Harlow practices, will travel

Slowly but surely, Sean Harlow has slowly worked his way back onto the field. Today Harlow was working with the scout team offense on the opposite side of the field. During the his weekly weekly press conference, head coach Gary Andersen said that he is playing there because that’s where he falls on the depth chart. Normally, a scout team player won’t practice to away games with the team, however with Harlow, who is a team captain, he will still make the trip to Minnesota.

"He loves to do it," Andersen said. "He wants to be involved any way he can. Sean's excited about getting over there and giving a look to those guys (the defense) and moving forward with his rehab."

Following the conclusion of practice, Oregon State’s president, Ed Ray, delivered a motivational speech to the team as they prepare for Minnesota. The essence of his speech was simple--make the teams wish they never have to play you again.

Andersen said that he likes having the President come to practices because it helps solidify what the coaches preach to the team on a daily basis.

“When your president can walk in here and share those words with the kids that they hear all the time,” Andersen said. “It's a great structure and it's a great learning environment."

* Isaac Garcia is still not practicing. Christian Wallace has yet to return to Corvallis.

* Rahmel Dockery lined up at scout team corner and was wearing a no-contact red jersey.

* Brayden Kearsley, line up next to Harlow and practiced with the scout team.

* Looking ahead to Minnesota, Andersen talked fondly of the Gopher’s current head coach Tracy Claeys, both he and Andersen have a defensive line background (Andersen obviously still coaches there). And he spoke highly of the former head coach Jerry Kill, who had to retire from coaching in the middle of last season.

* I felt bad for the scout team defense, they were the only people to wear full pads during practice. All of the other players were just in helmets and shoulder pads.

* Passing game looked sharp, but that’s expected when the defense isn’t rushing and the defensive backs are only shadowing the receivers.