NFL DRAFTEES SET ACADEMIC TONE
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SPORTS
NFL DRAFTEES SET ACADEMIC TONE
By Kip Carlson
not too long ago, Louie Bottaro,
’99 — an academic adviser in Oregon
State’s College of Liberal Arts —
had an observation about the 2008
Oregon State football promotional
poster.
He noted that all four of the
featured players (cornerback Brandon
Hughes, offensive lineman Andy
Levitre, cornerback Keenan Lewis
and wide receiver Sammie Strough-
ter) were drafted into the National
Football League, recalled Megan
Burks O’Quin, ’03, an academic
counselor in the athletic department.
And that all four of them had
graduated with liberal arts degrees.
The seven Beavers selected this
past spring were the most OSU
players taken in an NFL draft; OSU
matched Southern California as
the school with the second-highest
number of players selected in this his staff are powerful partners in both found that having a diploma
year’s draft, trailing only Ohio State’s Megan O’Quin, an aca- O’Quin’s work. helped make a good first impression
11 picks. demic counselor in the “They’re all great,” she said. “When with professional scouts.
And five of those seven players — OSU athletic department, I have a concern, I’ll go straight over “Some people don’t even graduate,
Hughes (San Diego Chargers, fifth works to keep football to the individual position coach’s so that’s usually a concern for them,”
round), Levitre (Buffalo Bills, second and softball players on offices and we’ll sit down and talk Levitre said. “But when they asked me
round), Lewis (Pittsburgh Steelers, the path toward gradu- about it. These coaches don’t settle for if I graduated, and I told them I had
third round), Stroughter (Tampa ation, despite grueling mediocre grades. They get upset when two degrees, that kind of stood out.”
Bay Buccaneers, seventh round) and practice and travel there are low grades. They want A’s O’Quin has noticed that more
defensive end Slade Norris (Oakland schedules and occa- and B’s; they question why there are and more, athletes show their fiercely
Raiders, fourth round) — arrived at sional mass depressions C’s and lower grades.” competitive nature in academics.
football’s most elite level with their over bad results on the Increasingly, teammates push each “They hear that someone is on track
college degrees already in hand. playing field. PHOTO BY other to take care of business in the for graduation in the fall, and they
The remaining two — defensive DENNIS WOLVERTON classroom. Peer pressure and coach want to make sure they’re graduat-
end Victor Butler (Dallas Cowboys, pressure give O’Quin a wide array of ing in the fall, too,” O’Quin said. “If
fourth round) and safety Al Afalava motivational tools. someone says, ‘Winter,’ they’re like
(Chicago Bears, sixth round) — are In that atmosphere, 15 of the 20 ‘No, no, no — I have to graduate in
within a few credit hours of joining Oregon State football players who fall.’”
them as OSU graduates, O’Quin said. completed their eligibility in 2008 had Hughes remembers wanting
“It’s amazing,” she said. “It’s just an graduated by June 2009, a graduation to match Stroughter’s GPA, but
impressive bunch. And what’s great rate substantially higher than that of Stroughter typically earned a 3.5 or
is they really set a standard and the the general student body. The players 3.7 average, while Hughes had to
guys coming through are seeing that.” also excelled on the field, where OSU work hard to earn a 3.0.
The culture within OSU’s football went 33-18 over four seasons. “But I still tried to compete with
program — and its athletic depart- Both types of success “almost go him,” Hughes said. “When we were
ment as a whole — appears to have hand-in-hand, because you can’t really in the computer lab, I could hold my
reached the point where academic do one without the other,” Levitre own if he wanted to say something
success and graduation are expecta- said by telephone from training camp smart. It was just another competition.
tions. Head Coach Mike Riley and in Buffalo, N.Y. Levitre and Hughes ... You don’t want to be that guy where
Did you know? As the Stater went to press, 25 former Oregon State football players were on active NFL rosters.
