Minshew Will Be The Jags Starting QB

Multiple sources have pegged Gardner Minshew to be the Jacksonville Jaguars starting quarterback.  Minshew led the Washington State Cougars to it's best season in years and is one of it's most popular figures due to his distinct mustache, and his ability to relate to fans.  

Minshew became the Cougar quarterback after the tragic off season death to Tyler Hilinski. ,  the Cougar heir apparent to Luke Falk.

Seahawks Sign Coug Gordon

Cougar fans around the state and beyond will be happy to know that the Seattle Seahawks have signed quarterback Anthony Gordon.  Gordon, in his first season in a starting role for the Cougs, led the nation in passing yards per game in Coach Mike Leach's high octane offense.
Gordon's name was not called in last week's NFL draft.
Gordon may not see much action behind the durable Russell Wilson, but backup quarterbacks can acquire knowledge and skill that can put them in good positions to be offensive coordinators and head coaches, not to mention that Gordon could be a decent fill in should anything happen to Wilson.

Tweet Gets Leach In Trouble

Will Mike Leach coach a down of Mississippi State football? His position may not be in jeopardy, but a twitter post that Leach has since deleted and apologized for, depicting a quarte tined quarantined  woman knitting a noose  seems to have gotten him in big trouble.
You may remember that another very successful Washington State Coach Mike Price, left to go to Alabama, a legendary college football program.  A golf outing that turned into a strip club visit and sky high room service charges lost him the position before he could even start.
Mike Leach and Mike Price have been probably two of the most successful coaches in the Cougar program and yet, have found out that what happens in Pullman, may be best, kept in Pullman.  
But let's not forget,  Dennis Erickson left WSU and enjoyed a very successful run at Miami.

Go Cougs!

Cougars face Air Force in Cheez-It Bowl Tonight at 7:15 pst.  The game will be televised on ESPN.

Cougars Featured On HBO

WSU is one of four schools featured on the HBO series 24/7.  The show, I guess, is based on Hard Knocks, which is an in depth look at NFL teams.
The WSU episode features  Coach Mike Leach who is shown walking from his house to his office on the campus.   It shows the day by day practices, the coaches philosophy and sits in on the players goofing around.  Specifically, starting quarterback Anthony Gordon.  
Miked up (no pun intended)  football practices are not new to TV,  but this show does a sequential day by day look at each practice, making it indeed unique.
Leach is a natural for this type of program because of his successful but quirky nature.
Also featured is Glenn Johnson, who is the football stadium announcer as well as Pullman's mayor.  He is no doubt, the most visible Pullman resident.  He could be called the "face of the city", however, "voice of the city" would be more accurate.  Johnson says that he has been mayor since 2004 and has not had opposition, quite remarkable when you consider the myriad of different ideas and viewpoints which come together on a college campus.   It is safe to say that Johnson, my old communications professor, known to Glenn by his students can be called a WSU legend.
More info on the program can be found here.

Minschew Mania Takes Place In Jacksonville

Gardner Minschew, who took the WSU Cougars to new heights in 2018, has set a franchise record in Jacksonville by becoming the first rookie quarterback for that team to pass for over 600 yards.
A 6th round draft pick, Minschew wound up taking over for the injured Nick Foles in week 1 of the NFL season.
Reports say that Minschew mania is taking place in Jacksonville, fans are drawn in by his mustache  and charisma, as well as his brilliant play.
The Minschew lead Jaguars beat the Tennessee Titans 20-7 in this week's Thursday night match.

Maple Valley Gives Cougar Love

The Washington State Cougars are getting some emphatic support in their  quest to take the 2018 Apple Cup.  This sign is on the main highway in Maple Valley. Go Cougs!

ESPN Gameday Heading To Pullman

ESPN has announced that it's iconic College Football pregame show Gameday will be in Pullman this coming weekend when the Cougs take on the Oregon Ducks.
Bringing the show to Pullman has been a longtime wish for Cougar fans who travel wherever the show takes place with the school flag.  Ol' Crimson has appeared in the background of Gameday telecasts now for 15 years.

Drew Bledsoe Son John Committs To WSU

 

My, time does fly.  I remember clearly the excitement when Drew Bledsoe, who quarterbacked at my alma matter Walla Walla High School, was considered the state's number one high school recruit.  Now Drew's son, John is making news by passing up a scholarship from Northern Arizona U to attempt to walk on to  the Washington State Cougar football program.
 Drew, of course, had a stellar career with the Cougs, going on to become the number one pick in the 1993 NFL draft.   Bledsoe began to help guide the beginning of the Patriots rise to become one of the NFL's storied franchises.
John Bledsoe, Drew's second son, was quarterback at Summit High School in Bend, Oregon.

