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Extra points

Compiled by BOB HARIG

© St. Petersburg Times, published October 28, 2000

Player spotlight: Jonathan Smith

One of college football's best stories this season is Oregon State, which last year earned its first bowl berth in 35 seasons and this year is proving last year was no fluke. Part of the reason is quarterback Jonathan Smith.

A walk-on, Smith threw for nearly 2,800 yards last season, with 15 touchdowns passes and just seven interceptions.

Now he has the Beavers in the Rose Bowl hunt, which is ironic for a player who was born in Pasadena, Calif., and grew up in nearby Glendora. Last year, he threw for 351 yards and four touchdowns at the Rose Bowl to lead Oregon State past UCLA 44-38.

In doing so, the Beavers completed their first-ever sweep of USC and UCLA in the same season.

Over the past three games, Smith has completed 50 of 87 passes and thrown nine touchdown passes. And the Beavers are 6-1 heading into today's game against Washington State.

"I've always been confident in myself, so I knew I could do it," Smith said. "But you look at it, gosh, I'm not a great athlete. I'm not fast. I'm pretty short (5-foot-10). So I wasn't really shocked when I didn't get the calls for scholarships, you know?

"I'm more of a realist. But I did want an opportunity, and I got one at Oregon State, and I'm really glad about it."

Smith and the Beavers are on course for a Pac-10 showdown with Oregon, which leads the conference. The two teams meet in Corvallis, home of Oregon State, on Nov. 18.

TALKIN' TRASH: There's nothing quite like a little pregame banter to get the juices flowing before the biggest game of the year so far in the Big Ten, the Purdue-Ohio State clash.

OSU linebacker and captain Joe Cooper questioned the toughness of Boilermakers quarterback Drew Brees.

"I don't think he likes getting hit as hard as we hit people," Cooper said.

"I don't put much stock in it only because young people are young people and sometimes they say things they want said, and sometimes they say it and it becomes misinterpreted along the way," said Purdue coach Joe Tiller. "I do know that Drew Brees is a very competitive person and is a very capable player."

Brees needs 41 yards against OSU to become college football's 18th player with more than 10,000 career passing yards. He averages 305 passing yards per game and has rushed for 435 yards.

PROLIFIC NUMBERS: Indiana's Antwaan Randle El became the first Big Ten player and only the fifth in NCAA history to rush for 200 yards (210) and pass for 200 (263) in the same game. He did it in IU's 51-43 victory over Minnesota. Randle El also passed for two touchdowns and ran for two.

BCS AFTERMATH: The first Bowl Championship Series standings were released this week, and naturally, they provoked many reactions. Some believe it will sort itself out, others don't even understand the entire practice. And others were just glad to be there.

Oregon, which leads the Pac-10 and has just one loss this season, found itself in the top 10 and in line for a big bowl.

"Certainly at this point we can take pride in this, but I'll feel much better if we're in this when the last (ranking) comes out," coach Mike Bellotti said. "My goal right now is to beat Arizona State. My goal is still to win the Pac-10 championship, and whatever else happens with this is outside of our control.

"Unless you're one or two, it doesn't matter much. To me, it's just another way to burn up trees; it's a paper chase."

Quotable

"It was devastating. It goes beyond being shocked. I was sick. There's a reason why they're No. 1." -- Baylor cornerback Gary Baxter, after Nebraska scored 38 first-quarter points, a school record, in a 59-0 victory over the Bears.

Games of the Week

NO. 1 NEBRASKA AT NO. 3 OKLAHOMA: Just like the old days. These rivals have not met ranked this high since 1987. Noon. Ch. 28.

NO. 13 GEORGIA VS. NO. 8 FLORIDA: The annual grudge match in Jacksonville has plenty of SEC East implications. 3:30 p.m., Ch. 10.

NO. 7 OREGON AT ARIZONA STATE: Ducks continue their amazing run through Pac-10. 3:30 p.m. Pay-per-view.

NO. 12 OHIO STATE AT NO. 16 PURDUE: Boilermakers control their Big Ten destiny. 3:30 p.m. Pay-per-view.

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