I really liked Bray. I think he's a great guy, and he's indisputably a great defensive coach and coordinator. He just hired the wrong people, particularly on the offensive side of the ball. And he was unwilling to let those individuals go when it was clear that they were in over their heads.
Best of luck to Bray at WSU. I think he's going to do great things there.
I will always respect Coach Bray for being loyal and not leaving with CJS and the rest of the coaches to MSU. He was put in a tough spot. If you look at the OSU games last year, there were 3 or 4 more that the Beavs shoulda won. He's a great tactician and DC. It's gonna be tough facing his defense when the Beavs play WSU. Part of me will always root for him.
I loved that Bray saved the Oregon State defense in 2021 and helped bring the team to national respectability with Top 20 rankings. I liked that he was the MLB on my favorite college team in 2002-05. I loved that he was tough but fair with his players and they admired him and listened to him. I did not know if he could be an HC when Smith left, but thought if he wanted it he deserved a shot. Those who knew better than me, who know Bray personally, failed him by putting him in a position to lose. To Bray's credit, he is back where he belongs as the DC for WSU
Love this Lynn! Trent is a great guy and was a heck of a D-Cordinator for OSU. We were all happy when he stepped and didn't get on the plane to East Lansing. He bleeds Orange and Black and I hope he is back on our sideline in near future once again as our D-Corrdinator. He is a GOOD one!!!
Bray should have been a Coug back in the day. I am pretty sure he was committed to WSU and Bill Doba. I remember Erickson was jokingly quoted as saying his dad was the only one who could legally buy him a car to sign with OSU. Glad he's a Coug now and hope he has great success here.
JC.... that long snapper situation was baffling. I have never seen a football team who did not have adequate contingencies at every position on the field. You can carry 100+ players in FBS. You can certainly cross train even 230 lb guys to long snap. They don't need to hold the block very long up the middle. I understand when someone goes down with an injury. But there has to be a capable backup, at every position. THAT was very frustrating to watch. Kind of pee-wee league
I’ll say again now what I said about Bray when he got fired. Beaver Nations owes him a debt of gratitude. He was exactly what we needed when the world was collapsing. And he took the job for Beaver Nation, not himself. He loved his Alma mater more than himself. He was given an impossible task. He wasn’t ready to be a head coach but he did it for us. He will forever be a Beaver great. A legend. He stuck with us when everyone else bailed.
I wish we could have kept him as DC, but that doesn’t happen. You don’t have a HC demoted to OC/DC or position coach on the same team.
If I ever have the opportunity to meet Bray, I’d say, “what’re you drinking? I’m buying.”
Great interview Canzano and Coach Bray and thank you for sharing. I want to think Coach found his way home to Pullman, even if not forever, he no doubt is feeling the love being there. Looking forward to meeting him this fall hopefully and seeing a smile on his face.
He definitely was in a tough spot and so was his alma mater. He stepped up when needed but it’s a tough step and sometimes the step is too big too soon. While I’m glad he’s coaching again, wish it wasn’t at what may evolve into one of the PAC12’s new rivalries.
WSU & OSU stood together, thru the lawsuits and rebuild. And now thru several coaching changes for both school. I do believe someone at WSU said about OSU, “we’re not friends”. Such is the life for future rivals.
I remember that, Scott, but am pretty sure the quote came from a player right before a football game between the two schools. Of course players need that mindset at that moment.
But that's a whole different animal from how most Beaver and Cougar fans feel about each other. And I don't see that changing anytime soon after what we've endured together. It was quite the foxhold experience.
Just finished watching this on YouTube--a really good interview. He is far less uptight than he was, but he is first and foremost a football coach. There is no BS in his communication. Hope he does well. Your follow up interview with Nigel Burton was a great move, and a good way to put Bray's tenure in perspective. Thanks for this!
Good article John. Oregon St hasn’t had good football since Erickson, and nothing before that. OSU should focus on women’s hoops and baseball; football isn’t a Beavers’ sport.
I really liked Bray. I think he's a great guy, and he's indisputably a great defensive coach and coordinator. He just hired the wrong people, particularly on the offensive side of the ball. And he was unwilling to let those individuals go when it was clear that they were in over their heads.
Best of luck to Bray at WSU. I think he's going to do great things there.
Go Beavs!