44 OREGON STATER
SPORTS
you’re sitting in the computer lab and those lessons. Their status as NFL about the NFL. It was more like,
you have guys who are taking care of draftees gives Hughes, Stroughter, I want to play here (at the college
their business — and you know who’s Levitre and the rest some extra cred- level). I didn’t know how college
taking care of their business and who ibility with younger players. was, the speed (of the game) and
isn’t — and you don’t want to be the Hughes and Levitre are clear all that. I just had short-term goals
butt of their jokes, because that can about why even players bound for and hoped that would carry me to
be harsh.” pro careers should have their degrees the NFL.”
Hughes remembers Josh Hawkins, as they leave college. An NFL career Levitre’s approach works well,
a former OSU wide receiver, impart- can end with an injury in the first according to O’Quin. If athletes
ing the importance of using football practice. Even those who make a achieve the short-term goals
to reach a bigger goal, and encourag- roster last an average of only 3 ½ necessary to stay eligible, then the
ing Hughes to see himself as more seasons, according to the NFL Play- thought of reaching the long-term
than a football player. ers Association. goal of graduation sneaks up on
“He taught me the importance of “You have guys leaving school and them.
taking advantage of my education, they don’t have their degree, and “They just march along, they
that I could further myself if football their entire college career they had take their classes, and in their
didn’t work out because it was a heck ambitions to go to the next level minds it’s eligibility,” O’Quin said.
of an opportunity,” Hughes said. (the NFL) but it never happened,” “And all of a sudden, they get close,
Now it’s Hughes’ turn to teach Hughes said. “And five years later, and I’m telling them, ‘Oh, by the
four years later, they’re coming back way, you’re graduating the fall term
trying to get their degree because in of your final season of eligibility.’
“YOU’RE A FOOL the economy now, in the U.S. today,
the bachelor’s degree is the new high
“And they just sit there and look,
like ‘What do you mean?’ Some-
school degree.” times they’re a little shocked that
NOT TO GET Hughes graduated in speech com- it’s gone by so quickly, and they’ve
munication. Levitre finished with just done everything right.”
YOUR DEGREE. two degrees — sociology and finance.
He entered OSU in the fall of 2004
On those increasingly rare oc-
casions when a player stubbornly
YOU’RE A FOOL with his mind set on playing college
football and getting his degree at
balks at the books, O’Quin can
call on some heavy-duty reinforce-
NOT TO TAKE no expense to his parents “because
they’d already been putting my older
ments among successful Beaver
football alumni.
brother through college,” he said. “If I have a guy who is question-
ADVANTAGE OF “I wasn’t even thinking, really, ing what I’m telling them, I’ll call
up the veterans,” O’Quin said.
EVERY “I’ve called up Sabby Piscitelli
before, I’ve called up Keith Ellison.
OPPORTUNITY I’ve called up those guys and said,
‘There’s someone here who needs
THAT’S GIVEN to listen to a veteran who’s gone
through this program and gradu-
ated and is still in the NFL.’”
TO YOU.” Hughes says he’s fortunate to
have been drafted by San Diego,
- BRANDON where Chargers head coach Norv
Turner is similar to Riley when
HUGHES it comes to caring for his players
beyond their football contributions.
“Coach Riley has yet to bring anyone in (on his staff ) who
didn’t emphasize the same values he emphasizes,” Hughes said.
As an OSU graduate and a Beaver making “If you envision yourself as just about football, then Coach Riley’s
the jump from college to the NFL, Bran- staff isn’t for you.
don Hughes has credibility with younger “He’s about life. He’s about football, he’s about life, he’s about
players. grooming you to be a young man and a well-prepared adult for
OSU PHOTO BY DENNIS WOLVERTON when you venture off into society.”
CHARGERS PHOTO BY MIKE NOWAK q
Did you know? OSU football player Taylor Kavanaugh spent spring break in Guatemala building houses.
