It wasn’t supposed to end like this.
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For all the passes he’s thrown in his college career (509) and all the touchdowns he’s been a part of (25) and all the yards he’s racked up (3,410), Lyle Moevao is probably best known for a nasty block that leveled a Washington defender in 2007 and sent the OSU crowd into a frenzy.
“I guess,” Moevao said with a laugh when reminded of that hit, “I’ve kinda been a fan favorite since I got here.”
In a town that has a history of booing its own quarterbacks, being a fan favorite is a rarity.
The Beaver fan base didn’t fall in love with Moevao because he had a cannon of an arm or deft running ability. They liked him because he was loud and boisterous and physical and played with a smile stretched across his face. In 2008, when the Beavers went on an unbelievable run toward the Rose Bowl, they rallied around their 5-foot-11, 225-pound leader, the guy just about everyone describes as “the heart and soul of our team.”
This season, while getting in for only one play because of devastating back-to-back injuries, Moevao has kept his head up and his smile visible.
It started in the spring, when Moevao underwent surgery to repair the rotator cuff in his throwing arm. It was an odd turn of events, considering quarterback Sean Canfield had gone through the same surgery the year before, allowing Moevao to step into the starting position.
“I’ve always been hoping for two, healthy senior quarterbacks and never got it,” OSU coach Mike Riley said.
Moevao, ever the optimist, thought he could be back throwing when fall camp started.
“The reality was that it was a slow process,” Moevao said. “A lot slower (than I anticipated).”
His goal was to get into one game. When he did, he decided to go all out.
Against Arizona on Sept. 26 Moevao ran in for one snap. Much to Moevao’s surprise, offensive coordinator Danny Langsdorf called a passing play. Figuring Langsdorf didn’t realize he was in, Moevao broke the huddle quickly and took the snap before any coach could change his mind. He fired an incomplete pass to Jordan Bishop before running back to the sideline as the crowd went crazy.
“Coach Langs told me after the game, ‘I called that play thinking Sean was in and when I saw you break the huddle I was like, Oooooh!’” Moevao laughed. “He knew exactly what I was gonna do.
“It was worth it though … the fact that the crowd was cheering for me and even my teammates were hyped about me going deep. Sean got a little laugh out of it after the game. I can definitely live with that, if that’s how I go out.”
At the time, no one thought it would be the last they saw of Moevao on the field.
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“It was hard. I had never had surgery before my shoulder, having two back-to-back …” Moevao said, his voice trailing off as he paused to wipe tears from his eyesThe day he found out, Moevao wrote on his Twitter page, "Sometimes I look up at the sky and ask why. But I know it's all for a reason. Gotta stay positive, even when it's pouring.''
OSU plans to file a request to the NCAA for a medical hardship, which would earn Moevao another year, but few are optimistic it will be granted. Moevao hasn’t accepted that he might not play football again.
“Until I hear it (from the NCAA) or I get another three surgeries in a row, I’ll always have that drive to continue on,” he said.
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If he was in a funk, it didn’t last long.
Since his foot surgery, Moevao has been at practice almost every day, acting as a one-man cheerleading crew. He bangs his crutches together when he cheers, whoops and hollers when the defense makes a nice play, and talks to Canfield constantly.
“A lot of people would probably fall in the hole and never recover from things like this, especially having back-to-back surgeries,” Moevao said. “But I think that going to practice, being able to stay involved like I would if I weren’t hurt, it helps me, and it’s helping the team.”
His presence has drawn praise from teammates and coaches alike.
"I don't know how he does it," said Joe Halahuni, Moevao's roommate. "It'd be tough for me, as a senior, missing the rest of the season, being at practice every day, watching everybody and still being encouraging. He's a leader on and off the field, and he shows it."
Moevao's leadership has not gone unnoticed, especially by Riley. Two weeks ago on Senior Day the coach wrapped his injury-riddled quarterback in a hug and held on for a while. There’s no doubt the two are close, and it’s hard for Riley to not get emotional when talking about Moevao.
“They’re all special but for what he has meant to this team, I have a special appreciation,” Riley said. “He’s a heart and soul guy, there’s no doubt about it. He’s been a leader for this team, almost from day one … He’s got a magnetic personality, he’s a guy for every guy and he’ll still be that guy even though he’s not playing.
“He hasn’t changed a bit. He’s out here at practice every day, signaling and doing anything he can do to help, which is exactly what Lyle would do, but what not too many guys could do.”
It’s fitting that Moevao’s favorite memory at Oregon State involves the Civil War.
In 2007, Moevao stood facing the end zone just as the first overtime ended in what would turn out to be a double-overtime Oregon State victory. While OSU fans squirmed nervously in a corner of Autzen Stadium, Moevao took off his helmet and drank in the atmosphere with – what else? – a smile across his face.
“You don’t really get that feeling anytime in your life, double overtime, so many streaks on the line,” Moevao remembered. “It was big for me and I was just happy, taking it all in, living in the moment.”
