ANG Newspapers: Oregon State's super catch: Hass

By Dave Newhouse, STAFF WRITER 

BERKELEY — At Oregon State, Mike Hass is the hoss, boss. In equine terms, he's the Seabiscuit of Pac-10 football.  He's that same plucky little longshot who wasn't offered a college scholarship. He's a walk-on who became one of the most productive wide receivers in the country.  And Hass, a 6-foot-1, 208-pound senior, is about to capture the "triple crown" as Oregon State's all-time leader in pass catches, receptions and receiving yards.  "It's a great story," Beavers coach Mike Riley said. "It's a great example for anybody out there who has to persevere and isn't given the best opportunity at the start. The neatest thing is I don't think he was ever surprised by it. He always knew he could do it."  On Saturday, Oregon State (3-2, 1-1 Pac-10) plays at Cal (5-1, 2-1). No school has controlled Hass better than Cal. In 2003, he was shut out by the Bears for the only time that season. In 2004, he had his worst game against Cal — two catches for 26 yards.

Nevertheless, Cal has the ultimate respect for Hass, who has a current streak of nine straight 100-yard receiving games.  "He runs great routes, has great body control, is deceptively fast," Cal coach Jeff Tedford said. "He has a great knack for catching the football."  "He has the ability to get open," Cal senior defensive back Harrison Smith said. "He's a solid receiver. He has good hands, he competes for the ball, and he makes plays. He doesn't have to be a blazer."  Speed? No team has held Hass under 155 receiving yards this year. Only Arizona State kept him out of the end zone. He set the Pac-10 single-game record with 293 receiving yards against Boise State last year.  James Newson (2000-2003) is Oregon State's career leader with 233 receptions, 3,572 receiving yards and 20 touchdown catches. Hass' numbers are 177, 3,223 and 18. Barring injury, he should overtake Newson in every category of this trifecta.  "That's a cool deal," Hass said. "One thing I can look back on when my career is over is that people will be breaking my records."  Sometimes, coaches are the worst judges of talent.  Hass was the Oregon High School Player of the Year in 2000 at Jesuit in Portland. Oregon State's Dennis Erickson invited him to walk on, and Hass came to Corvallis only because he didn't want to pay out-of-state tuition.

He also liked the school's engineering department — his major is civil engineering. After redshirting in 2001, he began his first season of eligibility in 2002 as a fifth-string split end.  "I made a lot of plays in practice," he said.  After Erickson left for the San Francisco 49ers and Riley returned to coach the Beavers in 2003 (he had been their head coach in 1997 and 1998), Hass became the starting flanker and was awarded a scholarship.  But what had coaches missed in Hass coming out of high school?  "Confidence, and willingness to go up and get the ball, and running good routes," he said. "That's what quarterbacks like."  Regardless of body types and 40-yard times.  Riley saw in Hass what other coaches failed to see. "Mike's always had a lot of inner confidence," said Riley, "which has grown with the production he's had. You have a hard time arm-tackling him because he's strong. ... And he catches the ball all over the place." Except against Cal, a problem he wants to rectify Saturday. But how has Hass managed to get open against every other secondary?  "It's one of those things," he said, "where if they turn their hips or get on their toes. ... There are certain things you can do." He didn't want to be too specific, but he's often double-teamed.  "When you're told after a game 'You're a helluva player,' that's what you want to hear," he said. "I'm an inspiration to walk-ons that it can be done. But it's more than inspiration. You need ability, too."