a strong note Saturday, when they host Oregon State in a 1 p.m. game at Folsom Field, and thus set the stage for November. (And as we all know, “the games they remember are played in November.”)

The 5-2 Buffs (2-2 Pac-12) have won three straight against the Beavers and are favored to make it four in a row. Oregon State has struggled to a 1-6 record under first-year head coach Jonathan Smith, in particular on defense. The Beavers are yielding 47.3 points per game this year, last in the Pac-12 and 127th in the nation.

But offensively, with former CU assistant coach Brian Lindgren as coordinator, the Beavers have been much more competitive. Oregon State is sixth in the Pac-12 in scoring, averaging 28 points per game, bolstered by a rushing attack that is third in the conference, averaging 195.1 yards per contest.

So what must the Buffs do in order to generate a little momentum for the November stretch run? Our weekly Fast Five keys:

1. Get the offense back on track. After averaging nearly 38 points per game in their 5-0 start, the Buffs have hit a rough patch recently, managing just 20 points against USC and only 13 at Washington.

… Continue reading story here …

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October 25th – Happy 32nd anniversary of the most important win in CU history! … Game story here …

… CU in a few  minutes … 

Buff cornerbacks will try to limit big plays against Oregon State

From CUBuffs.com … Despite the growing proliferation of passing attacks in college ball, despite rule changes that continue to favor offenses in general and the passing game in particular, there is still a rule of thumb when it comes to playing good defense:

Stop the run first. If you do that, it greatly increases your chances of winning games.

Thus far this season, the Colorado Buffaloes have adhered to that maxim. The Buffs are 5-2 in large part because of a defense that is playing well against the run — and as a result, is limiting opponents’ trips to the end zone. Thus far this year, CU is holding opponents to just 142.6 yards per game on the ground and 21.4 points per game on the scoreboard (both fifth-best in the Pac-12).

It is something the Buffs want to make sure they are doing well Saturday when they play host to Oregon State in a 1 p.m. homecoming game at Folsom Field (Pac-12 Networks). The Beavers have the conference’s leading rusher in Jermar Jefferson, who has run for 899 yards and 12 touchdowns. If the Buffs can force the Beavers to throw, they believe they can control the tempo of the game.

But when you focus on stopping the run, it usually means more pressure on your pass defense because extra defenders in the box can leave defensive backs without extra help on the back end.

It can be a lonely spot for those cornerbacks.

“I’m a firm believer that if you play good defense, you win championships, and a lot of defense is stopping the run,” said Colorado cornerbacks coach Ashley Ambrose, who played 12 years in the NFL and finished with 42 career interceptions. “But when you have to put guys in the box, the guys on the edge are out there. They’re out there by themselves, and it means you are more prone to giving up big plays once in a while. That’s just the nature of the game.”

… Continue reading story here …

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Uniforms: Buffs going traditional for Homecoming

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Pac-12 “The Drive” featuring linebacker Davion Taylor

From YouTube:

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Safety Nick Fisher nominated for Wuerffel Trophy

Press Release from CUBuffs.com … Senior S Nick Fisher has been named a nominee for the Wuerffel Trophy, presented to the Football Bowl Subdivision player who best combines exemplary community service with athletic and academic achievement.

Fisher is working towards a degree in Strategic Relations from the College of Media, Communication and Information (CMCI) at Colorado while also pursuing minors in both Leadership Studies and Ethnic Studies.  A two-time Athletic Department honor roll nominee, he was also an honorable mention selection for the Academic All-Colorado team from the Colorado Chapter of the National Football Foundation.

On the field, he has played in 32 games with 18 starts for the Buffs.  He has 66 career tackles with 14 third down stops, eight pass breakups and two interceptions.  In each is sophomore and junior seasons, he was part of one of the bigger plays of each season.   As a sophomore against Washington State, he came off the bench and had a key fourth down stop against the Cougars that helped the Buffs secure the win and remain alive for the Pac-12 South Championship, which they eventually won.  In 2017, he returned an interception 100 yards for a touchdown in the Buffs win over California.

