Beavers not sure what to expect.

Byline: Bob Clark The Register-Guard

CORVALLIS - Forgive Oregon State if the Beavers aren't very familiar with Cincinnati.

What about the Bearcats?

`I know they have a good basketball team,' responded linebacker Derrick Doggett, to a question at Monday's media gathering.

OSU is actually a little farther along than that in researching Cincinnati, which will play host to the Beavers in a nationally televised game on Thursday in Nippert Stadium, opened in 1924.

For added perspective on the Bearcats, there is this: The only Division I programs that have been around longer are Rutgers, Michigan, Navy and Minnesota.

The only major college team to lead the nation in total offense and total defense in the same season was Cincinnati in 1953. A Cincinnati player, to protect a broken nose, designed the first face mask for a helmet in the 1930s, and it was a Bearcat who first attempted a field goal with a soccer-style kick some 45 years ago.

Now a member of the Big East Conference, the Bearcats went 8-5 last season, including an upset of Rutgers and an International Bowl victory.

OK, enough history: How about this Cincinnati team? That's the quandary for the Beavers.

The Bearcats are under a new coaching staff, with seven of the assistants coming over with Brian Kelly when he was hired away from Central Michigan last December.

So what does OSU analyze: the Bearcats in one game this season, a 59-3 rout of Southeast Missouri, or what Central Michigan did last year in going 9-4 with a bowl victory?

`We've had to talk to people and look back at where the staff was before,' OSU coach Mike Riley said. `You have to make some assumptions' based on then, and the Bearcats now.

It's not easy. Consider that the Cincinnati starting quarterback is senior Ben Mauk, who was the opening game starter last season at Wake Forest.

Mauk's favorite receiver in Cincinnati's opener was sophomore Marty Gilyard, who wasn't eligible last season but caught eight passes for 134 yards against Southeast Missouri.

`Their offense, we got a pretty good picture of what they're trying to do,' Riley said. `Defensively we looked into the background of the coordinator.'

The Bearcats also didn't have one of their top defenders for that opening game with tackle Terrill Byrd, an all-Big East selection last year, suspended because he missed a class last winter. He's a load, based on reputation, but how will he play in a different defense?

`You don't get the visuals you normally get' in preparing for an opponent, Riley said.

Because of the length of the trip, and the change in time zones, the Beavers will depart for Cincinnati this afternoon on their chartered aircraft. That will come after a practice at Reser Stadium this morning, and allow for a workout Wednesday in Cincinnati.

`It's a really hard trip for a team to make the day before a game,' Riley said.

Riley again said that receiver Sammie Stroughter will be on the trip, and could play. After missing most of the preseason practices while dealing with grief issues, Stroughter watched the opening game, and a week ago it seemed unsure if he would play at all this season.

`He's practicing (with the regular offense) and seems really in tune with what we're doing,' Riley said Monday, cautioning reporters that a decision on playing would first have to be made by Stroughter and his family.

`There are still options, as big as redshirting,' Riley said. `It's conceivable he gets some sort of playing time (at Cincinnati).

`I think this story is going to be a good story. Now, when the rest of the story starts, it might be Thursday, it might be next year, it could be anywhere in between.'

O S U f o o t b a l l

OREGON STATE AT CINCINNATI

4:30 p.m. Thursday, Nippert Stadium. TV: ESPN. Radio: KKNX-AM (840). More OSU football coverage at www.registerguard.com/blogs