Left Field Sports -- Oregon State Nickname "Not what you think it is"

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Oregon State Nickname "Not what you think it is"

CORVALLIS, OR - Oregon State athletic officials told a, mostly snickering, press corps yesterday, that they wished to "dispel the rumors and quell the innuendo" regarding the Oregon State nickname. According to Mitch Barnhart, Oregon State Athletic Director, the nickname is "Does not refer to what you all like to think it does."

The nickname, Beavers, apparently refers to a small mammalian creature that is prevalent in the Pacific Northwest, known specifically for it's big teeth and it's ability to topple large trees. Barnahart stressed that this was not a new interpretation of the college's nickname. According to Oregon State Officials, the Beaver of the type described by Barnhart is the state animal of Oregon. Oregon State has gone by the Beavers since 1916 and that has apparently meant the furry mammal that whole time. "At no time was it what you all want to think it was," said Barnahart.

"Look, when you hear Oregon State Beavers this is what you should be thinking of," said Barnhart as he held up a picture of a furry animal. Although unclear about what he thinks we think it is, Barnhart was adamant in his declaration that its "not what we think it is." When pressed by giggling reporters about what he thought we all think it is, he replied angrily and evasively, "I think we all know what I am talking about here."

The confusion over the nickname has caused many problems in recruiting. "It's not easy sitting down with a recruit and his parents and saying 'We want to put the Beavers on top, and we want you to be there," explained Football Coach Dennis Erickson, amid loud peals of laughter.