He said he’ll live in the moment again this week, even if it’s on the sidelines and not in the huddle.
“It’ll be different than any other Civil War I’ve been involved with but at the same time, I’ll be playing the game through my teammates,” Moevao said. “As long as I can get my teammates prepared physically, mentally, emotionally and spiritually for this game, then I’ve done my job.
“Physically I’ll obviously be limited, but it doesn’t limit me to what I can say.”
Sheila Alofaituli uses a strong voice to carry her message of unity, leadership, family and character.
Paea is one of the premier tackles in the Pac-10 Conference and earned honorable mention all-league last season. He made 41 tackles for the year, including 11 for loss and five quarterback sacks. Paea started 12 of the 13 games in his first season with the Beavers after transferring from
The 6-1 co-team captain from Vav’u in the
The Bronko Nagurski Trophy is awarded to the nation's best defensive player by the FWAA and the CTC. The trophy has been presented since 1993 and is awarded in memory of the legendary Nagurski, an All-America lineman at
Paea is the third Beaver to be named to an awards list, joining linebacker Keaton Kristick on the Chuck Bednarik Award list and running back Jacquizz Rodgers on the Walter Camp and Doak Walker lists.
Paea and the rest of his teammates open the season Sept. 5 at home against the Portland State Vikings. The game can be seen live on FSN Northwest beginning at 11:30 a.m. PDT.
Happy Iona and family members arrived in Corvallis on Tuesday of this week. Iona's family has been very involved in his decision making process, and in recruiting, one of the bromides is this -- the influence that moms have over a prospect's decision generally supercedes the opinions of anyone else.
Happy Iona, a 6'3 " 283 lb. defensive tackle from Bethel High in Spanaway, WA, has become the seventh commitment to Oregon State for the 2010 season.Iona is a four star recruit, the first four star recruit the Beavers have landed in their 2010 class, and is rated #26 in the nation in the 2010 class by Rivals at defensive tackle.
Scout.com rates Iona a three star recruit, and has him as the No. 55 player in Scout.com's latest West 150, and the No. 10 defensive lineman overall in the west.
Iona verbally committed to the Beavers after making an unofficial visit to the Beavers' practice Wednesday afternoon with his uncle and grandmother.
Iona, of Samoan lineage, made a connection with Beavers' defensive line coach Joe Seumalo, and chose Oregon State over offers from Washington, Washington State and Idaho. Iona also had received interest from California, Oregon, and Arizona.
Let the rivalry begin. Again. Oregon State's Lyle Moevao, who started 11 games for the Beavers in the 2008 season, was cleared this week to begin throwing again after sitting out spring ball due to rotator cuff surgery.
Moevao's clearance will renew his rivalry with fellow senior Sean Canfield, who started two games after Moevao was injured last season, and is 7-4 overall as a starter. This spring, Canfield seemed to inch ahead in the competition as Moevao watched from the sidelines.
"I'm ready to go," said Moevao, who is 11-4 as a starter in the past two seasons. "I feel close to 100 percent, but my arm strength isn't all the way there."
Canfield said he was surprised to see Moevao out at summer workouts on Wednesday, when quarterbacks practiced routes with receivers. Canfield, who had to deal with shoulder problems of his own last season, said he could empathize with Moevao.
"I told him when this whole process started, 'There's going to be a time when you're not going to be able to do anything,'" Canfield said. "Three months out of my surgery -- around spring ball -- it was killing me to not throw a football, so I know how it feels."
Moevao agreed that sitting out got pretty boring pretty quickly.
"It was hard to sit and watch, especially in the spring when we had all those new guys who are learning our playbook," Moevao said. "But I think it was great for me to take a mental break."
After getting cleared, Moevao sent a text message to OSU offensive coordinator Danny Langsdorf telling him the news. Langsdorf's advice back was the same as Canfield's: Take it slow.
"I've pretty much been hearing the same thing from everyone," Moevao said.
Moevao and Canfield both said having two healthy quarterbacks by the time Oregon State opens the season on Sept. 5 against Portland State will be crucial to success.
"It gives us more depth at the position," Moevao said. "If you look at a lot of teams in the Pac-10, the starter goes down and the back-up hasn't got a lot of playing time."
Said Canfield: "Having another guy is good, and he just helps our team chemistry."
Moevao, who was praised for his leadership last season, said he hasn't thought too much about his competition with Canfield yet.
"Right now, I'm just taking it day-to-day," Moevao said. "I'm still far away from being able to compete with him physically.
"Being able to take a few snaps (Wednesday) definitely felt good. I'm excited to get started on the program with the athletic trainers here. I've got the green light all the way."
Oregon State opens fall camp on Aug. 10.
Vainuku, also coveted by the Huskies, can play on both sides of the ball but is most intriguing as a running back - even though OSU def. coordinator Mark Banker might want him at LB. ... the book on Vainuku is that he moves EXTREMELY well for his size.