FALL 2009 45
SPORTS
ATHLETICS WORKS $1.1 million saved …
The state of Oregon sets a
New head coach
for men’s soccer
TO CONSERVE CASH maximum per diem rate of
$45 to $58 per day. OSU
athletics pays $32. The
Steve Simmons, a former associate head
coach at Oregon State who has served
the last six seasons at the helm of the
By Kip Carlson that what you do doesn’t put you out state allows employees
using their own car to be Northern Illinois men’s soccer program, is
Here’s a sampling of how athletic on an island.” OSU’s new men’s soccer head coach.
departments around the nation have In other words, OSU doesn’t reimbursed 50.5 cents per
mile; Beaver athletic per- “It is great to have a coach of Steve’s
cut costs in response to the current want to be the only school making caliber leading our program,” OSU Direc-
economic downturn: cuts that could put its programs at sonnel get 20 or 30 cents
per mile. tor of Athletics Bob De Carolis said.
Tennessee isn’t filling five admin- a competitive disadvantage. That’s “He did an amazing job of building a
istrative positions. Stanford laid off one reason that the Pac-10 Confer- successful program at NIU and with his
24 athletics employees. Colorado ence has forwarded several measures Several years ago, most
professional development familiarity of the Beavers and Corvallis he
cut the number of telephones and to the NCAA for consideration, should be able to hit the ground running.”
tightened rules for using cell phones. including eliminating out-of-season opportunities were elimi-
nated from the budget, with In six seasons at NIU, Simmons
Washington cut its men’s and foreign tours by teams and ending compiled a 59-47-13 record as he led
women’s swimming teams. the practice of having football teams exceptions made for events
that were required for the Huskies to a NCAA Men’s Soccer
What about the Beavers? OSU stay at hotels the night before home Championship appearance following the
athletics, like its academic coun- games. certification. For example,
Director of Athletics Bob 2006 season.
terparts on campus, has been there, “There are certain things that “I want to thank Bob De Carolis for
done plenty of that. if everybody was willing to do the De Carolis doesn’t attend
the National Association providing me the opportunity to return
Having long had one of the small- same thing, it makes it a lot easier,” home to Oregon State to guide the men’s
est athletic budgets in the Pac-10 Stansbury said. “Because you know of Collegiate Directors of
Athletics convention on soccer program,” Simmons said.
Conference, OSU is no stranger to you’re not putting yourself at a com-
stretching a dollar. While fiscal re- petitive disadvantage. … Even for department money.
straint is a new experience for some the Pac-10 to unilaterally do some of
Practically all purchases of
Levitre,
athletic departments, Oregon State
has had a variety of money-saving
that stuff, but not the other confer-
ences, would put us at somewhat of a media time or space have
been eliminated in favor of
Haruguchi win
measures in place for years.
“They’re all the same types of
disadvantage.”
In the meantime, OSU is looking getting the time or space Pac-10 medals
things that (other schools) are for ways to get the most out of every through trade or other
Former OSU student-athletes Andy
looking at, or calling (to ask Beaver possible revenue source. For those consideration.
Levitre and Saori Haruguchi were
officials), ‘What are you guys doing?’” who may not be able to afford a awarded Tom Hansen Pac-10 Conference
OSU Executive Associate Athletic full season ticket package this year, De Carolis has not had an
Medals for 2008-09. A conference medal
Director Todd Stansbury said. there’s a three-game option. More executive assistant for the
is awarded annually to each member
“I think these are all the things attention is being paid to licensing past several years; this year
institution’s outstanding senior male
that everybody is looking at to see and apparel, as evidenced by the almost all administrative
and female student athlete based on the
what kind of impact it could have “Beaver Authentics” shops at home assistant positions have
greatest combination of achievement in
for them.” events and available via an online been eliminated in favor of
scholarship, athletics and leadership.
Stansbury estimated that store at osubeavers.com. The coming having office work done by
Levitre, a football player from Ben
eliminating paid vacation time from “12,000 by 2012: Expanding Beaver student interns or graduate
Lomond, Calif., was a three-year starter
coach’s contracts cut about $600,000 Nation” campaign is focused on assistants.
and four-year letterman. The right tackle
off the department’s books. enlarging the number of donors to was a 2008 Pac-10 First Team selec-
Coaches can still take time off, OSU athletics, whether the amount Trips and sizes of travel par-
tion and was honored for his academic
but they can’t bank vacation time of their annual giving be large or ties have been reduced for
achievements by the conference four
and they don’t get paid for unused small. bands and cheerleaders.
straight years.
