I didn't listen to the post-game and have only read the S-R articles today.

Has Leach said anything about whether the plan going into the game was to keep Pippins on the field for the second half? Or was that a decision made at halftime?

Somebody had to emerge to give Lacy some help or it was going to be a very long season. At this point, the only player that it is fair to say has "emerged" is Hawkinson. And what a pleasant surprise he's been thus far. Doesn't have blazing speed (not even a really quick first step), a lot of physical strength or a particularly good vertical. In an odd sort of way, that is good, because the success that he has had thus far has all been from things he could control, rather than being due to a bunch of natural gifts. And kids who succeed because of what is between their ears (as opposed to despite what is between their ears) can generally continue to progress over time. I don't expect him to have a good game every night. There will be bumps and slumps. But when a kid succeeds because he understands the game and understands how he can take the cards he has been dealt and play the game, good things tend to happen over time. I suspect that by the end of the season Mr. Hawkinson will be a very solid PAC level player. Now, if he happens to develop a leader's personality along the way, we'll really have something to look forward to in the future…but that remains to be seen.

It was also nice to see Lacy finally break out. Let's hope that is the start of a trend.

We still need a 3rd scorer, but that is a lot better than before the season, when I was wondering who the 2nd scorer was going to be (if were even going to have one). The good news is that there are several candidates. We really need a guy who can shoot the occasional 3 with some credibility, be reliable with a mid-range jumper and also penetrate. That traditionally is a 3, but Hawkinson is doing a lot of that from the 4 spot. If we can find a 3 who can do those things, we'll be in business. With three reliable scorers we can win some games. That won't win the majority of the games all by itself, but it at least gives us a chance to be in the game.

My biggest curiosity going into the Alaska tournament is whether somebody will step up to be that third scorer. And what the heck, with Boese starting the second half (who would have predicted that a month ago?), it seems like everybody on the bench is trying to earn minutes. Maybe somebody will actually take the next step. At least I've got something to watch, which is frankly a relief after years in basketball Siberia.

Not terribly surprising though. Pretty much mirrors the season as a whole.

With Muschamp out, the first domino (at least major one) has fallen. I'm assuming Volero is gone since I can't tell you what he does to draw a paycheck. Russell is already out, and Breske will be gone or will be on double secret probation.

Here is your ST and LB coach (filling Russell's slot).
http://www.gatorzone.com/football/staff/durkin

If you keep Breske use Volero's slot for a DB coach, like this guy.
http://www.gatorzone.com/football/staff/robinson

Or this guy.
http://www.mgoblue.com/sports/m-footbl/spec-rel/030413aaa.html

Or this guy.
http://www.fightingillini.com/coachbeckman/timbanks.html


If you can Breske (which I'm in favor of), then you have another slot. IMO, Leach will look for an older coach that will not have much recruiting responsibility. You can pluck someone out of the MWC, get someone disgruntled like the guy at Utah (but that could disappear real quick with the announcement of an extension), etc. We probably don't want to way until former NFL assistants are available. I'm not in favor of Clancy Pendergast because he's been fired from his last two stops in back to back years and is currently unemployed. Go with Bob Gregory, and give the fans a name they are familiar with.

It's hate week. Let's get after it and kick the dog crap out of the Fuskies. Falk it go deep!

I know Bone went off course a bit -- a little bit more "run and gun" -- but I have always been puzzled why we just didn't stick with a system that kind of worked.

Play tight defense (full court press).
Milk the clock on offense.
Take high % offensive shots with about 5 seconds left on the shot clock.

It just always seemed to me you could recruit and find kids to fit in that system. Largely because not a lot of D1 teams play with that scheme.

Anyone watch Gameday this morning and hear Desmond's preview of our game? He thinks ASU will light us up. And not a single mention of Falk or our offensive weapons. I suspect nobody expects much from the Cougs except us fans.

And I'm not just talking about our guys. The ASU guys aren't going up and fighting for the ball either.

I mean, are we that far removed from the Hills, Bumpus's and Darlings that kids just don't know how to do it anymore?

Vince is a huge physical presence, but unless the ball is thrown within arm's length he isn't going to get it. (and sometimes not even then...)

It's just mind-boggling.


edit - and then Mayle makes a liar out of me... smh.

edit x2 - and Meyers makes me a double liar. about to delete this thread. Were they reading it on the sideline?

This post was edited on 11/22 11:31 AM by BleedCrimsonandGray

This post was edited on 11/22 11:47 AM by BleedCrimsonandGray

He's looking like a lock for the Heisman, and possibly the first overall pick. It's also looking like it will be a 4-way race for him between Tampa Bay, the Rams, the Jets and possibly even the Skins. The other bad teams have already hitched their wagons to other QBs very recently (Vikings, Jags, Raiders). If he doesn't go in the first few, you could also see Tennessee, Houston or Buffalo.

