Riley Speaks

Oregon State football head coach Mike Riley

Opening statement

"I think the best way to describe us right now is that we are growing as a program. I was disappointed in our start against Stanford and Penn State. They were not good. I appreciated that our team kept plugging away and we did do a lot of things better against Hawaii. I hope it started that breeding of confidence which is so important that I think this team will grow and get better as we go. I hope that kind of started that trend."

On quarterback Lyle Moevao

"I appreciate that young man. He is playing well and fast. It's all through his hard work. Just through learning and working...his decision-making and ability to get the ball out of his hands has vastly improved. I have enjoyed watching that change and he has provided us some stability after a rocky start and made a lot of good plays. He has that magnetic personality...loves to play and loves to practice. It is very helpful to our overall team."

On status of quarterback Sean Canfield

"I was hoping that he could be our bona fide backup for this game. Sean has been through a long process. He had that offseason surgery early after the bowl game and had a setback. He is kind of day-to-day. He practiced for the first time, three days in a row, during the bye week and then was not able to throw much yesterday. He was just sore. We think it's just muscles, but that's what we are hopeful for that it has nothing to do with the surgery. I think it's a reach to say he is our backup for this game, but we are getting closer to that."

On team's offense

"Our perimeter, talent-wise, is as good as we have had for awhile. With (wide receiver) Sammie (Stroughter) coming back this year, he is playing like he can. He is a good player. Shane Morales has been in the works for a couple of years. He has kind of grown into a guy that the quarterbacks have been comfortable throwing to and that's kind of neat to see. Our flanker, James Rodgers, who played last year as a true freshman and his brother, Jacquizz, is our starting tailback as a true freshman coming in...those kids have a lot of speed. They are not very big. Maybe you guys won't be able to see them very well (laughing) looking down. They are fun. They are hard-working guys. They will both continue to grow a lot in the program."

On team's defense

"We are growing there. We lost the front seven from last year...kind of an unusual thing to lose all seven starters. We had a lot of guys that played besides them so we didn't put in a lot of novices. Everyone is still finding their niche. We had some rough spells in the first couple of games. We had a rough start against Hawaii on the first drive when they went down and scored, but we actually settled in after that. I was impressed how we took a deep breath and started playing football. It looked like us. I think that group will also grow as the year goes on. We have some stability in the secondary, but we have quite a few new starters up front. They are a talented group."

On USC's latest struggles in Corvallis

"I don't know if there is anything magical. I don't know. I think they are awfully good and we have to play our best. We have got good atmosphere, I don't know how much that plays into it. I'm glad to be home. We hadn't played at home for five games until last week. It feels good to be back and we will see how this one goes."

On thoughts about USC's squad this year

"They are impressive. They do a tremendous job of utilizing personnel and fitting guys in. They have a true identity of what they have done and built up through the years on both sides of the ball. I think they really do a great job of playing to the strength of their people. I don't relish playing against it, but I like watching their defense play because I think there is a lot of thought into how they play in the secondary and how they have a great vision on the football and the fact where they use that rush where the quarterback doesn't have a lot of looks. Everyone is squeezing and condensing to the ball, it can be overwhelming. I think they really have good personnel and they coach them well...that's a tough combination."

On freshman quarterback Ryan Katz

"Ryan is redshirting early because of Sean Canfield's situation. We only traveled him in an emergency situation, but I didn't want to play him. He's a great guy to have here, developing as a quarterback. He has a lot of skills. He can really throw the ball. I think the year will serve him well in all that growth that is necessary. We are very excited about Ryan."

On playing Thursday night games

"I don't mind them at all. I think we are not in school yet because we are in the quarter system. It's just about the game countdown for us. It really doesn't matter what day that is for us. I think we will be getting school next week, but that will be our Thursday game against Utah and then we will be done with it. I think it's an excuse for us to say that it would be disruptive. I think it's just normal."

On how adversity has shaped WR Sammie Stroughter over the years

"I think Sammie with what he has been through has gained a greater awareness as a young person of life. It's made all of us more aware that things can happen to anybody. If I had my 105 guys lined up, I would have picked him at the very end of the rope as a guy that might have a problem with depression because this guy was always upbeat and positive. All of a sudden, it wasn't like that. It's a great lesson for all of us and I think it's made him more aware. He is still the same guy if you watched us work or came around the office, you would see a very happy personality. It's fun to see him back."