JaMarcus Shephard didn’t step to the podium Tuesday upon being introduced as the 33rd head coach in Oregon State history. He grabbed it, applied a headlock and infused his prepared remarks with equal doses of passion and ambition.

At one point during the 18-minute sermon, Shephard discussed his upbringing in Indiana, where “things around me weren’t going in a great direction to provide me with everything I needed in order to see what my future could be.

“Throughout that time,” he continued, “I just knew I wanted something different. I wanted something special with my life. That’s what coming to Oregon State is. I wanted something different and something special, an opportunity to build, and that’s what we have here. We have a chance to build.”

That’s one way to frame the challenge.

The

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