time if they leave. “What we’re trying to do is create Haruguchi, a swimmer from Fukuoka,
“Everybody is feeling it at some various levels that give everybody Printed media guides are all
Japan, leaves OSU as the school’s most
level, some more than others,” an opportunity to still support the but gone. Online guides that
decorated swimmer. She earned NCAA
Stansbury said of athletic depart- program,” Stansbury said. “We’re can be printed by users are
All-America honors 10 times and was the
ments and the financial crunch. “I just trying to be as innovative as pos- the new favored method of
200 butterfly NCAA champion in 2008.
think the other thing that’s out there sible in looking at different ways to getting program background
She also holds numerous school records
is that as you’re looking at some of get people involved at whatever level to the media.
and competed in the 2008 Olympic
this stuff, you’re just really careful — something for everybody.” Games for Japan.
OSU team media guides, complete with walking, talking coaches and players, are online at: www.iamorangemags.com
46 OREGON STATER
SPORTS
GUTCHES INDUCTED
INTO HALL OF FAME
LES GUTCHES, ’96, ’06, became the third espoir, university and senior.
man with Oregon State ties to be inducted He graduated from South Medford
into the National Wrestling Hall of Fame High School, where he won three state
when he was honored during a ceremony wrestling titles and was district champion
June 6 at the hall’s headquarters in in the 400-meter run.
Stillwater, Okla. He lives in Corvallis, where he is a loan
“It’s a huge honor,” Gutches said of his officer and a part-time coach.
induction. “When you win a tournament, The two previous OSU inductees into
it’s kind of what you’ve done then and the national hall of fame were Robin Reed
there. and Dale Thomas.
“But being inducted into the Hall of Reed was an Olympic gold medalist in
Fame is a great honor because it encom- 1924 who wrestled for the Beavers from
passes your body of work and what you’ve 1923-24.
done overall as an athlete. Thomas coached at OSU from 1957-90
“Growing up you see all of the people and was the winningest dual meet coach
being inducted and have great respect for in college wrestling history.
them. So for the Hall of Fame to look at Gutches was world freestyle champion
your work and deem it to be honored like at 187.25 pounds in 1997 after having
this, it’s huge.” competed in the 1996 Olympics; he also
A world champion, an Olympian and a won five senior national titles. He won
two-time NCAA champion while wrestling NCAA titles at OSU in 1995-96 and was
for OSU, Gutches was the first athlete named Outstanding Wrestler at the NCAA
to win USA Wrestling national titles in Championships in 1996.
all five age group levels — cadet, junior, PHOTO BY LARRY SLATER
SEPTEMBER 11-13
beaverssportstravel.com
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FALL 2009 47
SPORTS
Barrels of An extreme makeover for Gill Coliseum
and visions of exciting changes in the
to last longer than past cover-ups.
The painting is part of $7 million in
students. Executive Associate Athletic
Director Todd Stansbury said fundrais-
paint for Gill; coliseum’s neighborhood marked a busy
summer at OSU athletic facilities. By
improvements that will be completed
by the spring of 2010. Work includes in-
ing for the building is complete and the
design phase is nearing its finish.
big plans for the end of July, all 40,000 square feet
— nearly an acre — of Gill’s outside walls
stallation of energy-efficient doors and
windows, two automated access doors
Meanwhile, Beaver officials and
supporters continue to eye the area just
the area had been sandblasted to bare concrete
and painters were applying tan, gray,
that meet Americans with Disabilities
Act requirements, two ADA ticket win-
west of Gill Coliseum and the Sports
Performance Center as the site for a
black and brown paint to the venerable dows, a state-of-the-art medical facility gymnasium that would provide practice
arena. and new locker rooms. space for basketball and volleyball,
Painting should be completed by late Across 26th Street and just north of relieving scheduling pressure in Gill.
this year or early 2010. This was the the CH2M HILL Alumni Center, ground- The department is working with others
first time in decades that the exterior breaking is expected in 2010 on the to establish design requirements for
was completely denuded of old paint, Student Success Center, a $14 million the building, so that a price tag can be
and the new covering of 2,500 gallons academic support building that will established, allowing for fundraising
of a silicon-based coating is expected house programs for athletes and other and construction as soon as possible.
