CougPatrol said:

I think UW is going to really regret the way this played out. They traded in their place at the top of the P12 for what will likely become a new goal of finishing 4th or 5th in the B!G. Basically, they have become a WSU of the B!G.

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This inspired to me take a look at the B1G standings.

OK guys, UNLV is apparently talking to the AAC, and Air Force sounds like they may jump ship to join the other service academies. We absolutely must pounce on UNLV RIGHT NOW.

SaveFerris said:

Before the shanked FG possession, Hutson would have gone untouched into the endzone if he doesn't stumble after the catch. Stuff happens.

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Since you brought up Hutson...again this week he doesn't play defense on an INT. It got overturned anyway, but someone needs to convince that kid that if he's not going to catch it...don't let the defense get it either.

The idea of a "good penalty" is real. If it's underthrown and the DB is going to intercept...grab his arms. Don't let him pick it off. Offensive interference is better than a turnover.

Giving up on plays means you're lazy and selfish. Don't be that guy. Help the team.

BiggsCoug said:

Leach. But he left meat on the bone. Same for Price. WSU has had a few chances to be successful on the national stage and really turn the corner, it has fallen thru.

When was the last time you thought WSU:
- was well coached
- was well prepared
- had consistently developed and recruited
- over a consistent period of time.

I dont watch the game thru the same eyes as most other do. I see things in talent, scheme and culture others do not. I see strengthes and weaknesses others do not. If

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Well coached and well prepared: end of 2021, starting with the game at ASU, Dickert's 2nd game. We went to ASU and pretty much blew the doors off. Played well at Oregon, routed Arizona and UW. In those 4 games, that team was ready to play, top to bottom. Not sure how much of it was coaching and how much was just the team circling the wagons...but it worked. Came apart for the bowl game when people started opting out.

Ever since then, I think we leave a lot of meat on the bone, and tend to have breakdowns or long slumps. And, I can't say that I really think we've ever had a team that was well coached/well prepared for a full season at a time. Even the best of the Leaf and Gesser teams had letdowns, and sometimes those cost us games.

I'm not sure we've ever had a coach that developed recruits better than Price. His staff was good at finding the kids that others missed, and turning them into players.

Recruiting...well, our recruiting has never been especially great...which is why our staff's ability to develop has always been so important. Leach was probably our best pure coach, but I'm not sure how much he really developed kids - he just found the ones that fit and plugged them in. Although he did end up with some pretty good OL.

It'll be harder now with the portal and NIL. Kids that we found early (McClanahan, Eaton, Thompson, Leaf, Derting, Gesser, Gibson, Falk, Marks, Cracraft, Borghi....for starters) would get offers from other teams now before their junior years, and I think most of them would probably take the cash and transfer.

dgibbons said:

Too bad the camera guys couldn't find a husky fan as honest as this lady:

Login to view embedded media

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In the UT/UTSA game there was a UT fan they panned to who had her arms extended and said the exact same thing.

I heard "Huge Mellon" on KJR talking about the play call. I'm sure he lost his $*** when they ran that play out of the timeout.

95coug said:

If Janikowski also hadn't shanked another FG, it wouldn't have mattered at all.

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Before the shanked FG possession, Hutson would have gone untouched into the endzone if he doesn't stumble after the catch. Stuff happens.

CougPatrol said:

OK, you've suggested cancelling the most important sporting and marketing event of the year. What's your proposal for backfilling the game? It's not just the lost revenue (which is significant), but also the massive alumni reach that this game offers. Play a bodybag game for $1M? Schedule another Big Sky opponent and play it in front of 20K fans?

If UW is OK with alternating the games between Martin Stadium and Husky Stadium, why in the world would we say no to that? They're the only big conference school who will ever visit us again in all likelihood.

If we can't agree on a home and home but there is a 5-year offer to play the annual game in Lumen Stadium, I'm down with that as well. That was an awesome game on Saturday. Over 57K fans showed up for a 12:30 kickoff. Again, why would we say no to that? What's the replacement plan?

If UW insists on playing the game every year in Husky Stadium, then we of course tell them to F-off. But otherwise, we don't walk away from this game.

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UW canceled all the good in the game when they left...then asked WSU for help. WSU literally refuses to stand up for itself.

Most important marketing event of the year? "Paint the town Crimson" campaigned and only 57k showed up...not even a sell out. I'll be curious to see the final revenue number for this game, but I can guess it will be well below the $4M mark they were hoping for.

