CORVALLIS -- Darell Garretson needed an unprintable four-letter word when describing his admiration for the player he will now supplant as Oregon State starting quarterback.
Jake Luton suffered a thoracic spinal fracture Saturday in the fourth quarter of the Beavers' 52-23 loss at Washington State. Yet despite lying on the Martin Stadium turf for more than seven minutes before being taken to a local hospital on a stretcher and cart, Luton rejoined his teammates on the plane back from Pullman.
"That dude's tough as s---," Garretson said.
On Tuesday, OSU started its first bye week of the season without the 6-foot-7 starter whom coaches hoped would rejuvenate a statistically deficient passing offense.