Talking Points: Good for Oregon State

What’s the buzz from the world of sports? Here are some items that will have people talking:

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Maybe there’s something to be said for focusing on football instead of paranoia. While much of the talk surrounding Washington and USC in recent weeks has been about closed practices and a failure to disclose injuries, Oregon State has held open practices and shared injury information with the public.

Oh, and the Beavers are 2-0 with wins over two teams that were ranked at the time.

With Saturday’s 27-20 victory over UCLA, Oregon State has reinforced the notion that its program is enjoying a renaissance. And by shutting down UCLA’s running attack one game after limiting Wisconsin’s Montee Ball, the Beavers have demonstrated that their defense will be difficult to reckon with.

We’re guessing that really has nothing to do with holding open practices or disclosing injury information. But it’s nice to see somebody as gracious and cordial as Mike Riley have some success.

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That, by any measure, was a dreadful loss. Washington State held a 31-14 lead with 71/2 minutes to play Saturday and managed to lose 35-34 to Colorado. To an awful Colorado team. To a Colorado team that the previous week trailed 55-7 at halftime against Fresno State.

The Cougs lived up to a longstanding Washington State tradition of blowing a game in the most unfathomable of fashions. Which led Danny O’Neil of The Seattle Times to tweet, “What starts with a ‘C’ and ends with an ‘oug it?’ “

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