It’s never been flashy for Jonathan Smith. He likes it that way.

CORVALLIS — The party spilled off the orange-flooded field and cascaded into the Valley Football Center. 

Oregon State ushered in player after player, parading nine seniors through when it was all said and done. There were tears, joyous expletives and a sprinkle of comedic relief. 

The whole thing felt like a fitting homage to this team’s ascent.

As the cross town rival Ducks licked their wounds and dug for answers after a monumental collapse, the Beavers celebrated raucously. 

The do-it-all Jack Colletto apologized for losing his voice. 

Walk-on safety Jaydon Grant fought back tears while searching for the right words to tie a bow on his unlikely career and an even more improbable 38-34 win over Oregon. 

Offensive lineman Brandon Kipper, short of breath upon arrival, before leaving the podium to find his girlfriend:

“Pretty fucking awesome,” he said. “I’ll remember that moment for the rest of my life.” 

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Tyson Alger covered the Ducks for The Oregonian and The Athletic before branching out on his own to create and run The I-5 Corridor. He brings more than a decade of experience on the University of Oregon sports beat. He has covered everything from Marcus Mariota’s Heisman Trophy-winning season to the Ducks’ first year in the Big 10.