Cougars Overcome Incredible Deficit--Beat Beavers

Yes, the expression "tale of two halves" is used a lot, however, last night's Washington State vs Oregon State game was just that as the Cougs came back from a 24-6 halftime deficit to beat the Beavers 35-31
An 85 yard run early in the 1st quarter by Oregon State's Ryan Nall seemed to spell doom for the Cougs, who were playing on the road.  Oregon State would eventually stretch the lead to three touchdowns. 
The third quarter was an epic turnaround, but not until a fake punt by the Cougs failed giving Oregon State excellent field position.  The Beavers were unable to capitalize and the Cougs were able to march down the field and score it's first TD.  WSU would wind up outscoring Oregon State 22-0 in the third.
The win allows the Cougs to be ranked in the AP top 25 poll for the first time this season.  The Cougs are ranked 25, while the Huskies are at 4.  This is the first time both Washington teams have ranked simultaneously since 2003. 

Cougs Make Statement--Trap The Beavs

Quarterback Luke Falk tied a school record with 6 touchdown passes, all in the first half, as the Washington State Cougars defeated their Oregon counterparts, the OSU Beavers 52-31.
 Cougar fans know that their is no safe lead and indeed the high powered offense was held scoreless in the second half, however, a 4th quarter interception by Shalom Luani run for a touchdown, put this victory away for the Cougs.  The victory was especially sweet because it was Homecoming and had come one week after an overtime victory over the Oregon Ducks in Eugene.  This victory should make way for the Cougars to be nationally ranked.

Bud Namack Out As Voice Of Cougs

Bud Namack will no longer be the voice of Washington State Cougar Athletics,  according to several news sources.  Namack has been voice of the Cougar football for the last few seasons and the voice of Cougar Basketball since 1993.  IMG College has announced that Matt Chazanow, a manager for the college network will take over the play by play duties.  No reason has been stated for the change.

Cougs Going To New Mexico Bowl

For the first time in 10 years, the Washington State Cougars are going to a bowl game.  The team learned yesterday that it will play the Colorado State Rams in the Gildan New Mexico Bowl.  The Cougs finished the season with 6 wins, making it eligible for post season, however, with a 6-6 record, a bid was far from certain.  According to the Spokesman-Review, the Rams are the only college team in the nation to boast both a 3000 yard passer(Garrett Grayson) and a 1500 yard runner(Kapri Bibbs). 
The game will be played at 11am on December 21st in Albuquerque.  It will be televised on ESPN.

Go Cougs!

The Washington State Cougars take on the Washington Huskies tonight in the 2013 Apple Cup.

Cougar Fans Saddened By Leaf Trevails

Once upon a time, the idea of the Washington State Cougars playing in the Rose Bowl was thought to be a fairy tale, then came Ryan Leaf.  In 1997, the junior quarterback from Montana, showed presense in the pocket, a strong arm, and a cocky attitude.  He lead his team to the Pac 10 championship for the first time in over 30 years.   He was considered a can't miss pro prospect, then the bubble burst.
The San Diego Chargers, gave up the house to have drafting rights to Leaf.  He hit a snag in his rookie season and made ESPN highlight reels with a nasty exchange with reporters. His struggles culminated with his arrest a couple of years ago for burglary.
Recently though, reports came out about a new Ryan Leaf, who was working to fight against his addictions. He survived a brain tumor and wrote a book, the world seemed ready to forgive Ryan and visa versa. But a couple of days ago, the Leaf saga took a turn for the worst, as he was once again arrested for burglary, has Ryan Leaf fooled us again, or is this just another bump on the road to his recovery.  Leaf was arrested again today for burglary in attempt to steal prescription drugs.  Prosecutors had already moved to revoke his probation.

On To New York: Cougs Beat Northwestern

The Washington State Cougars have a date in New York this Tuesday after beating Northwestern 69-66 in Overtime. The Cougs will play Witchita State at Madison Square Garden. If the Cougs win, they will play the winner of the Colorado-Alabama game, also at the Garden.

No Go For Apple Cup At Qwest

The controversial plan to make Qwest Field the permanent home for the Apple Cup has been abandoned after athletic directors from both Washington and Washington State failed to agree
on how tickets would be allotted between the two schools.

No Joy In Cougarville--Tony Bennett Headed To VA.

Coach Tony Bennett who lead the Washington State Cougar Basketball team to the NCAA Tournament twice, has left for Virginia. Bennett, national coach of the year turned down two major coaching jobs last year to stay in Pullman. This year he is leaving after a less glamorous season. The Cougs exited in the first round of the NIT Tournament.

Before Tony Bennett had become head coach, the basketball program was barely on the "radar screen" . He will be hard to replace.

Apple Cup Today

The Apple Cup will start shortly. Whereas, in the past, it had bowl significance, this year it stands as a symbol of the state of Washington's frustration with it's athletic programs. It caps off a year where the Sonics left town, the Mariners finished last, the Seahawks cannot buy a win and both the Cougars and Huskies where trounced weekly by their opponents.

And Another Glenn Johnson Recovery

Sorry, inside joke. Sources say that Glenn Johnson has been released from the hospital and that he is doing fine. Johnson above left was rushed to Pullman MemorialHospital Sunday after his blood pressure spiked.

The long time Washington State University communications professor is arguably one of the nation's most colorful stadium announcers . He is known for such phrases as "that's another Cougar first down" and the deep voiced "No Gain".