CougPatrol said:

No Dgibb, I don't know that. I'd like to see those numbers. I also have no idea why you feel like we're the former husband living in the wife's basement. UW traded their seat atop the P12 conference for a perennial 6th place finish in the B!G. They're going to resemble Wisconsin and Minnesota a lot more closely than Ohio State, Michigan, or Penn State. UW, over here in Western WA, are having to advertise ticket sales for all of their games one year after playing in the National Championship.

More importantly though, who and when are we going to schedule these games against? Tennessee, tOSU, Alabama, Notre Dame. Do they have openings to slot us in sometime in the next 10 years? I doubt it. We have a B!G program in our home State. Why not play them?

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Well you should since you're the one throwing dollar amounts around. Scroll down to the table showing WKU got $1.9 million from Bama. I guess we know you'll be sleeping in your wife's basement if you get divorced.

cr8zyncalif said:

After watching the last play a few times, it was hard not to conclude that almost the whole team was keying on Coleman (and rightfully so, IMHO). When he started to the UW right, our whole team moved that direction. And because it was the short side of the field, there was simply nowhere for either the QB or the RB to go. That play might not have been a joke if they were on the left hash. But what dummy called it from the right hash? Gift wrapped...

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And...they called timeout to get to that play. Apparently they were going to send Coleman up the middle - which was probably the right call - but didn't like the defensive alignment so they called timeout. I can't believe that when they broke the huddle and saw the defensive alignment again, they didn't change again. That play had zero chance of success from the moment it started - the whole WSU defense saw the direction and got a good jump.

My playcall coming out of the timeout was play action - fake the plunge to Coleman, which the entire D would have crashed on, and then throw the short curl route to the TE standing where the LBs used to be. Fisch outcoached himself.

But...if we had kicked the FG on our first drive, it wouldn't have mattered much. If Janikowski also hadn't shanked another FG, it wouldn't have mattered at all.

cr8zyncalif said:

Gib, it matters because if there are two G5 league champs with the same record, strength of schedule will be the deciding factor more often than not. And the potential to have two G5 champs with the same record is real...maybe even likely.

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So, in other words if there are two undefeated G5 teams SOS will matter. I'm going to say that the odds of two G5 teams going undefeated is a statistical zero. And if we have a road game against Bama, tOSU, or whoever, that's about all we can do for SOS.

WillieThePimp said:

Good post but I thought the beers thing was kind of cool though I get where you’re coming from,

That said I 100% disagree with your bagging on Dickert. Not perfect but I believe he’s been great for WSU and has given us a lot of stability during some terrible times.

Did your momma not love you enough?

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Your mama made up for it.

CougEd said:

Maybe UCLA and UW will have second thoughts. UCLA getting hammered and UW visits Rutgers, Iowa and Indiana three out of four weekends. That is a lot of travel.

And crazy to think fans have to "search and hunt and peck just to see their teams play.

Pac 12 had a great thing with the Pac 12 network...it is a shame they didn't have the right minds to make it work. I enjoyed watching CU play Utah, catch a late game at ASU. Maybe they all will figure it out.

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I think UW is going to really regret the way this played out. They traded in their place at the top of the P12 for what will likely become a new goal of finishing 4th or 5th in the B!G. Basically, they have become a WSU of the B!G.

Fab5Coug said:

Totally honest question, when was the last time you thought WSU had a good coach?

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Leach. But he left meat on the bone. Same for Price. WSU has had a few chances to be successful on the national stage and really turn the corner, it has fallen thru.

When was the last time you thought WSU:
- was well coached
- was well prepared
- had consistently developed and recruited
- over a consistent period of time.

I dont watch the game thru the same eyes as most other do. I see things in talent, scheme and culture others do not. I see strengthes and weaknesses others do not. If

dgibbons said:

Pretty good places to visit for a long weekend too.

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Unfortunately, I just read that they're not interested in joining. Don't know if that's a reputable source or not, but we'll see.

Cougini5591 said:

I still wanna hear this again...

Tell me what he "sucked" at. Us having a winning season in 2021 or was it him having 10 wins at Hawaii and beating byu in a bowl game right before he came to us.

Did he "suck" when he was going to people's houses and delivering food/goods to them during covid?

Oh wait... he must have sucked at picking assistant coaches.

