Bernard Happy to get late invite to Senior Bowl

Oregon State tailback Yvenson Bernard had a good excuse for his inability to participate in Thursday's Senior Bowl practice.

He didn't have a helmet.

Bernard didn't know he'd be playing in the game until he got a call Wednesday between 8 p.m. and 9 p.m. Pacific time while training in Irvine, Calif. He caught a late-night flight in time for the second half of the North team's Thursday morning practice — but his Oregon State helmet still hadn't arrived.

"I'll have it by (Friday)," Bernard said. "Nobody knew until about 12 hours ago, so it's going to take some time to get out there."

Perhaps it's a good thing Yvenson Bernard couldn't practice Thursday. He probably was in no shape to work out in the rainy weather after such a tumultuous evening.

"I just took a red-eye," Bernard said. "I haven't gotten much sleep at all. I'm ready to nap. I'll try to get a good nap in, but I probably won't be able to get that either."

Bernard wasn't about to complain. He was happy just to get the invitation, which came after West Virginia fullback Owen Schmitt injured his knee and East Carolina running back Chris Johnson hurt his shoulder earlier in the week.

Schmitt's knee injury will prevent him from playing Saturday. Johnson hasn't officially been declared out for the game, though he didn't practice Thursday.

The North team found a capable replacement in Bernard, who has rushed for a total of 2,521 yards and caught 79 passes over the past two seasons. Bernard joins two Oregon State teammates – tackle/guard Roy Schuening and kicker Alexis Serna – on the North squad.

Bernard received a big hug from Schuening after arriving on the practice field midway through the Thursday morning drills.

"I miss the guy," Schuening said. "I haven't seen him probably since the bowl game. It's really good to see him out here."

Bernard may have to introduce himself to the rest of his teammates. There was a problem with his No. 20 jersey, too: It didn't have his name on the back.

"That's fine," he said. "I don't need a name."

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