WSU Extends Leach

It appears that WSU Football Coach Mike Leach is staying in Pullman after the school announced that his present contract was extended until 2024.  The move comes amongst rumors he would consider offers from schools such as Arkansas and Mississippi.  
The move was generally well received amongst the WSU community.  Rarely far from controversy, Leach had made news last weekend by an angry response to a Spokane reporter during a news conference.
This year Leach led the team to a school record 5th consecutive post season bowl game.

Trip To Sunriver 6--Vistiting Oregon Colleges

I had never visited the campus of either Oregon's Pac 12 Universities, University Of Oregon (top picture) nor Oregon State  University (bottom picture).  One difference between Washington and Oregon is that in Washington, the two largest Universities are on opposite sides of the state.  In Oregon, they are very close.  

We decided to check out both campuses on the return from Sunriver.  Students were getting graduation pictures taken at both campuses.  Students also loved Dasher.  

In spite of the proximity, you can sense the difference in philosophy between the two institutions.  

I can now say that I have visited campuses of all the original Pac 8 schools.  

Now, only University of Arizona is the only school of the Pac 10 that I haven't visited, as I have been on campus at ASU.  

After it was the PAC 10 for about 3 decades, the conference became the Pac 12, after admitting Colorado and Utah, so that leaves 3 colleges in the top western athletic conference that I have not been on campus or have driven past  (as in the case with USC).

Ernie Kent Hired To Coach Cougs

Ernie Kent, who lead Pac 12 rival Oregon to 5 NCAA  tournaments, has been hired to coach the men's basketball program at Washington State.  Kent spent 13 seasons at Oregon before being let go in 2010 after a mediocre season.  Kent is the second major hire for WSU athletic director Bill Moos, who has had little tolerance for coaching picksfrom the old regime.  Moos, as a matter of fact had hired Kent to come to Oregon, when serving as AD for that school.