CFB AM: Oregon State turns massive tarp into 35-yard water slide

Published Aug. 19, 2014 9:00 a.m. ET

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Teddy Mitrosilis

As far as I know, Oregon State coach Mike Riley does not, in fact, have a monopoly on fun.

He just seems to be among the more creative coaches in finding ways to bring a little levity to his team.

A couple years ago, Riley’s In-N-Out idea became a thing – because there are no locations in Oregon, he began promising his players burgers when they won road games where an In-N-Out was nearby.

Now, his latest idea shook up fall camp for the Beavers at a time when we’re a little more than a week from playing real games and everybody is tired of practicing day after day without the reward of brutalizing somebody else (note: I don’t know if what follows was specifically Riley’s idea, but if he wasn’t cool with it, it wouldn’t have happened).

After a recent practice on what looked like a warm day in Corvallis, the Beavers realized they had a few essential ingredients – a massive tarp, industrial hoses and space.

What transpired was an incredible 35-yard (roughly) water slide that instantly became every child’s dream. Oregon State shot the action, synced it with Boston’s “Rock and Roll Band” and gave us this fabulous video:

We at least can say thank you for the good, clean entertainment. We’re all just passing the days until next week, brother.

THREE THINGS YOU NEED TO KNOW

1. So, this is rather depressing for not only Ohio State fans but all of us who love college football: Late Monday, reports out of Columbus indicated Ohio State quarterback Braxton Miller reinjured his right shoulder and could miss the entire 2014 season. That prognosis is a little premature, as the Buckeyes won’t give any update on Miller’s status until after he has an MRI on Tuesday, but there doesn’t seem to be much optimism. Ohio State has been quite vague about Miller’s shoulder since he had surgery on it in February, releasing incremental progress reports on their Heisman candidate and saying he’d be ready for Week 1. Reportedly, Miller hurt his shoulder on Monday while throwing a simple route in a non-contract drill. Did he tear something – a rotator cuff or labrum? – like a pitcher might? We’ll find out soon.

Miller, a senior, has a redshirt year if he wants/needs to use it. In the meantime, redshirt freshman J.T. Barrett will move into the starting QB slot for Ohio State, which was a strong preseason contender in the Big Ten and a popular pick to make the inaugural playoff. Despite all the talent on this roster, an inexperienced QB combined with an offensive line that replaces four starters sounds like quite the hurdle.

Other notable and unfortunate injury news: Mississippi State lost starting right tackle Damien Robinson for the season with a torn ACL.

2. Some big news out of the Big 12: Oklahoma suspended five-star running back and top recruit Joe Mixon for the season on the same day Mixon pleaded not guilty to a misdemeanor assault charge. Mixon has been separated from the Sooners since July 25 after he was alleged to have punched a woman at a local restaurant, breaking four bones in her face. Oklahoma’s president and athletic director, along with head coach Bob Stoops, reportedly met with the county DA before making the decision. Sophomores Keith Ford, Alex Ross and Daniel Brooks will be leading the Sooners run game.

3. Monday brought some QB news, as Kentucky (Patrick Towles), Iowa State (Sam Richardson), Utah (Travis Wilson) and Purdue (Danny Etling) all announced starting quarterbacks. Of course, there are still two huge QB battles ongoing that we’re eagerly awaiting: Alabama, with the battle between senior Blake Sims and redshirt junior Jacob Coker, and LSU, with sophomore Anthony Jennings trying to hold off freshman Brandon Harris.

THREE THINGS YOU SHOULD KNOW

1. Oklahoma has already attempted to suspend linebacker Frank Shannon, its leading tackler from a season ago, for his involvement in sexual assault allegations but couldn’t immediately because there’s an appeal process involved. With the season quickly approaching, the university is taking that proposed suspension before the Oklahoma Supreme Court on Wednesday to try to push it through. It’s a difficult situation, because in the interim, coach Bob Stoops has allowed Shannon to continue to not only practice with the team but take his reps with the first team as if he’ll be starting on Aug. 30 against Louisiana Tech.

2. Buried in the middle of a long SI notebook column on Monday was a report about potential friction between new Louisville coach Bobby Petrino and new defensive coordinator Todd Grantham. SI wrote that the two have “feuded often since Grantham’s hiring in January” and cited an anonymous source that said Petrino would have already fired his new DC from Georgia if Grantham didn’t have a five-year, $5 million contract attached to him.

Scott Roussel of Football Scoop spoke with Grantham Monday night, and the DC said there’s nothing to the report. “No one’s asked me for a comment or even questioned me on anything like that,” Grantham said. “I laughed it off and moved on … [I’m] very happy here, my family is very happy here. Louisville is a great place.”

Two things: 1) I believe Grantham is being sincere, but that doesn’t necessarily mean there hasn’t been friction between him and Petrino and that the head coach might be second-guessing his hiring 2) Gosh, there’s always going to be something non-football related swarming around Petrino, isn’t there?

In happier Petrino news, Andrea Adelson wrote about the remaking of Bobby’s relationship with Louisville AD Tom Jurich.

3. In a Board of Regents meeting Monday afternoon, Hawaii athletic director Ben Jay said the football program could be going away. The school is projecting a deficit of up to $3 million this year, and Jay said Hawaii has lost money in 11 of the last 13 seasons. Hopefully the Warriors can find a solution to keep football. It was always fun ending a long Saturday of college football with a really late game from the island that had Colt Brennan and Timmy Chang slinging the ball everywhere.

THREE THINGS YOU MAY WANT TO KNOW

1. Arizona State is the latest team to unveil alternate uniforms for the season. It usually seems like teams trying to one-up each other in ridiculousness with new alternate uniforms, but these are pretty sweet. The copper gives it some unique flair, but overall the uniform doesn’t scream at you.

2. Former USC All-American and first-round draft pick Kenechi Udeze is back in football as Pitt’s assistant strength and conditioning coach after a rare form of blood cancer cut his playing career short. Great for Kenechi. Growing up in Southern California, I watched a lot of USC football on TV with my dad, and it was always fun to watch Udeze power off the line and terrorize QBs. He was such a beast. Glad to see his health good again and he’s beginning his second professional life.

3. Clemson will open up its stadium on Aug. 30 so fans can watch together as the Tigers travel to Georgia. What would be really cool? If the Tigers – perhaps during a certain time period to control crowds – allowed fans to enter the stadium by running down The Hill.

LASTLY

* A Middle Tennessee State player interned with NASA this summer.

* If you really want to remember something, use pen and paper instead of typing. This is the philosophy of Cleveland Browns coach Mike Pettine.

* Really nice story from the San Antonio Express-News’ Mike Finger on Charlie Strong and why the Texas coach runs.

* Ohio State’s defensive line might be destined for greatness, writes Bill Rabinowitz.

* Oregon running back Byron Marshall is dedicating the season to his late grandfather, writes Ryan Thorburn.

* The units on Texas’ defense challenge each other to force more takeaways by competing for a wrestling-style belt.

* I went down the hype video rabbit hole again! Here’s a testosterone-fueled gem from Penn State.

Have a great Tuesday, all.

Teddy Mitrosilis is an editor and writer for FOXSports.com. Follow him on Twitter @TMitrosilis and email him at tmitrosilis@gmail.com.

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