Who else is in Martin tonight?

Got all the way to my seats before I found I don’t have my glasses. Good thing Glenn Johnson is still here.

Appreciated your input over the past year. Like to hear from the Rebel folks, thought they'd be part of the deal and still might be, heard rumors they were offered, so you know what's up?

Pac-12 link

Part of me feels a little bad for the MWC left-behinds who now feel exactly like we did a year ago. But that, unfortunately, is what CFB is now.

I think it’s doubtful we’ll get our CFP representative back. I think that the remaining 2 slots are for Cal & Stanford, if they want them, and for UNLV and a player to be named later if they don’t.

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Don't be surprised if we play Cal and Stanford next year. There is also chatter Beavs or Cougs could be going to Notre Dame.

If this is true, ESPN could be brokering this to get Pac-12 After Dark back in action. I also think they want to see CW fail. Fox is already planning on airing some of our games, likely late, and getting them cheap through their Mountain West contract.

Huskies are very beatable this year.

Wreck Tech.

Go COUGS!

Ms Aguirre testified before Congress (think it was today) about the issue of crime done by illegal migrants. Her testimony was one of the most passionate, powerful things I have ever listened to. It will break your heart. Her part is just the first 6 minutes of the linked video. Do yourself a favor and listen to what she has to say.

You have got to be kidding me. A QB who last played in 2010, and a WR who played in 2004, wanting in on the NIL settlement cash. Which is ridiculous in the first place.

Under 9 minutes.

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isn't it basically the former Pac-12 schools are playing for the same bowl games?

Looks like we have Virginia scheduled next year, and Notre Dame has an opening? Looks like we are a few weeks away from the 2025 definitive schedule.

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Dickert Apple Cup Week Presser | 9/9/24​

Some good stuff here.

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I'm guessing Vegas hasn't watched any Oregon football this year?

Obviously take the Cougs and the points, though they won't need them.

Game wasn't on TV for me, but I did watch the highlights (below). Not a bad game overall. 25-33 for 257 yards. His fumble was quite the bumble, looked like he thought he had a receiver in the flat and lost it as he pulled back. His int late was deflected, so not really his fault. And down by 12 with 1:50-ish left the game was pretty much lost. Raiders coach taking a lot of justified flak for punting on 4th and 1 from LA's 43 down 6 with 7-odd minutes left. Talk about playing not to win. LA went on a long TD drive subsequently to pretty much seal the game.


Tough game 2 away against the Ravens who lost a close on in KC on Week 1.

Wreck Tech.

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I love this. Perfect way to view this game and state of the program.

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Article on Brand X. 35,000 total tickets sold. They estimate we will only get $2 million rather than the original $4M projection (I never believed that anyway). Still wonder if the ticket money will be split down the middle or if each "side " gets their ticket tevenues. If not, WSU will really take it in the shorts. Article implies that it will be 50/50.

Still, unless sales really pick up, and they could, I bet $2M is highballing. You have more "cheap" seats sold than high priced ones (I think anyway), and game expenses have to come off the top.

edit - Oh and I don't respond well to Jack Thompson, etc. telling us to "get off the frickin' sidelines". I'm sure others don't like being told what to do either.

Usually someone else posts this thread. But I haven’t found one yet so I guess I’ll start it:

Wazzu 42
Red Raiders 38

Dickert had the team READY. 🌵​

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Analysis: With sharp rushing attack in win over Texas Tech, John Mateer and WSU might be transforming before our eyes​

Sept. 8, 2024 Updated Sun., Sept. 8, 2024 at 3:07 a.m.

PULLMAN — Before the onslaught began, before Washington State started dismantling Texas Tech in a three-score blowout on Saturday night, Jake Dickert recognized the defense his offense would be facing.

By Greg Woods gregw@spokesman.com (509) 459-5587

For Dickert and WSU fans watching, it probably registered as familiar for all the wrong reasons. The Red Raiders came out in a drop-eight and rush-three defense, the same look that flustered last year’s Cougars, the same scheme that cratered their season. WSU’s opponents acknowledged the blueprint and applied it over and over and over, until the Cougs had dropped six straight and beating them was about as simple as following a recipe in a cookbook.

“I don’t think you can drop eight on us anymore,” WSU quarterback John Mateer said. “We’re just too versatile.”

Mateer and the Cougs drove that point home in spades in this 37-16 win, the program’s third straight over a nonconference power-conference opponent. Washington State totaled 301 rushing yards, including 197 from Mateer alone, the most ever by a WSU QB. It was just the sixth time since 2000 that the Cougs had churned out more than 300 rushing yards in a single game.