In the community, Fisher’s resume is quite impressive.  He helped found Rocking With Rick, a program where CU student-athletes sit down monthly with CU Athletic Director Rick George to talk about student-athlete welfare and any other topic that may come up.  He is also a member of the Bolder Buffaloes, a program designed to help student-athletes with mental health initiatives and education around resources available to them.

… Continue reading story here …

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October 24th

… CU in a few minutes … 

Juwann Winfree back … just in time

From the Daily Camera … When Juwann Winfree spoke nearly a month ago about being healthy enough to play against UCLA, his voice was filled with hope, rather than confidence.

The Colorado senior is now truly healthy, and eager to do all he can to help the Buffaloes (5-2, 2-2 Pac-12) finish this season the right way. CU hosts Oregon State (1-6, 0-4) on Saturday with a chance to secure bowl eligibility.

“That’s all it was for me, just having faith and just trusting the process and trusting my trainers that they were going to put me through the best to get me back out there,” said Winfree, who returned to the field last week after missing four games, including the one against UCLA, with a high ankle sprain. “I trusted it and it felt great to be back there.”

Star Laviska Shenault was sidelined with a toe injury for the Buffs’ 27-13 loss at Washington, which made the timing of Winfree’s return ideal. Just one of quarterback Steven Montez’s 28 passes came Winfree’s way, however, and he didn’t have any catches.

Despite that, Winfree said he didn’t worry about his name not showing up in the box score.

… Continue reading story here …

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Mike MacIntyre post-practice talk with media (Wed.)

From YouTube, courtesy of CUSportsNation:

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Homecoming weekend events and activities

From CUBuffs.com …

Homecoming Week
There are plenty of activities planned for alumni, fans and CU students throughout the week. Visit www.colorado.edu/homecoming for a full schedule. Alumni can also purchase tickets at a 20 percent discount through the website.

Homecoming Parade & Pep Rally
The 2018 Homecoming Parade and Pep Rally will take place Friday night at 7 p.m. on Pearl Street in Boulder. Celebrate your CU spirit with students, fellow alumni and the community as the Buffs paint Pearl Street black and gold! Come cheer on the students, football team, marching band and spirit squad during the parade. Then stick around for the pep rally featuring football, men’s basketball and women’s basketball. It will be a fun evening in Boulder to kick off Homecoming weekend!

Men’s Basketball Intrasquad Scrimmage
CU’s men’s basketball team will hold a black & gold instrasquad scrimmage starting at 9:45 a.m. at the CU Events Center. Admission is free and doors will open at 9 a.m. Fan can get a look at this very exciting team ahead of the 2018-19 season.

Parking for the scrimmage will be football game day parking.

Lacrosse Play Day
CU’s lacrosse will play its final scrimmages of the fall season. The Buffs take on Oregon at 9 a.m. and Denver at noon at Kittredge Field.

Parking will be football game day parking.

The Pregame
The Pac-12’s college football game day show “The Pregame” is in Boulder on Saturday. Fans can watch the show live from near the ticket office and the southeast entrance, inside the stadium gates at 12 p.m.

Domestic Violence Awareness Month
October is Domestic Violence Awareness Month and the Buffs are supporting this cause. One in four women will experience domestic violence and CU is working to bring awareness to these statistics. The University of Colorado works with two partners to provide assistance to victims of domestic violence, including OVA (Office of Victim Assistance, www.colorado.edu/ova) and SPAN (Safehouse Progressive Alliance for Non-Violence, www.safehousealliance.org).

Coors Cold Zone
During the first hour gates are open, the Coors Light ColdZone on the Buff Walk will have $1 off adult beverages.

Student Tailgate
The Herd’s Homecoming Student Tailgate will begin at 10 a.m. on Saturday inside the Indoor Practice Facility in the Champions Center, adjacent to the east side of Folsom Field. Herd members receive free food and drinks, plus free Herd swag, including some exclusive giveaways. For more information, visit www.colorado.edu/theherd/ralphiescorral. NOTE that the location is different from the normal spot at Duane Field.

Chip’s Kids Club Area
Open for kids 8th grade and under, the Chip’s Kids Club Area located south of the Benson Earth Science building will open at 10 a.m. on Saturday and will have inflatables and stations to make signs.

