BEAVER NOTES: A bad call, and a chance to 'Speer' Bruins for Riley

By Kerry Eggers

The Portland Tribune, Nov 5, 2008, Updated Oct 30, 2009 (3 Reader comments)

TOM HAUCK / GETTY IMAGES

Oregon State offensive guard Adam Speer, from West Hills, Calif., once thought he might be a Bruin. Now he wants to give Beaver coach Mike Riley his first win over UCLA.

THE GAME: Oregon State (5-3, 4-1) vs. UCLA (3-5, 2-3)

WHEN, WHERE: 3 p.m. Saturday, Rose Bowl

TV, RADIO: FSN (joined in progress after Oregon-Stanford game; replayed in its entirety at 7:30 p.m.), KPAM 860 AM

That fourth-quarter play in last Saturday’s 27-25 victory over Arizona State — the one where Jacquizz Rodgers burrows through the line, is stalled for a moment, then spins away for a 23-yard gainer to the ASU 3-yard line, but it’s called back by a whistle marking forward progress at the 24-yard line — a good call?

No, says Oregon State coach Mike Riley.

The officials “have to be careful with Quiz,” Riley says. “He is (5-7 and) already low to the ground. When he appears to be down, he might not be down.

“The general rule is let the play go, then they can review it. If it is called dead, then it can’t be reviewed. But the umpire gave me a good reason. He said the play appeared done, (the referee) felt progress was stopped and the whistle blew, so basically he had to call it back.”

• Riley is 0-9 against UCLA during his coaching career, including 0-4 as an assistant at Southern Cal. Amazingly, the Trojans went through an eight-year period (1991-98) where they lost every game to the Bruins, including ‘95 — the third of Riley’s four years there — when the Trojans beat Northwestern in the ‘96 Rose Bowl.

“The staff has told me not to talk about that,” Riley jokes. “They might kick me out for the week.

“Hey, new teams, new year, we’re going to play a brand new game. That’s my story, and I’m sticking to it.”

• If there is any Oregon State player who wants to beat UCLA in Saturday’s Pac-10 matchup at the Rose Bowl, it’s Adam Speer.

The senior offensive guard from West Hills, Calif., thought he might become a Bruin.

“I went to every UCLA game when I was getting recruited my junior and senior years,” Speer says. “The offensive line coach said, ‘We want you here.’ Then I had a meeting with (head coach Karl) Dorrell, and he said I was too short.

“That’s extra motivation. I want to get this game. I hate the Bruins. I really want these guys.”

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