CORVALLIS -- A football practice happened in Corvallis Friday morning, with Oregon State taking its first steps to naming a 2017 starting quarterback, filling holes along the offensive line and identifying new defensive leaders.
Technically, the workout was the start of "spring" football, even though that actual season is still more than a month away. Only Duke, which began its sessions on Feb. 3, and Illinois, which started Tuesday, returned to the practice fields before the Beavers.
Which brings up this simple question -- why so early?
"It was best for this team, this year," coach Gary Andersen said following Friday's initial session.