They waited for JaMarcus Shephard.
Oregon State’s coach had to finish a post-game TV interview on the field with USA Sports. But the Beavers players stood behind the doors of the locker room, waiting for the door to burst open late on Saturday night.
For months, their head coach had preached “Process!!!” and instructed them, “Winners win because that’s what winners do!” and now, here they were, for the first time since Shephard was hired — actual winners.
It was Oregon State 52, Montana 17 at Reser Stadium.
When OSU’s coach came through the locker room doors, onlookers on the field were treated to a remarkable sight. A grown man, hired last November with no head coaching experience, leapt into a wall of waiting players.
The Beavers swarmed him.