The Angry Beaver: How Jonathan Smith Has Transformed Oregon State Football
By Simon Carroll
When you think of PAC-12 football, images of Matt Leinart and Reggie Bush at USC, Marcus Mariota at Oregon, and the 1991 National Championship-winning Washington Huskies spring to mind. Not many regale tales of the Oregon State Beavers, a team that, prior to this season, had the worst winning percentage in conference history.
Despite being a footnote in the annals of West Coast football, things in Corvallis seem to be changing. And under fifth-year head coach Jonathan Smith, ‘the Beavs’ are building the foundations of a consistent and competitive football program:
The Heart Of The Valley
College Football spreads the length and breadth of America. Hundreds of cities across the fifty states are home to some iconic destinations in the sport. From Seattle to San Diego, Minneapolis to Miami, there seems to be very few landmarks that don’t play host to thousands of football fans on Saturdays.
For every major metropolis with hundred-thousand seat stadiums, there are just as many quaint outposts who, were it not for college football, would likely be unknown outside of their state. These remote locales often deliver the most astonishing backdrops in collegiate sport; Boone (NC), Logan (UT) and West Point (NY) are just three that spring to mind. Disperse them amongst the likes of Ann Arbor, Tallahassee and Austin, and you really do have a smorgasbord of cities and stadia that impress for a variety of reasons.
Corvallis, Oregon, is unlikely to fall into either of these categories. Nestled on the banks of the Willamette river eighty miles south of Portland, it certainly isn’t big; with a population of less than 60,000, almost half of the inhabitants are made up of the student population of Oregon State University (28,000). And whilst the city certainly has its semi-rural charms, Reser Stadium is far from what you would consider picturesque. Something of a concrete monolith, uneven and looking unfinished from any angle you observe it, the home of the Beavers is more practical than it is pretty.
The product on the field has, for the most part, been equally as unattractive. Oregon State has enjoyed just two ten-win seasons in their history, the last one sixteen years ago. Often a footnote in the PAC-12, the Beavers haven’t won their conference in more than two decades, and have never made it to the championship game since the formation of divisions in 2011.
But things are changing. Under the tutelage of Jonathan Smith, the Beavs have evolved into a team to be reckoned with in the PAC-12. And whilst the road hasn’t been smooth, there is a confidence in Corvallis that they have the right man to help put the ‘heart of the valley’ well and truly on the College Football map.
A Beaver Through & Through
Jonathan Smith arrived in Corvallis as head coach in 2018, but his love affair with the Beavers began twenty years before that. A promising quarterback out of Pasadena, California, Smith was only lightly recruited, opting to walk on at Oregon State in 1997. Redshirting his first year on campus, Smith ascended to the starting role as a freshman in the 1998 season during Mike Riley’s first spell in charge. But it was under Dennis Erickson that Smith truly blossomed, throwing for more than 8,250 yards and registering 50 touchdowns over the course of three seasons.
Coach Erickson presided over the greatest period in Oregon State’s history, going 31-17 between 1999 and 2002. This included their one and only PAC-12 championship season, sharing the honors with Washington as the Beavers recorded an 11-1 season. Jonathan Smith would remarkably lead his team to victory in the Fiesta Bowl, demolishing Notre Dame 41-9 in an MVP performance. Oregon State finished 4th in the AP poll, the highest ranking in school history, and produced NFL stars in Chad Johnson and TJ Houshmandzadeh.
A professional career wasn’t on the cards for Smith. Instead, he began his coaching career as a graduate assistant at Corvallis the year after his playing days ended. He garnered a reputation as a QB guru, first at Idaho and then at Montana, where he assumed offensive coordinator duties. In 2012, Chris Petersen named him his QB coach at Boise State, sparking a relationship which would supercharge the trajectory of Smith’s career.
Smith impressed with the Broncos, helping the team maintain Mountain West dominance despite losing Kellen Moore to the NFL. Boise went 19-6 over the two years Smith was QB coach there, before Chris Petersen was named Washington HC and took most of his staff with him to Husky Stadium.