Yeah... he totally "sucked"

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Look at his record. 5-6 at WSU as a head coach. He was 4-3 at the time he got fired...with wins against an FCS team (Portland State), a mediocre Oregon State team (7-6), a below average Cal team (5-7), and a bad Stanford team (3-9). And the OSU & Stanford games were in doubt in the last few minutes.

Look at his recruiting. How does a former QB end up without enough offensive linemen to fill a 2-deep? And, there's no way you're going to convince me he didn't know about de Laura's off-field antics.

The whole Covid vax thing, he made himself the focal point. Handled all of it poorly. Assumed that he'd automatically be exempted because of his position, and then played surprised when it went the only way it could. Then manufactured the lawsuit to continue making it about him.

The rest of the stuff...suggests he was a decent neighbor. Not a good coach.

By the way...near as I can tell, the lawsuit is still going forward, with a December 9 trial date. Could be interesting now, since Chun is the key WSU witness and isn't on the payroll anymore. Wonder if he'll just roll over and protect his new boss...and testify in a way that forces WSU to cough up cash.

Still wouldn't surprise me if it either gets thrown out or gets settled.

95coug said:

I don't have any issue with giving first shot to Stanford & Cal, even knowing it's not likely they're coming. After that, UNLV makes all the sense in the world. The rest of the MWC members all have more arguments against inclusion than arguments in favor.

UTSA & Texas State bring some Texas market and a little bit of Texas presence, but they're probably the #5 & #6 schools in the state. I haven't looked very closely at either of them to see what they really bring, but on the surface...it's not exciting. (OK, I looked. The only team with fewer viewers than Texas State in 2023 was ULM. UTSA was just ahead of UNLV)

Memphis & Tulane might be fun road trips. Neither has a lot of market, both of them are near fertile recruiting ground, but not in them...and they're both 1000+ miles from the nearest conference competitor.

I guess it depends what our goal is. SJSU gets us into the Bay Area market, if Stanford/Cal don't. Air Force gets us close to the Denver market - although CSU does that better. Utah State chips at the SLC market, for whatever that's worth. UTSA/TSU gives us a piece of San Antonio/Austin...but probably not a big piece. Memphis/Tulane get us a couple of time slots early in the day. A combination of those gives us a pretty solid grip on all of the mid-level teams in the western half of the country, so we can pull some money from the P4.

Whatever. It's still getting too mercenary for me.

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Maybe UCLA and UW will have second thoughts. UCLA getting hammered and UW visits Rutgers, Iowa and Indiana three out of four weekends. That is a lot of travel.

And crazy to think fans have to "search and hunt and peck just to see their teams play.

Pac 12 had a great thing with the Pac 12 network...it is a shame they didn't have the right minds to make it work. I enjoyed watching CU play Utah, catch a late game at ASU. Maybe they all will figure it out.

BiggsCoug said:

Jake Dickfore is not this amazing coach you make him out to be. He is learning on the job at best, could/should have been fired after last season.

Now he is given the weakest schedule, could be ever, for a WSU team. He should be feasting on these teams.

And here you are like a fanboy slobbering all ofer him. Get off your knees MI. Good grief.

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Totally honest question, when was the last time you thought WSU had a good coach?

Stretch 74 said:

So you are double infected. Not only do you have Trump Derangement Syndrome, not you have contracted Biggs Derangement Syndrome. TDS and BDS. Both maladies leave the patient unable to grasp reality and unable to say anything that is truthful about either Trump or Biggs. You are pathetic, seek help.

Perhaps you and Flat can get into a clinic for treating the TDS on a 2 for 1 BOGO special rate?

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You’re balls deep in a childish cult. Your opinion has zero value to me.

Stretch 74 said:

LOL! And to think that this is the guy that thought that eating cats and dogs was a wild conspiracy theory. If this was tried by Biden or Harris, members of the DC elite class and political establishment, you might have something, but how the eff is a hated outsider going to be able to pull it off? No f*cking way!

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You simply ignored my premise. This has been done before. Not to mention Trump was known to have somewhat of a fascination with Hitler. His ex wife said as much.

Yeah…I don’t buy it. Fine, call me crazy (one who hangs on Laura Loomers words 😂).

