LOS ANGELES -- Notes and quotes about Oregon State football from Wednesday's Pac-12 football media day:

OREGON STATE plans to spend three days in Bend as part of its preseason camp. The Beavers will practice Aug. 21-23 at Summit High School, with a public scrimmage on the final day.

The trip is meant to serve as a bonding experience, but also get the team ready for the season-opening road game at Ohio State on Sept. 1.

Also, Smith feels an obligation to bond with the state.

"It's important to get around the state. We've got a bunch of Beaver fans, and getting to expose them to that," Smith said. "It's important to change the environment, camp, same spot, 29 practices to change the environment on these guys a little bit."

Preseason camp opens Aug. 3 in Corvallis.

AS FOR THE DEPARTURE of assistant head coach Mike Riley, Smith says he'll continue to have a role with the Beavers. Earlier in July, Riley resigned his assistant coaching position in order to become San Antonio's head coach in the Alliance of American Football.

Smith said Riley will be around campus this fall and work day-to-day with the program, though not in a coaching role.

"Whether it's the game plan, an aspect in identifying recruits, getting visits to people on campus, knowing this league, knowing high school coaches, all of that he'll contribute to," Smith said.

IT'S AN INEVITABLE question this time of the summer: the ask of the team's expectations heading into the season.

Outsiders surely aren't expecting much. The Pac-12 media poll placed Oregon State in the North cellar. Most preseason college football magazines and media sites think the Beavers are good for a win or two this season.

But outsiders don't play the game. What do the Beavers think? For starters, you're not going to hear anything about a win-loss record, although sophomore linebacker Kee Whetzel did say Wednesday that "We talk about winning the Pac-12 championship, and you can see the fire in (Smith's) eyes."

Smith has two expectations he'll vocalize publicly.

"I want to see them competing for 60 minutes, and I want to see them improving and working to improve from Game 1 to Game 12," Smith said.

As for opening the season at Ohio State, Smith sees it as an opportunity - to play against a college power, in a state and stadium the Beavers coach thinks few on his team have visited.

"We're going to go in there swinging. We only get 12 Saturdays guaranteed, and see where we're at. It's great to be on a national stage, at a national power, to experience that," Smith said.

WHO ARE SOME of Oregon State's off-the-radar players that could move into prominence this fall?

Smith, of course, mentioned the two Beavers attending media day in Whetzel and offensive tackle Blake Brandel. In the case of Whetzel, to Smith it's simple: his athleticism that the OSU coach hopes to tap. For Brandel, "That guy has experience. ... but he can take his game to another level."

Beyond that, there's sophomore running back Calvin Tyler.

"I'm excited about Calvin Tyler. He didn't play a ton. But he had a really good spring ball. I think that guy can do some things for us," Smith said. "I'm excited about the quarterback position. We've got a couple guys that have played some."

A READER ASKED, so we got the answer: Will Smith call offensive plays this season? Smith says no, it will be the job of offensive coordinator Brian Lindgren.

"We'll communicate. I'm going to be a little bit involved, but I feel like that whole offensive side with Brian, (line coach) Jim Michalczik, it's in good hands," Smith said.

Smith says he'll miss calling plays, as he did as offensive coordinator at Washington.

"I love that part, the strategy, the getting ready to call. But I felt like taking on this job, it's really important to let your coaches kind of coach," Smith said.

--Nick Daschel | ndaschel@oregonian.com | @nickdaschel