Smith Shines His Star In Seattle
Jonathan Smith didn’t just follow Petersen to Washington, he was promoted to offensive coordinator. In four years there, The Huskies recorded winning seasons each term, going a combined 37-17. In 2016 Washington were ranked 4th in the final AP rankings and appeared in the Peach Bowl. A year later, they won the PAC-12 and went to the Fiesta Bowl, the scene of Smith’s greatest achievement 16 years earlier. UW were bested by Penn State that day, but Smith had certainly made an impression…
Smith was widely credited with significant improvements in Washington’s offense during his time in the Pacific North-West. In his first season, The Huskies ranked 60th in the FBS in average yards per play; by 2016, they were 10th, and 17th a year later. The offensive coordinator was praised for his development of quarterback Jake Browning, who won 29 games as a starter under Smith’s tutelage. Browning threw for more than 12,000 yards in his collegiate career before a modest NFL career saw him land on the practice squad for the Vikings and Bengals.
Meanwhile, over in Corvallis, the Beavers were in freefall. Gary Anderson ended a tumultuous three year tenure with just seven wins, bottoming out with a 1-11 record in 2017. Beavers athletic director Scott Barnes began the search for the 31st head coach in Oregon State football history – and it didn’t take long for him to cast eyes towards his conference neighbors up North…
Ticking All The Boxes
Scott Barnes was not afraid to admit it: the Oregon State football program was a mess. In a world that demands immediacy when it comes to results in sport, it was telling that the athletic director was willing to sacrifice short-term success in order to set the foundations that would – hopefully – deliver long-term competitiveness in the PAC-12. Speaking last season about the appointment, Barnes understood the gravity of making the right choice:
“What you think about is your own program and where you want to take it. If you have the right plan, everything will take care of itself. Our focus is on how we can be the best we can be. Football is like an aircraft carrier. It takes time to turn the thing around, particularly with where we were. We wanted stability, somebody we knew would dig their heels in and build it back up. Because we were at rock bottom. We needed someone with a conviction for this place. That’s the engine that revs the machine.”
Jonathan Smith had the resume, of that there was no doubt. Moreover, he had proved his ability to develop talent in the PAC-12. And, of course, he was familiar with Corvallis and already had an affinity with the football program. Smith seemed to meet the criteria, but Barnes was determined to do his research before pulling the trigger – including speaking to Smith’s then boss:
“We wanted to be very diligent, and we talked to people who worked with Jonathan and had mentored Jonathan. So in terms of (Washington head coach) Chris Petersen, yes. I spent time with him.”
On November 29th, 2017, Jonathan Smith was announced as the new Oregon State head coach. In his opening speech, he was quick to thank Petersen for helping his football journey come full circle:
“I want to thank President Ray and Scott Barnes for their confidence in presenting me this opportunity to return to Oregon State University to be the head coach. I also want to express my gratitude to Coach Petersen for providing me a path to realize my dream as a head coach.”
Turning The Tide
It’s taken some time, and it hasn’t always been pretty. But Jonathan Smith has slowly transformed Oregon State football. A delicate mixture of transfer portal additions, signing undervalued recruits and coaching up talent has helped Smith hone this roster in his own image. The Beavers have something of an ‘also-ran’ feel to them, a collection of misfits who have found a home in Corvallis and have gratefully dived into the culture being created.
Discounting the COVID affected season of 2020, the Beavers have improved every year during Smith’s tenure. In 2021, the team had its first winning record in nine seasons, beating PAC-12 heavyweights USC, Washington and Utah in the process. Reser Stadium has become something of a fortress, with the team winning every home game last season. To date, Smith’s win-loss record for completed seasons stands at 16-28. Compare that to Chip Kelly, who was hired at the same time and in the same conference by UCLA and gone 18-25 – similar results, but two coaches working within very different means.