Ralphie’s Corral
The official CU Tailgate for football is located on Duane Field and will include photo opportunities with Ralphie the live mascot and Chip the mascot, performances by CU’s marching band the spirit squad, games for kids, giveaways including Nike gear, music, and concession-style food and beverages. Ralphie’s Corral is open to all fans.

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Steven Montez promises Buffs will “come out swinging”

From CUBuffs.com … After two straight losses — both on the road — the Colorado Buffaloes believe they have some business to attend to Saturday when they host Oregon State in a 1 p.m. homecoming game at Folsom Field.

Among the top orders on the agenda will be regaining a little of the mojo that produced a 5-0 start and propelled the Buffs into the nation’s top 25. That includes getting their offense back on track, one that has endured back-to-back season lows in points (20 and 13) and yards (265 and 263) over the last two weeks.

According to quarterback Steven Montez, the proper response — along with a solid week of practice — involves an angry mood.

“It is kind of like being backed into a corner,” Montez said at Tuesday’s weekly press conference. “The only way you are getting out of there is to come out swinging. That is what we plan on doing Saturday.”

The 5-2 Buffs (2-2 Pac-12) have plenty on the line Saturday against the Beavers (1-6, 0-4). They can clinch bowl eligibility with a win and also stay in contention for a Pac-12 South title run in November.

Montez is confident the Buffs will approach Saturday’s game with the proper attitude.

“It speaks to what this team is all about and how this team is wired,” he said. “This group of guys on offense and defense has a lot of fight in them. They won’t go out without a fight. That is what I expect on Saturday. You are going to see that physical football that we talk about on offense and defense. You are going to see us probably air the rock out a little bit and run it as well … We’ll have a few wrinkles for Oregon State specifically for what they do. We will have a good plan for them and we’ll go out there and be physical and hopefully out-execute them as well.”

… Continue reading story here …

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October 23rd

… CU in a few minutes … 

Pac-12 Networks “Pregame” show to originate from Boulder this weekend

Press release from CUBuffs.com … Continuing its tour across all 12 campuses, “The Pregame,” presented by 76, heads to Boulder this week for the Buffs homecoming matchup against Oregon State.  Coverage begins on Saturday, Oct. 27 at 11 a.m. PT / 12 p.m. MT as host Ashley Adamson and analysts Nigel Burton and Evan Moore preview the day ahead while highlighting the game day atmosphere live from outside Folsom Field, the southeast side off Colorado Ave. near the ticket booth, in Boulder ahead of Colorado’s 12 p.m. PT / 1 p.m. MT kickoff.

Following the game, “Pac-12 Football Gamebreak,” anchored from on-site in Boulder, will recap the action and preview a Top 25 showdown with No. 14 Washington State at No. 24 Stanford on Pac-12 Network, kicking off at 4 p.m. PT / 5 p.m. MT.  Afterwards, “Pac-12 Postgame Report” will recap the battled of ranked opponents with host Mike Yam and analysts Nick Aliotti and Ryan Leaf ahead of “Pac-12 Final Score” at 11:30 p.m. PT / 12:30 a.m. MT.

Coverage for the week begins tonight with an all-new “Inside Pac-12 Football,” presented by Maui Jim, as host Mike Yam and analysts Curtis Conway and Yogi Roth dive deep into all things Pac-12 football.

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Mike MacIntyre Tuesday press conference

From YouTube, courtesy BuffStampede.com:

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CB Chris Miller out for the year

From Mike MacIntyre’s Tuesday press conference:

–“Chris (Miller) got operated on yesterday (wrist injury), he’s out for the year”;

— CB “Delrick (Abrams) practiced today, and will be able to play Saturday”;

— “Our corners have got to play better. We know that; they know that. With what we do on defense, they know they are going to be thrown at – that’s the way it is … They had a really good practice today, and they’re excited about going out and playing”;

— “Laviska (Shenault) and Jay (MacIntyre) are still day-to-day. We’ll see if they will be able to play Saturday. Hopefully they will; not sure yet”;

— “Juwann Winfree’s back”.

