TEMPE, AZ -- Mike Riley was a student at Corvallis High School the last time the Oregon State Beavers beat Arizona State in Tempe.
It was 40 years ago last week -- Sept. 27, 1969. The Beavers have dropped 16 straight to the Sun Devils in the desert since.
"I've been made aware of that," Riley said with a chuckle. "Most of our team that's here now is only 0-1, so they don't have to bear that burden. That is an amazing stat."
The Beavers' only victory in Sun Devil Stadium since the Nixon Administration came on Jan. 1, 2001, when they blitzed Notre Dame 41-9 in the Fiesta Bowl. Oregon State's coach that day? Dennis Erickson, now in charge at Arizona State.
The Beavers (2-2) have a chance to end the misery against the Sun Devils (2-1) on Saturday afternoon.
The Beavers appeared as if they would snap the streak against ASU two years ago, sprinting out to a 19-0 lead after one quarter. They collapsed and lost 44-32.
"That was the weirdest game," said Oregon State quarterback Sean Canfield, who threw five interceptions in that game. "We were up and then the wheels fell off and we don't want to let that happen again."
For the Sun Devils, that game stands out for a different reason: they beat a strong team. In Erickson's first two years at ASU, the Sun Devils beat 14 major-college opponents, and Oregon State was one of only two that finished with a winning record.
So far this year, the Sun Devils (2-1) have defeated lower-division Idaho State and Louisiana-Monroe at home, then lost at No. 21 Georgia on a field goal as time expired.
This week, ASU plays host to an Oregon State team (2-2) searching for answers.
The Beavers opened the season with a victory over lower-division Portland State, then needed a last-second field goal to beat UNLV. Oregon State has dropped its last two games -- at home -- to No. 17 Cincinnati and Arizona.
"For the Beavers, we've lost two in a row and it seems like forever since we've won one," Riley said.
Riley and his staff aren't panicking, because it's the sixth straight season Oregon State has split its first four games. The Beavers have started 2-3 the last three seasons and finished with 10, 9 and 9 wins, capping each year with a bowl victory.
"I think it's important to say that just because we've done it in the past doesn't mean that it's just going to happen again," Canfield said. "We have to prove it."
As for the Sun Devils, they are smarting after blowing a chance to upset Georgia.
Arizona State's ballhawking defense forced three turnovers, leading to both ASU touchdowns. The Sun Devils lead the nation in turnover margin, with 11 takeaways and one giveaway, an interception thrown by quarterback Danny Sullivan.
Arizona State's defense looks strong enough to keep the Sun Devils in most games.
The offense is a different story.
The Sun Devils managed only one offensive touchdown against a Georgia squad that had conceded 103 points in its first three games.
When an offense struggles, the quarterback usually comes in for criticism, and that's happening to Sullivan, a first-year starter.
The senior ranks ninth among Pac-10 quarterbacks -- including two from Arizona -- in passing efficiency. He has completed only 47.7 percent of his passes (42 of 88) for 500 yards.
Facing a major-conference opponent for the first time at Georgia, Sullivan completed 10 of 32 passes for 116 yards and a touchdown. He also threw an interception.
The good news for Sullivan is that Oregon State has a total of two sacks through four games, tied for fewest in the nation.
Sullivan hasn't had much help from the ASU running game, which averages 135 yards per game, seventh in the conference.
Erickson may be sticking with Sullivan because his other option is a true freshman, Brock Osweiler. If Erickson is having any doubts about Sullivan, he's not talking about them publicly.
"He's only (started) three football games, so we'll see what happens," Erickson said. "I think he's played pretty darn good, and obviously his stats weren't as good Saturday, but he did some awfully good things in that game too.
"When you sit and evaluate everything that he does, everyday, like I do, it's a little different than somebody from the outside watching a game," Erickson said.