Vainuku said USC wants him as a fullback, UCLA as an outside LB.
A note about Lyle Moevao's return ... I would bet my house that OSU trainers are keeping a very watchful eye on QB Lyle Moevao as he begins throwing a football again following rehab from rotator cuff surgery. ... No. 3 is a very intelligent football player and he rates high in every "intangible'' measurement but he's human. There will be a temptation to push hard (same thing happened last fall with Sean Canfield) but there is nothing for Moevao to prove in July and hard as it might be, he has to be patient and take it very slowly or else he will find himself in roughly the same boat as Canfield was in 2008 - physically unable to play in a game until later in the season.
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Some weight room warriors are born. Others are made. Oregon State defensive tackle Stephen Paea is 298-pound freak of nature. He has only been lifting weights for three or four years -- about as long as the native of Tonga has been playing football. He estimated his max bench press this week was "525 or 530 pounds." He also squats 720 pounds.
Paea might be the nation's strongest college football player.
Beavers offensive guard Gregg Peat observed what most folks around the Pac-10 already know: Paea is about ready for his national close-up.
"He's pretty incredible," Peat said.
As for Peat, he arrived at Oregon State in 2005 as an unheralded recruit, the Beavers the only Pac-10 team to offer him a scholarship. He bench pressed about 225 pounds. According to Peat, "I was a soft 285 pounds."
Peat is now a solid 295 pounds, a team co-captain and is slated to start at guard for the second consecutive season.
Paea was born to lift weights. "He's a freak," Peat said.
Peat used weights to reinvent himself physically. "He's a guy I see working hard," Paea said. "He sets a great example for other players."
Peat now bench presses 350 pounds, squats 450 and -- most impressive -- power cleans 330. He has also dramatically increased his speed, quickness, agility and flexibility.
Oregon State almost never signs a highly rated recruiting class. Nonetheless, it has finished ranked in the top-25 three consecutive seasons.
I wonder if what happens inside the $16 million Sports Performance Center has anything to do with the unheralded Point A transforming into the nationally ranked Point B?
What makes the All-Poly camp unique is its focus on academics, standardized and entrance tests, core curriculum requirements and other topics needed to prepare and qualify student-athletes for college. On Monday, before any on-field workouts, each participant and some family members took part in a four-hour workshop outlining the aforementioned areas of off-field importance.
The focus of the All-Poly camp is not only football, but also informing these young men about the importance of what is necessary off the field to continue their college careers.
"This is an opportunity to educate kids of Polynesian descent on what it takes to become a prospective college football player not only on the field but off," said UCLA offensive coordinator Norm Chow, a former Hawaii resident who attended high school on the island of Oahu.
Chow was one of 20 Division I and II coaches on hand to instruct, mentor and in many cases give back to their roots. Staff members from Colorado, Oregon State, Utah, UNLV, Boise State, Washington, UCLA, Texas Tech, Louisville and BYU, among others, were in attendance to organize, coach and educate an impressive group of collective talent.
The on-field workouts mirrored classroom education with regard to laying the foundation of the basic principles of the game. Prospects took part in individual drills and group work and eventually were divided into teams that would compete and practice against each other throughout the first two days. Before the workout Monday, athletes were led through dynamic stretching and warm-up routines. The speed training was led by Tom Shaw, a highly regarded strength and conditioning coach with an NFL pedigree.
Shaw was not the only representative on hand with NFL ties. Newly appointed New York Jets defensive coordinator Mike Pettine lectured on the importance of playing the game fast, physically and with a lot of energy. Pettine talked about his coaching days with the Baltimore Ravens and the motors and chase speed encompassed by that defense led by All-Pro defenders like Ray Lewis and Ed Reed.
Pettine made a reference to his prior defense by saying the Ravens' motto was "Play like your hair is on fire." The players at this camp have certainly kept that type of intensity going.
The coaches and instructors were teaching the concept of "thud" (making contact but staying off the ground) the first two days, but with players like these, there's only one speed: 93 octane.
As we scouted the various position groups, the linebacker unit appeared to have the best depth and overall talent thus far. It was led by V.J. Fehoko (Kahuku, Hawaii), a 2010 Under Armour All-America Game selection. After an impressive showing at the All-Poly football camp in Utah last month, Fehoko continued to show why he's considered the top prospect on the island this year. While he's not the biggest or fastest on paper, he simply found the football quickly during nine-on-seven drills, showing reactive athleticism as well as great physicality and strength filling at the point of attack.
Not to be overshadowed on the offensive side, quarterback Andrew Manley (Wahiawa, Hawaii/Leilehua) physically warrants far more recruiting interest than he has received to date. Given his impressive measurables, arm strength, quick release and velocity, it's staggering that this young man only has one offer so far, from WAC member Hawaii. At this stage, Manley is clearly worthy of lower-tier BCS conference offers and multiple non-BCS offers. Manley is not of Polynesian descent but is a Hawaii resident who, based on physical tools alone, is flying under the radar.