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Offensive line coach Klayton Adams: “We’re not playing good enough (up front) to help us win”

From the Daily Camera … CU’s running game has been average, at best, in recent weeks, and quarterback Steven Montez has been running for his life. In the past two games, Montez has been sacked five times and had 13 hurried throws (he had 18 such throws in the first five games).

“We’re not playing good enough (up front) to help us win,” co-offensive coordinator/line coach Klayton Adams said. “It’s my job to figure out why, it’s my job to figure out who those five guys are going to be that can be more consistent and execute at a really high level, but also practice and prepare at a high level. We haven’t been able to find that and we need to now, because this team is too good for us (on the line) to hold us back.”

Several times against Washington, the Buffs were badly beaten by the Huskies’ front seven.

“Their power up front has hurt everybody,” MacIntyre said. “That’s really what hurt us in that game.”

Left tackle William Sherman, left guard Brett Tonz and center Colby Pursell played every snap, although they also had their struggles.

On the right side, the Buffs once again set up a revolving door. Tim Lynott and Aaron Haigler played at right guard, and CU used three players – Josh Kaiser, Frank Fillip and Haigler – at right tackle.

… Continue reading story here …

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October 22nd

… CU in a few minutes …

Stakes for CU clear as Buffs return home to face Oregon State

… Related … “CU Buffs have plenty at stake down stretch of season” … from the Daily Camera

From CUBuffs.com … Win or lose, the Colorado Buffaloes are guaranteed five more games this season.

But with every game Mike MacIntyre‘s 5-2 Buffs win — beginning with Saturday’s 1 p.m. homecoming matchup with Oregon State at Folsom Field (Pac-12 Networks) — the stakes and potential rewards will continue to grow.

It’s why that most common cliche in sports is more applicable than ever for these Buffs:

One game at a time.

“You have to go win every week,” head coach Mike MacIntyre said after Monday’s practice. “We still have an opportunity to do well. We’re concerned about this next game, then the next one and the next one and the next one.”

The immediate rewards aren’t hard to figure.

A win Saturday would improve the Buffs record to 6-2 overall (3-2 Pac-12) and make CU bowl eligible for the second time in three seasons. A win over the Beavers would also give Colorado 21 wins over the last three seasons, the most in any three-year stretch since the 2002-04 Buffs won 22 games.

A win over Oregon State would also bump up the stakes the following week, when the Buffs travel to Arizona. There, CU would  have a chance to clinch a winning season — only the second winning season at Colorado since 2005.

… Continue reading story here …

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Laviska Shenault still “day-to-day” for Oregon State game

Tweet from Brian Howell at the Daily Camera … WRs Laviska Shenault (toe) and Jay MacIntyre (concussion) still day to day. Same with CB Delrick Abrams (calf). CB Chris Miller getting examined later today to see if he needs surgery on the wrist he injured Saturday at Washington.

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Former CU wide receiver Rae Carruth released from prison

From WCNC … Former Carolina Panther Rae Carruth completed his paperwork for his release from prison and walked out a free man at 8:02 a.m. after serving nearly 19 years.

The former Carolina Panthers wide receiver spent the last 18 years behind bars for plotting to kill the mother of his unborn child.

Rae Carruth wore jersey number 84 in the 1997 season, before switching to jersey number 89. Carruth was a first round draft pick of the Panthers in 1997 from the University of Colorado. He made nearly $40,000 a game catching passes for the Panthers.

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Neill Woelk’s Ten Takeaways from the Washington game

From CUBuffs.com … With a difficult two-game road trip now in their rearview mirror, the 5-2 Colorado Buffaloes (2-2 Pac-12) next turn their attention to a regular season stretch run that will include three home games and a pair of road contests.

It begins next Saturday with a 1 p.m. home game against struggling Oregon State (1-6, 0-4), the only Pac-12 team without at least two wins this season and the only Pac-12 team without a conference win.

What the Buffs know today is what they heard from head coach Mike MacIntyre immediately after Saturday’s 27-13 loss at Washington: the Pac-12 South is still up for grabs and the Buffs still have a reasonable shot at the division title.

But to get there, they will have to address some of the issues that have hindered them the last couple of weeks, as well as continue to improve on the things they have been doing well.