Once again, the offense has seen steady improvement. Brian Lindgren may be the offensive coordinator, and may call the plays, but make no mistake; this offensive scheme has Smith’s fingerprints all over it. The year before his arrival, the offense’s national ranking in average yards per play was 101st. Last year, it was 30th. Smith’s ability to tailor an offense to the roster and squeeze every drop out of the talent available continues. How has he done it at Oregon State?
The 'Angry Beaver'
The ultra utility man JACK COLLETTO has been UNLEASHED 😤😤😤 pic.twitter.com/Ibyq2Cur46
— The Transfer Portal CFB (@TPortalCFB) September 4, 2022
Despite his quarterback heritage, Jonathan Smith is religiously loyal to a balanced offense. Establishing a physical ground game was the first priority for the new coaching staff, and in former running back Jermar Jefferson they had the perfect man for the job. The star ball carrier often put the team on his back, with performances in standout wins against UCLA (2019), Arizona State (2019) and Oregon (2020) particularly memorable. Deshaun Fenwick, a 226lb bruiser, has gleefully picked up the mantle.
Smith wasn’t finished there. Whilst the rest of the college football world embraced air raid attacks, the Beavers returned to the good old days of fullbacks. And nobody exemplifies the new culture in Corvallis more than Jack Colletto, who began his Oregon State career as a quarterback, moved to linebacker, and moonlights on offense as a lead blocker in the run game. More impressive is when Smith and Lindgren break out the Wildcat formation, or the ‘Angry Beaver’ as it’s known in these parts. Colletto’s diverse skillset allows this offense to run a variety of plays out of a handful of personnel alignments. It’s another example of Smith using his creativity to give his team an edge. So far this season, Colletto has 14 tackles, one pass completion, a 30 yard catch and run, and 53 yards and 4 touchdowns of just 11 carries. Who knew Beavers were versatile?
Oregon State will absolutely lean on the run if they can. And if it works, they won’t take their foot off the gas – just ask USC how it felt to give up 322 yards off 51 carries to this rampant ground game last year. The Trojans got humiliated 45-17 that day, with The Beavers throwing just 19 passes all evening. But when they need to air it out, they have one of the most underrated arms in college football, let alone the PAC-12. Chance Nolan assumed the starting job in 2020 and hasn’t looked back; the junior has an air of a gunslinger about him, happy to test coverages and fit the ball into tight windows. The touch on his deep ball has improved year on year, a testament to his coaching. And he’s brave too, willing to stand in the pocket and take a hit to deliver the football. If you think Smith struck lucky last year, you’re mistaken – this offense is only getting better.
2022 And Beyond
Oregon State have started this season admirably once again, and could be looking at back to back winning conference records, something not achieved in Corvallis since 2008/2009. They’re no longer being taken for granted any more, a sure sign that they are headed in the right direction. But they won’t be slept on, and both USC (in a close revenge spot) and Utah have given The Beavers losses already in 2022.
An injury to Chance Nolan gives Smith another headache. The starting quarterback is in the concussion protocol following a neck injury against Utah, and is out indefinitely. Backup Ben Gulbranson delivered an almost faultless performance to help OSU past Stanford last Saturday, but sterner tests will await. We may be about to see how this rebuilt football program responds to a little adversity in the limelight after a few seasons of flying under the radar…
This week brings an interesting matchup against a team to which this program can draw parallels; Washington State is the smaller program in a two-team state, the noisy neighbors to their more glamorous counterparts. Pullman, much like Corvallis, won’t be topping anyone’s list of dream destinations. And Jake Dickert is doing an admirable job making the Cougars competitive in the aftermath of the Nick Rolovich COVID-firing debacle. Both teams sit at 4-2, making the game at Reser Stadium on Saturday night a pivotal one for both programs. A win here could be the springboard that allows one of these schools to make a run in the packed PAC-12 North Division.
For Jonathan Smith and his team, 2022 might be a year too early to be scaling those kinds of heights. But for a man who once led The Beavers to Fiesta Bowl glory, there will be no diluting ambitions. Unfancied and unglamorous they may remain, but uncompetitive? Not a chance.
The Beavs are sharpening their teeth. And the PAC-12 better watch out.