It also seems like he didn’t get the support he needed from his boss.
I will always respect Coach Bray for being loyal and not leaving with CJS and the rest of the coaches to MSU. He was put in a tough spot. If you look at the OSU games last year, there were 3 or 4 more that the Beavs shoulda won. He's a great tactician and DC. It's gonna be tough facing his defense when the Beavs play WSU. Part of me will always root for him.
I think he will go great as a DC again.
Wish things had went better for him at OSU
I loved that Bray saved the Oregon State defense in 2021 and helped bring the team to national respectability with Top 20 rankings. I liked that he was the MLB on my favorite college team in 2002-05. I loved that he was tough but fair with his players and they admired him and listened to him. I did not know if he could be an HC when Smith left, but thought if he wanted it he deserved a shot. Those who knew better than me, who know Bray personally, failed him by putting him in a position to lose. To Bray's credit, he is back where he belongs as the DC for WSU
Great interview! A good person. Had him in class when I taught at OSU!
Love this Lynn! Trent is a great guy and was a heck of a D-Cordinator for OSU. We were all happy when he stepped and didn't get on the plane to East Lansing. He bleeds Orange and Black and I hope he is back on our sideline in near future once again as our D-Corrdinator. He is a GOOD one!!!
Bray should have been a Coug back in the day. I am pretty sure he was committed to WSU and Bill Doba. I remember Erickson was jokingly quoted as saying his dad was the only one who could legally buy him a car to sign with OSU. Glad he's a Coug now and hope he has great success here.
JC.... that long snapper situation was baffling. I have never seen a football team who did not have adequate contingencies at every position on the field. You can carry 100+ players in FBS. You can certainly cross train even 230 lb guys to long snap. They don't need to hold the block very long up the middle. I understand when someone goes down with an injury. But there has to be a capable backup, at every position. THAT was very frustrating to watch. Kind of pee-wee league
also glad Trent gets to come back to his hometown
I’ll say again now what I said about Bray when he got fired. Beaver Nations owes him a debt of gratitude. He was exactly what we needed when the world was collapsing. And he took the job for Beaver Nation, not himself. He loved his Alma mater more than himself. He was given an impossible task. He wasn’t ready to be a head coach but he did it for us. He will forever be a Beaver great. A legend. He stuck with us when everyone else bailed.
I wish we could have kept him as DC, but that doesn’t happen. You don’t have a HC demoted to OC/DC or position coach on the same team.
If I ever have the opportunity to meet Bray, I’d say, “what’re you drinking? I’m buying.”
Great interview Canzano and Coach Bray and thank you for sharing. I want to think Coach found his way home to Pullman, even if not forever, he no doubt is feeling the love being there. Looking forward to meeting him this fall hopefully and seeing a smile on his face.
Bray's hire at WSU told me as much about Kirby Moore as it did Bray. Very smart hire - even if it seems like kind of a no-brainer in hindsight.
He definitely was in a tough spot and so was his alma mater. He stepped up when needed but it’s a tough step and sometimes the step is too big too soon. While I’m glad he’s coaching again, wish it wasn’t at what may evolve into one of the PAC12’s new rivalries.
I hold too much affection for WSU to consider them as OSU's rivals, at least for a very long time. We are blood-brother brethren.
But I do get your point, Scott.
WSU & OSU stood together, thru the lawsuits and rebuild. And now thru several coaching changes for both school. I do believe someone at WSU said about OSU, “we’re not friends”. Such is the life for future rivals.
I remember that, Scott, but am pretty sure the quote came from a player right before a football game between the two schools. Of course players need that mindset at that moment.
But that's a whole different animal from how most Beaver and Cougar fans feel about each other. And I don't see that changing anytime soon after what we've endured together. It was quite the foxhold experience.
Just finished watching this on YouTube--a really good interview. He is far less uptight than he was, but he is first and foremost a football coach. There is no BS in his communication. Hope he does well. Your follow up interview with Nigel Burton was a great move, and a good way to put Bray's tenure in perspective. Thanks for this!
One of the best Pullman Greyhounds ever!!!!! WSU is lucky to have him. Go Cougs!
Good article John. Oregon St hasn’t had good football since Erickson, and nothing before that. OSU should focus on women’s hoops and baseball; football isn’t a Beavers’ sport.