Thus, our weekly 10 Takeaways:

1. The Buffs have closed the gap on the conference elite — but their margin for error is still thin. If there was one overwhelming feeling in the Colorado locker room after Saturday’s game, it was that they let an opportunity slip away.

… Continue reading story here …

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October 21st 

… CU in a few minutes …

National rankings … Washington State rises; Utah and Stanford join poll

… Colorado disappears from the “others receiving votes

From CBS Sports … While Week 8 of the college football season didn’t have the same number of upsets as last week, Ohio State’s 49-20 loss to Purdue has shuffled the top 10. The Buckeyes fell nine spots, landing at No. 11, behind teams like UCF, Florida and Oklahoma.

And, as luck would have it, Ohio State’s loss was Michigan’s gain. The Wolverines moved up to No. 5 from No. 6 last week after ending their 17-game road losing streak against ranked teams by beating Michigan State 21-7.

The biggest climber in the poll this week was Washington State. The Cougars jumped 11 spots to No. 14 after beating Oregon 34-20. The Ducks dropped seven spots to No. 19 with the loss.

The Associated Press Top 25 … 

Others Receiving Votes: Texas Tech (5-2) 54; Utah State (6-1) 50; San Diego State (6-1) 48; Fresno State (6-1) 35; Miami (FL) (5-2) 34; Virginia (5-2) 25; Houston (6-1) 19; Purdue (4-3) 17; Michigan State (4-3) 8; Cincinnati (6-1) 7; Auburn (5-3) 5; Boston College (5-2) 2; Mississippi State (4-3) 2; UAB (6-1) 1

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USA Today/Coaches’ poll

Others Receiving Votes: Appalachian State (5-1) 78; Utah State (6-1) 63; San Diego State (6-1) 62; Houston (6-1) 30; Cincinnati (6-1) 30; Fresno State (6-1) 22; Mississippi State (4-3) 18; Virginia (5-2) 17; Auburn (5-3) 13; Colorado (5-2) 9; Buffalo (7-1) 9; Duke (5-2) 8; Texas Tech (5-2) 8; Army West Point (5-2) 8; Purdue (4-3) 7; UAB (6-1) 6; South Carolina (3-3) 5; Virginia Tech (4-2) 4; Syracuse (5-2) 3; Georgia Southern (6-1) 2; Michigan State (4-3) 1

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Steven Montez: “We just shot ourselves in the foot again. You can’t do that if you want to beat the good teams” 

From Neill Woelk at CUBuffs.com … For the 29th time in a row, the Buffs visited the home stadium of a ranked team and flew home with a loss, this time a 27-13 defeat to Washington that was a four-point game in the fourth quarter.

The Buffs let one get away — and they knew it.

“Obviously you never want to lose,” said Colorado quarterback Steven Montez. “But sometimes, you’d almost rather have an absolute blowout than get one pulled out from under you in the fourth quarter. Those are the absolute toughest ones to swallow. We had opportunities and we didn’t capitalize.”

Indeed, Colorado had a chance — several chances — to put the Huskies on their heels and keep them there. But everytime they threatened to take control, they opened the gate and allowed Washington to regain momentum.

… “We just shot ourselves in the foot again,” Montez said. “You can’t do that if you want to beat the good teams like USC and Washington. You can do all that other stuff and get away with it when you’re playing some other teams. But when you’re playing USC and Washington, these guys who have been elite in the Pac-12 for a while now, you can’t make those mental mistakes and expect to get away with it. Especially not on the road.”

But while the opportunity for a road win over a ranked team will now likely have to wait until next year, the Buffs don’t have to wait long to get back on track. After two weeks on the road, they finally return to Folsom Field next Saturday for a 1 p.m. homecoming matchup with Oregon State.

“We’re 5-2,” Montez said. “There’s no need to freak out, panic. We just need to get back to work and do what we’ve been doing in practice and film study and all those good things. We were prepared coming into this game and just had some tough moments. If we keep preparing like we have been, we’ll be fine.”

… Continue reading story here …

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This post, about the Oregon State game, from the 2018 Season, is filed under Article.
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