th u rs
(Continued from Page 22)
and Avezzano says, ‘'We should be very competitive at that
position."
Up front, center Roger Levasa <6-2, 255) is the heart and
soul of the Beaver offensive line. A senior, Levasa hasn't
missed a game since coming to OSU. Despite the team's
winless record, he was an honorable mention all America
choice last year and is considered by Avezzano to be "th e
best center in the Pac-10.”
The OSU line lost three starters to graduation and Avez
zano feels a m ajor overhaul may be in order before opening
day. " I don’t have a real solid feeling for the rest of the posi
tions,” he says. “ A lot s till has to be done "
One prim e candidate w ill doubtless be senior tackle E ric
Pettigrew <6-5. 259), a three-year letterman Other lettermen
on hand are tackle Joe Carnahan <6-5, 237) and guards Pete
Grossnicklaus <6-5, 233), Jim Wilson <6-3, 231), and Mike
McKelvey (6-2, 239).
A ug
2/
1981 GRESHAM (O r» ) O U llO O K and SANDY (O r« ) POST
23
Locally grown.
If the picture on offense isn't rosy, the defensive outlook is
positively thorny.
Opponents had no trouble moving the ball on OSU last
season The Beavers’ 11 foes scored a total of 51 touchdowns
averaging nearly five per game - and averaged a six
yard gain every tim e they snapped the ball.
“Our defense must get a lot better," Avezzano says fla tly
"We have a little bit more depth than we had last year, but
we’re going to have to wait and see.”
The secondary is where the m ajor changes have been
made. Except for junior cornerback Eorrest Pellum, the
Beavers w ill have new starters. Steve Holsberry w ill line up
at the other corner and T erry Harris looks to be the starter at
safety Both are juniors.
Strong points aren’t a strong point with the Beaver defense,
but the linebacking corps of senior James Gracio < 5-104,221,
and juniors Jerome Boyd <6-2, 220), Derek Warren <6-1, 223)
and Craig Sowash <6-24, 200) is capable. Sowash w ill also be*
the Beavers' monster.
I t ’s probably sheer fantasy to expect the Beavers to win
more than two or three games this season, but Avezzano is
thinking in the long term. "We don't want to develop a good
team and then see it slide back down again,” he says. "You
can't have a solid program unless you have a solid founda
tion. I know th a t’s what I want to develop here. That’s a situa
tion that can work at Oregon State, but the program must be
restructured firs t.”
Which means the Beavers are s till aiming for respectabili
ty.
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