CORVALLIS — Oregon State coach Gary Andersen has recent examples that rebuilding in the Pac-12 is possible.
Colorado is usually the first program mentioned, as the Buffaloes are ranked, bowl eligible for the first time since 2007 and Pac-12 South contenders in Mike MacIntyre's fourth season. But Washington State could also be put in that category, with the Cougars following up a nine-win season in 2015 by starting Pac-12 play 4-0 heading into Saturday night's matchup with the Beavers in Corvallis.
"I know they went through a significant transition when (Mike Leach) got there," Andersen said. "They battled. They had a plan. They stuck with the plan. And obviously the plan is paying off."
Andersen has not talked to Leach extensively about his time in Pullman, where the Cougars went 3-9 in two of his first three seasons before their breakthrough 2015 campaign. But he's asked staff members to look into Wazzu's process.
And there are natural comparisons between OSU and Washington State, as Corvallis and Pullman are the more remote campus locations in a conference of schools primarily based in bigger cities. Andersen cited Cougars star receiver Gabe Marks, who's recently become known for his entertaining and insightful press conferences, as a player who clearly embraces his program and environment.
"From that standpoint I would say, yeah, needs to be those similarities (between OSU and Washington State)," Andersen said, "because I think our kids are very prideful of where they're at. They should have a chip on their shoulder about, 'These guys have this and they're in this city' or whatever it is.
"All that stuff, it puts a chip on my shoulder, because we love where we're at. We want to be here, and those kids (at Washington State) are no different."
Yet Andersen also wants to make sure his rebuild remains unique.
"It's a hell of a journey we're on, with a hell of a group of kids," Andersen said.
Now, the links:
Marcus McMaryion will start two consecutive games for the first time in his career, allowing him to settle in with the starters in practice.
Latest depth chart and injury report, where Ryan Nall and Treston Decoud are listed as questionable and Conor Blount probable.
Practice report from Tuesday, with running back updates and insight from Kevin McGiven.
Some men's basketball news and notes, including the genesis of Wayne Tinkle's Cubs fandom.
Sydney Wiese is back for another season of her OSU women's basketball diary.
Jacquizz Rodgers' career day leads off our look at NFL players with local ties.
-- Gina Mizell | @ginamizell