Oregon State football: Beavers open 2013 fall camp with plenty of questions

Mike Riley said it nicely, but let's be honest: He's as sick of the question as everyone else.

"You don't have to ask me about the quarterback situation every day," Riley told reporters in his annual preseason conference call. "When there's news, I'll tell you."

This came a week after Riley joked at Pac-12 Media Day that he was giving different answers to everyone who asked about the quarterback controversy, laughing that he "wanted to keep it interesting."

Now, the message is a little different: Back off. Riley & Co. will make a decision when they're ready.

The Beavers open fall camp Monday at 11 a.m., Riley's 13th season at the helm in Corvallis. Just weeks after turning 60, Riley says he feels more energized than ever. He has good reason to be: OSU returns plenty of star power from a surprising 2012 season in which the Beavers finished 9-4, and they're ranked preseason No. 25. It's a stark contrast from a year ago, when some people were wondering if Riley would still have a job in 2013.

"That's life in sports, right?" Riley said. "If you stay in it long enough you're going to see most of everything. You've got to weather the storm and try to keep the focus on what you need to do."

Riley is especially proud of what the 2012 group accomplished but said he hopes everyone within the program understands how important it is to "continue that growth."

Aside from quarterback, there are plenty of questions that need to be answered in the next four weeks.

There are holes to fill in the middle of the defense. Junior college transfers are slated to start at both defensive tackle positions and sophomore Joel Skotte will probably see his first significant action as the tentative starting middle linebacker. There's a battle to replace the departed Markus Wheaton. Junior Obum Gwacham and sophomore Richard Mullaney are good candidates to help relieve pressure from All-American candidate Brandin Cooks, and there's a crop of incoming freshmen receivers loaded with talent and speed. There's the need for a reliable punt returner. Cooks has already volunteered and said that position will allow him to "just do me," which could translate to some highlight-worthy returns.

And then there's that pesky, nagging feeling that the Beavers could have finished 10-3 instead of 9-4. A year ago OSU was haunted and motivated by a lack of bowl game. Now players say they're pushed by a crushing loss to Texas in the Alamo Bowl, a game in which the Beavers were in complete control before blowing it.

So what's in store for this year?

"I would hope there's a building of confidence in what we're capable of doing," Riley said.

The schedule is favorable early, and some will expect the Beavers to start 7-0. Riley isn't ready to go that far. It's a cliche, and he knows it, but he wants to take things a day at a time, a practice at a time.

It starts Monday.

Notes: The Beavers have dismissed junior Josh Williams, which leaves OSU awfully thin at middle linebacker. ... Riley said punter Keith Kostol and long snapper Michael Morovick have been put on scholarship. ... Riley said junior college transfer Lyndon Tulimasealii, a defensive end, will not academically qualify but he expects Kyle Peko and Charlie Tuaau to make it. ... The Beavers are currently at 83 scholarship players. ... Riley said he's not sure who will decide uniform combinations as the Beavers break out their new logo for the 2013 season but declared, "I don't want to be a part of that."

-- Lindsay Schnell

Source: http://www.oregonlive.com/beavers/index.ssf/2013/08/oregon_state_football_beavers_28.html

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