The irregularities of both these events are odd to say the least. SS doesn’t let people emerge and pose for photos when there is an active shooter. That alone is insanity. Not to mention his ear miraculously healed in what…a week…with no signs of trauma. A slow healing part of the body on an 80 year old man? 🤔. Yup I said it…doesn’t pass the smell test.

dgibbons said:

Why does it matter if there is a G5 (or whatever) champ or highest rated team that receives an automatic invite?

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Gib, it matters because if there are two G5 league champs with the same record, strength of schedule will be the deciding factor more often than not. And the potential to have two G5 champs with the same record is real...maybe even likely.

dgibbons said:

First, WSU has to have enough confidence and pride to NOT be the former husband living the wife's basement after the divorce because rent is high.

Second, if the financial situation is so dire, play body bag games. Get a real payday from Tennessee, tOSU, Alabama, or whoever. They pay way more than $1 million, and you know that.

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No Dgibb, I don't know that. I'd like to see those numbers. I also have no idea why you feel like we're the former husband living in the wife's basement. UW traded their seat atop the P12 conference for a perennial 6th place finish in the B!G. They're going to resemble Wisconsin and Minnesota a lot more closely than Ohio State, Michigan, or Penn State. UW, over here in Western WA, are having to advertise ticket sales for all of their games one year after playing in the National Championship.

More importantly though, who and when are we going to schedule these games against? Tennessee, tOSU, Alabama, Notre Dame. Do they have openings to slot us in sometime in the next 10 years? I doubt it. We have a B!G program in our home State. Why not play them?

Loyal Coug1 said:

Agree - but going 2000(?) miles away to snag a couple of teams to make 8 doesn't make sense. Grab UNLV and either Wyoming or Air Force. THEN chat with the Texas schools, Memphis, etc. When we have met the 8 team criteria and we can collaborate from a position of not desperate. If that means letting one 2nd string school in to make 8, so be it.

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I don't have any issue with giving first shot to Stanford & Cal, even knowing it's not likely they're coming. After that, UNLV makes all the sense in the world. The rest of the MWC members all have more arguments against inclusion than arguments in favor.

UTSA & Texas State bring some Texas market and a little bit of Texas presence, but they're probably the #5 & #6 schools in the state. I haven't looked very closely at either of them to see what they really bring, but on the surface...it's not exciting. (OK, I looked. The only team with fewer viewers than Texas State in 2023 was ULM. UTSA was just ahead of UNLV)

Memphis & Tulane might be fun road trips. Neither has a lot of market, both of them are near fertile recruiting ground, but not in them...and they're both 1000+ miles from the nearest conference competitor.

I guess it depends what our goal is. SJSU gets us into the Bay Area market, if Stanford/Cal don't. Air Force gets us close to the Denver market - although CSU does that better. Utah State chips at the SLC market, for whatever that's worth. UTSA/TSU gives us a piece of San Antonio/Austin...but probably not a big piece. Memphis/Tulane get us a couple of time slots early in the day. A combination of those gives us a pretty solid grip on all of the mid-level teams in the western half of the country, so we can pull some money from the P4.

Whatever. It's still getting too mercenary for me.

After watching the last play a few times, it was hard not to conclude that almost the whole team was keying on Coleman (and rightfully so, IMHO). When he started to the UW right, our whole team moved that direction. And because it was the short side of the field, there was simply nowhere for either the QB or the RB to go. That play might not have been a joke if they were on the left hash. But what dummy called it from the right hash? Gift wrapped...

cr8zyncalif said:

One thing I don't see a lot in these "play/don't play the Fuskies" discussions is our need for strength of schedule for both rankings and CFP purposes. Our new league games are not going to have P4 strength of schedule. If we could lock in home & away games with a similar level P4 team, then I could listen to the anti-Fuskie game rants a lot easier. But we will have a lot of trouble getting a P4 to do home & away. As long as we have home & away (as we have for the next 4 years, as I recall), I have no problem playing them. And more often than not, I think it benefits us to play early in the season, for many reasons. Long story short, I may have to hold my nose, but continuing to play UW makes sense for WSU.

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Why does it matter if there is a G5 (or whatever) champ or highest rated team that receives an automatic invite?

COUGinNCW said:

Just what I wrote on the cack of my napkin and what I’ve seen from Bob Thompson (retired Fox Sports Ex.) on X.

So your idea is to play a couple of body bag games per year? No one is coming to Pullman.

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If we need the dues, we need the dues.

You're proposing a half measure from what I can tell.