In that way, this WSU win looked nothing like any of last year’s victories, unlike any of the Air Raid performances this program is known for. Mateer completed 9 of 19 passes for 115 yards, one interception and one touchdown, which went to senior receiver Kyle Williams on a deflected catch. It’s the fewest pass completions in a WSU win since a 2003 victory over UCLA.

In short: The Cougs were better on the ground than they were through the air. How often does that happen around here?

It was easy to notice. True freshman Wayshawn Parker broke free for a 43-yard touchdown rush, part of his 69-yard outing. Power back Djouvensky Schlenbaker surged in for a pair of scores on his way to 27 yards on the ground. Then there was Mateer, rumbling for big chunks just about whenever he felt like it.

At the heart of the effort was the Cougs’ offensive line, which had a big hand in the rushing struggles that defined last year’s season. By now, we know what went wrong: They couldn’t run-block well enough to sustain a credible rushing attack, which prompted defenses to back off the line of scrimmage and drop into coverage, snowballing into an issue the team didn’t have the horses to solve.

Is that changing with this group? This WSU season is young. After the game, Dickert played it safe, saying it’s only a step in the right direction. But take a look around at these Cougs. Do they look the same?

Their quarterback is a guy who would rather lower his shoulder than slide. Their running back has a gear of speed few can match. Their offensive line has two new faces, left guard Rod Tialavea and center Devin Kylany, with help on the way when right tackle Fa’alili Fa’amoe returns from injury. They have a stable of running backs they trust, too, which can ease the pressure on Parker.

It may be too early in the season to draw any giant conclusions, to declare this WSU team tough enough to kick the bad habits of teams in recent memory. The Cougs will always air it out. That is woven into the fabric of this program, in the halls of the football complex, where the memories of the WSU Hall of Famers who built this program — the late Mike Leach, quarterbacks Drew Bledsoe and Ryan Leaf — live on the walls.

That’s why, for WSU, it isn’t about suddenly turning into an offense that will run all over the place. It’s about turning into an offense that can — and galloping to 300 rushing yards against a Big 12 team isn’t a bad start.

“I thought we did a good job kinda staying ahead of it,” Dickert said of the drop-eight look. “And then you saw the runs start to rip. Wayshawn had a big one. John obviously had a couple big ones, scrambling around, doing a bunch of different things. We’ll see the film. There’ll be some critique there. We can get better, and we left some out there. But really proud of those guys.”

“I’ve been a Coug fan for awhile,” Kylany said. “I can’t remember the last time we’ve had almost triple rushing yards than we did passing yards.”

The part that shouldn’t go understated is that Mateer has the attention of this WSU team, which has unlocked this version of the Cougs’ offense. During fall camp, when Mateer was battling Bryant transfer Zevi Eckhaus for the starting role, coaches paid close attention to which guy was the more natural leader, which quarterback commanded teammates with more ease, more natural gravity.

In that sense, it’s becoming clear the answer was always Mateer. WSU’s offensive line, Kylany says, operates by a saying: Sacrifice the body, glorify the soul, all in the name of points.

“On the O-line,” Kylany said, “we like to say, sacrifice the body, glorify the soul, all in the name of John Mateer.”

Mateer is the leader Washington State needs, not only for this offense, but for this transitional time in program history. It’s a key reason Dickert selected him for the starting job. He knows the profile the Cougs’ starting quarterback has when he takes the job, all the media attention and spotlight that comes with it, and Mateer was right for the gig.

Two games into his tenure as WSU’s starter, Mateer is making Dickert look like a genius. But it’s not because he’s throwing for a zillion yards or making acrobatic throws. It’s because he’s fostering energy among his teammates, prompting them to give a level of effort that is transforming the idea of what a Washington State offense can look like.

“We’re with him every day, so we get to see how special he is, not just physically but just like with his work ethic and his consistency,” Kylany said. “When you have a leader like that, it takes big pride to want to protect him, and I’m really mad about the 20-yard sack.”

That may have been the only blight on the WSU offensive line’s resume, the way on one occasion that unit freed up Texas Tech rushers to get to Mateer and force him back off the goal line, far enough to bring him back under 200 yards rushing. Mateer was humble enough to accept responsibility, but he was running for his life for a reason.

Those are the kinds of sequences that remind us to pump the brakes a tad, to not get too carried away. WSU looked incredible on the ground, but this was a win over a Texas Tech team one week removed from going toe-to-toe with FCS Abilene Christian, which racked up more than 500 yards passing. That week, the Cougs beat an FCS program picked to finish 10th in its conference.

