Beaver forecast: Hawaii rain, then Sun.

Byline: OSU FOOTBALL NOTEBOOK By Bob Rodman The Register-Guard

CORVALLIS - It hardly was classified information, that the Oregon State football team was going to make its initial appearance in the 73rd Sun Bowl next month at El Paso, Texas.

But on Tuesday the invitation, one that was issued to the Beavers moments after their Civil War win over Oregon last Friday, was made official.

Oregon State, ranked No. 24 in the Bowl Championship Series standings and third in the Pac-10 Conference standings, will play in the Sun Bowl on Dec. 29, Sun Bowl Association president John Folmer announced.

"We are extremely happy to have Oregon State in the Sun Bowl," Folmer said in a prepared statement. "They deserve to be here. Oregon State played its way into a trip to El Paso.

"(The Beavers) have won six of their last seven games, including beating USC. They are truly one of the great stories of college football this season."

Oregon State, 8-4 overall, leaves today for Hawaii and the final game of its unprecedented 13-game regular season. The Beavers finished 6-3 in the Pac-10, their third winning conference record since 1970 and second under fourth-year coach Mike Riley.

The Sun Bowl is scheduled to be televised live on CBS and is set for an 11 a.m. Pacific kickoff at Sun Bowl Stadium (50,426). Ticket prices range from $15 to $60 each and can be purchased by calling [phone], at any TicketMaster outlet, or online at www.ticketmaster.com.

"I've heard many great things about the hospitality of El Paso and the Sun Bowl from my compatriots in the Pac-10," Riley said, "and it's awesome that the Beavers will get to experience that over the holidays."

Oregon State's opponent will not be determined until this weekend. A Sun Bowl agreement with the Gator Bowl allows the Gator to select first from the Big East or Big 12 conferences.

The Beavers could play Louisville, West Virginia or Rutgers from the Big East or very likely Missouri from the Big 12.

"We don't know who our opponent is yet, but this is a tremendous opportunity for Oregon State," senior strong safety Sabby Piscitelli said.

"To play in a bowl like the Sun Bowl against a prestigious team, to have bounced back from (being 5-6) last year and to have an opportunity for a 10-win season is great."

Oregon State senior quarterback Matt Moore said the Sun "is a big-time bowl, and from where we started this season (2-3 after the first five games) to where we are going to finish is just awesome."

Senior defensive tackle Ben Siegert, pleased with the Beavers' landing in a bowl that has a payout of $1.9 million, took the practical approach.

"It'll be nice to get out of this weather for a little bit," said Siegert, gazing across the snow-covered Reser Stadium turf.

The postseason appearance will be OSU's third in the last four years and sixth in the last eight seasons.

"This is another wonderful opportunity to showcase our program and the university on the national stage at an event that has a very strong reputation," said Bob De Carolis, Oregon State's director of athletics.

Meanwhile ...

The Beavers this week are bound for Honolulu, not a bowl game.

"And this is no bowl trip," Oregon State junior center Kyle DeVan said of Saturday night's game against Hawaii, the nation's scoring leader at 48.6 points a game.

"We are on a business trip. This is the game that will finish our regular season. We can't go over there and just have fun. This has to be strictly business."

The Warriors are 10-2, on a school-record nine-game win streak and ranked 24th (25th in the BCS standings). They average more than 553 yards of offense a game and are led by quarterback Colt Brennan, who has thrown 51 touchdown passes - three shy of the NCAA record for a single season by Houston's David Klingler in 1990.

"This won't be a vacation," DeVan said.

Trying to get 10

Oregon State's single-season win record came in 2000 when it finished 11-1. The Beavers have had two nine-win seasons (1939 and 1962).

There have been six eight-win seasons (1941, 1957, 1964, 2002, 2003 and 2006).

"But we can't win 10 this year if we don't win nine," Siegert said.

"This (game at Hawaii) is huge."

Weather report

Hawaii ... fun, sun, surf. Not quite.

The Beavers have a game at Hawaii and it could be played in the rain.

"Yeah, my mom told me it's supposed to rain," Moore said, "but 83 degrees and pouring.

"That's OK. I'm getting a free trip to Hawaii."