Gill’s new colors are “Smoked Trout” (tan), “Mommia” (brown trim), “Petoskey” (gray trim) and “Blackest Black.”
48 OREGON STATER
SPORTS
M E M B E R S H I P M AT T E R S
FALL 2009 49
SPORTS
VOLLEYBALLER VISITS THE INSIDE,
COMES OUT WITH NEW INSIGHTS
By Kip Carlson “A lot of the (inmate) guys in our
Over the past three years, Rachel class — yes, there were murderers
Rourke has rewritten part of Oregon and stuff like that — but it was more
State’s volleyball record book. But last along the lines of something they did
spring — with assistance from class- that ... you realized that every choice
mates and Oregon State Correctional you make is so important,” Rourke
Institution inmates — she may have said. “That one time you punch a
helped some children rewrite their guy in a bar and he hits his head and
futures. dies, and you’ve got 20 years in prison
Rourke — a senior from Queen- because of minimum sentencing ...
sland, Australia, who earned All- it’s like, ‘I shouldn’t have had that last
America honors last season — was drink that pushed me over the top
part of an “Inside-Out” sociology and made me punch that guy’ … It’s
course taught by Associate Professor a lot of thinking about how much
Michelle Inderbitzin. The “inside” everything that you do counts toward
part of the course involved weekly something that could happen for the
visits inside Oregon State Correc- future.”
tional Institution in Salem, where 15 Rourke also worked with her team-
OSU students took part in discus- mates to raise money for Dylan Cain,
sion-based classes with 15 prison a Corvallis 4-year-old suffering from
inmates. cerebral palsy. The Beavers helped
“It was the best class I’ve ever taken,” raise over $7,000 to assist the Cain
Rourke said. “We basically got a dif- family with their medical expenses
ferent perspective on life — for them and medical-related travel costs.
and for us.” Rourke’s development — athletic,
Spring term students — both in- personal and academic — is what
mates and collegians — pursued three OSU’s staff strives for with all its
service projects: collecting toys for the student-athletes, said her coach.
visiting room at the prison; raising “That’s what it’s about,” OSU vol-
money for three children in a family leyball head coach Terry Liskevych
where the father is accused of beating said. “This program, as we get people coach.
the mother to death in their presence; here, we tell everybody that ‘Hey, “I’ve always said, when I came on my Rachel Rourke has
and assisting in an annual drive to we’re going to teach you life skills, recruiting visit, they did something to rewritten part of Oregon
buy school supplies for children of you’re going to graduate, and you’re brainwash me,” Rourke said. “Because State’s volleyball record
incarcerated parents. going to be a great volleyball player — I knew as soon as I got back on the book. PHOTO BY DENNIS
“The guys from the fraternities, they in that rank order.’” plane, that I was going to come back.” WOLVERTON
went around with jars and collected Rourke would appear to have the She plans to earn her sociology
money and school supplies from the volleyball part down. She continues degree next spring, and is pondering
fraternities,” Rourke said. Rourke to receive national attention from how to put that to use — after a try at
sought donations from OSU coaches volleyball experts, and going into her professional volleyball.
and support staff, as well as from final season, she has already worked “I believe I’ve gotten better and
employees in the OSU payroll office, her way up a number of OSU’s all- grown independently and will be able
where she works part time. time career leader lists. to survive over in Europe somewhere,”
“I got like 35 backpacks and just a Coming out of her Australian high she said. “I don’t know how it would
bunch of school supplies,” she said. school, Rourke considered turning have gone if I hadn’t come here, be-
Helping the kids “shows them that pro. She and her family chose OSU cause this was probably the best thing
the community still cares about them” partly because of their familiarity that’s ever happened for volleyball and
and it may help them avoid choices with Mark Barnard, an Australian for the school part of it, and getting
that put their parents behind bars. who is now OSU’s associate head that degree.”
Did you know? Eight volleyball players earned Pac-10 academic mention, second in the conference.
50 OREGON STATERM E M B E R S H I P M AT T E R S FALL 2009 51
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