Gary Andersen

Gary Andersen checks every box on Oregon State's wish list.

(A.J. Mast/Associated Press)

Two out, bottom of the ninth, three runs down, 0-2 count, and Oregon State just knocked it out of the park.

Trailing by six, the Beavers just threw a Hail Mary for a touchdown.

This was a midcourt shot to win.

The Oregon State brain trust – and I include president Ed Ray, athletic director Bob De Carolis and deputy athletic director Mark Massari – took six days to come back from Mike Riley's stunning departure for Nebraska with the more stunning hire of Wisconsin coach Gary Andersen to replace him.

Andersen, 50, built the Utah State program from the ground up to an 11-2 record in 2012.

That earned Andersen the Wisconsin job, where he was 19-7 in two seasons. He guided the Badgers to the Big Ten Conference Championship game this year and a berth in the Outback Bowl.

Former Oregon State quarterback Steve Preece was part of a small group of people close to the program that OSU used to vet candidates. Andersen, it was clear from the start, would be a game-changer.

"When 'Bobby D' told our little group they were looking at him, I thought he was into the new marijuana law," Preece said of De Carolis.

"I'm excited, man. I hope our kids are as excited as I am. And I hope our recruits are too."

Andersen would seem to check every box on the OSU wish list.

He is a proven head coach.

He successfully has recruited to a small town that doesn't have Oregon/Washington-type facilities.

He earned his way up the coaching ladder through talent and grit, going from head-coaching jobs at Southern Utah, to Utah State to Wisconsin.

He was the defensive coordinator on the 2008 Utah team that beat Alabama in the Sugar Bowl.

"He's exactly what Oregon State needs," said a former FBS head coach who had discussions with OSU during the search process. "He brings toughness.

"Everybody wants a fast-paced, high-tempo offense. But why be just like Oregon? To beat Oregon, you need to punch them in the mouth."

There is some thought in Wisconsin that Andersen wasn't a good fit there.

He operates in a lower key, minus the outsized personalities that former coaches Barry Alvarez and Bret Bielema have.

Alvarez remains Wisconsin's athletic director, which can't always be comfortable for the coach. And that probably is especially true while having to explain the 59-0 pounding that Ohio State dished out in last week's Big Ten title game.

OSU announced $42 million in facility improvements Wednesday. That gives Andersen some tools to work with.

But the Beavers are playing from behind in the major college athletics arms race.

And the truth is, they aren't likely to catch up with Oregon anytime soon.

With this move, the Beavers signaled they would do it their way, with grit, toughness and a roll-up-your-sleeves attitude. They didn't try to play Oregon's game. They embraced what makes them different.

Besides, Andersen isn't a reach. This isn't like hiring a guy with a good resume from a lower level, or a coordinator from a national contender.

This isn't like hiring a guy you hope can do the job.

This is a guy who has done the job.

"I'm a little flabbergasted," former Michigan offensive coordinator Al Borges said. "That is an amazing hire. Gary is real thorough, very smart. He's coached defense, but he knows offense too. He knows what it takes to win.

"I expect him to run the ball, and play-action pass. He will bring an old-school mentality. Gary will do a good job there."

Andersen has won the Day 1 public relations battle. Eventually, of course, he will have to win on the field too.

But he left Wisconsin for Corvallis, so you know wants to be there. And that is a nice way to jumpstart the program.

When Riley bailed out on Oregon State in 1998 for the San Diego Chargers, former athletic director Mitch Barnhart struck gold by replacing Riley with Dennis Erickson.

Riley came back, only to leave once again.

And once again the Beavers landed on their feet.

"This is like Erickson," Preece said.

Yeah, a game-winning grand slam.

-- Ken Goe | @KenGoe