That’s the thing about good teams, though. They handle business. They do what they’re supposed to. The interesting part about this WSU team is that idea — what they’re supposed to do — might look different than it ever has.

“You stop dropping eight, and we’ll start throwing it around,” Mateer said. “I’m very confident in this offense.”

LFG!!!

Am I getting screwed in oregon?

Scott Barnes also told Nik Daschel in sit down interview, that PAC 2 is looking to rebuild the PAC to PAC 8 with BEST possible colleges, and best possible G5's from best G5 conferences, sources(like BSU, Fresno St, SDSU, UNLV, Memphis, Tulane, etc(He isn't, can't, shouldn't say something like "We are going to Poach BSU, SDSU, Fresno St, UNLV, Memphis, Tulane". But he pretty much said that, or hinted at that by saying BEST POSSIBLE COLLEGES, AND G5'S POSSIBLE, FROM BEST G5 CONFERENCES, SOURCES, as the best colleges, G5's from the best G5 conferences, sources, Would be BSU, Fresno, SDSU, UNLV, Memphis, Tulane, UTSA, Airforce, Utah St, CSU, North Texas, Liberty(MAAC(12-0), NDSU(Regularly been the FCS national champion last 50 years, BEST FCS team, should not be FCS, should be a G5 in FBS, upsets teams like Michigan types, Like a Apalachian St).

Sweet and super excited! 🌵 🌵 🌵 🌵​

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Arizona Cougs Football Rooter Bus to San Diego​

Date: 10/26/2024 to 10/27/2024 Time: 9:00 AM to 5:00 AM

Details​

Cougar Football is headed to San Diego on Saturday, October 26! Don't worry about making the drive up to the game because we have you covered. Enjoy a round-trip bus ride to Snapdragon Stadium with fellow Arizona Cougs to cheer on our team.
We have three pick-up locations: Wicked Rain in Gilbert, Cactus Taproom in Peoria, and Target in Yuma. Please refer to the itinerary below for pickup times. We recommend arriving at your chosen pickup location at least 15 minutes prior to the designated time.
The bus will arrive right outside Snapdragon Stadium around 3:45 p.m. so Cougs can enjoy The PreGame which will take place at SDSU Mission Valley River Park from 3:30 p.m.-6:30 p.m. You can choose between a bundled ticket which includes entry into The PreGame or just bus fare. The bus will depart about 30 minutes after the conclusion of the game and return to Wicked Rain, Cactus Taproom, and Target.
Food and beverages are allowed on the bus and there is a bathroom on board. There are also power outlets, but no Wi-Fi, so plan accordingly.
The deadline to register is Thursday, September 26 at 12:00 p.m. (noon) Pacific or when seats fill up. Register at the crimson button above today! You will indicate your preferred pickup/drop-off location during registration.
Don’t forget to wear your Cougar gear. We’ll see you there!

Cost​

Bus fare:
$95 for WSUAA members
$100 for non-members
Bus fare INCLUDING The PreGame:
$155 for WSUAA members
$165 for non-members
Both options include round-trip transportation to the game.
Football game tickets are NOT included.

Schedule​

Saturday, October 26
8:45 a.m. - Have your entire party ready at Wicked Rain
1817 E Baseline Rd, Gilbert, AZ 85233
9:00 a.m. - Bus arrives and picks up passengers at Wicked Rain
9:45 a.m. - Have your entire party ready at Cactus Taproom
20429 N Lake Pleasant Rd #104, Peoria, AZ 85382
10:00 a.m. - Bus arrives and picks up passengers at Cactus Taproom
12:45 p.m. - Have your entire party ready in the Target parking lot
1450 S Yuma Palms Pkwy, Yuma, AZ 85365
3:40 p.m. - All passengers are dropped off at The PreGame located in the SDSU Mission Valley River Park outside Snapdragon Stadium
SDSU Mission Valley Campus, San Diego, CA 92108
3:40 p.m.-6:30 p.m. - Enjoy The PreGame
7:30 p.m. - Kickoff at Snapdragon Stadium
2101 Stadium Wy, San Diego, CA 92108
Around 10:00 p.m. (or about 30 minutes after the conclusion of the game) - Bus picks up all passengers at Snapdragon Stadium
Sunday, October 27
Around 1:00 a.m. - Passenger drop-off at the Target parking lot
Around 4:00 a.m. - Passenger drop-off at Cactus Taproom
Around 5:00 a.m. - Passenger drop-off at Wicked Rain