He's a great dual threat QB with excellent mobility and decent (not great) pocket presence. Also seems like a likable, humble, laid back kid who stayed out of trouble and has good character.

He could end up a Russell Wilson-type guy and have success, but I think it's more likely that he struggles at the next level. I guess the "problem" with the draft is that the top picks are often these great athletes who come from situations where their team is WAY better than all the other teams, and they get picked by the worst teams in the NFL to come in and often play with slightly inferior players, schemes and coaches. After all, it's not an accident that bad teams are bad.

For (most) of his career at Oregon, he's had the best coaches, the best facilities, the best team doctors and extraneous staff, great OL, elite receivers and backs. He will next go to a place like DC where suddenly all those advantages are gone and he's running for his life against the best in the business. Hard to hone your pocket presence as a mediocre pocket QB when you're running for your life and throwing to maybe a single #1 receiver, and your defense can't get you back on the field. His entire career he's had backs and receivers running wild with no defenders in sight; that ends about 9 months from now.

I think if he survives his first couple of years on a bad team he will succeed, but the graveyard of great college QBs whose careers fizzled on a bad team is a vast one.

As I write, a possible sign of things to come: he's on a goal-and-short situation, he's had to move around in the pocket, he fakes a pass and two defenders jump... instead of seeing his opening and barreling forward for the score he collapses on the ground untouched like an omega dog rolling over and asking the alpha to spare its life.

What is up with that?

It's so great that the "GREAT COUG AMBASSADOR" gets on the fragile air waves of Spokane saying:

Quote

"Oregon St was asleep when they played Washington State & that's why the Cougars were able to win that ball game "

This was uttered and uttered over & over & over on the drive home.

What A Guy!

Good news for the Cougs.

2/3 picked WSU. Alliotiotiotioa was the lone ASU pick. His rational? ASU 'has' to win to stay in the Psouth race.

Does any one have an image of the special breakout uniform Russell created for a home game several years ago? As I remember, it was crimson with large lettering in the front and perhaps some shoulder color

WSU seems to play best in the all whites. Vote now!

currently 25-23 WSU 1 st

Just taking some notes. Mostly paraphrased. But a good interview, I'm sure it'll be up on podcast tonight or tomorrow.

Already doing rehab, had surgery immediately following the USC game 3 weeks ago. Thinks he'll be good to go for WSU Pro Day. Said he might possibly still get a combine invite but won't be able to physically participate. But teams will want to go through interviews and see how the leg is progressing.

Said seeing Falk play so well really picked him up and thinks he will probably break every record he owns now, and even some of the ones he doesn't. He won't have to really say much to him to help him prepare for the magnitude of a game like the Apple Cup, that Luke is so beyond where other QB's are at that age, and that he's "annoyingly competitive". That Falk is already pretty close to the same level of understanding of the game as a Freshman, as Connor is now as a senior.

Mentioned he became good friends with Cody Kessler at the Manning Camp and appreciated his gesture when the injury happened.

When he signed in 2010 he said he wanted to be the guy to bring us back to a bowl game and bring WSU back into the national spotlight. Feels like he accomplished so much even though the record this year has taken a dip.

Said the program today can't even be compared to what he walked into when he arrived. Mentioned things "not being done the right way" and the desperate need for facilities which has all happened. He said he never seriously thought about walking away throughout all
the turmoil and struggle after Leach took over and the player turnover was heavy. He wanted to be at WSU, and be remembered
amongst guys like Gesser, Ryp and Leaf.

Appreciates everything Leach has done for him, said they have a great relationship now even though they had a really rocky start at the beginning. Leach put a ton of direct pressure on him to go in one of two directions, either step up and lead or to walk away, which he embraced and he's thankful for it.

Said Apple Cup is going to be really tough for him, not sure how he's going to handle it emotionally, not being able to be out there on Senior Day to play his last game against UW.

Cougar scripted hats
Crimson tops
Gray pants

Good karma with this outfit over th pasted ace or so.

Here's the game notes for Idaho State-WSU: https://washingtonstate.rivals.com/wire.asp?SID=1089&CID=76131

Mike Leach's radio show is about to start. You can listen at the link below or follow along in our live thread, which I'll be updating periodically.

Link: Mike Leach radio show

Most of the Washington State coaching staff headed out on the recruiting trail on Sunday night and the rest headed out this morning. I'll use this thread to update where the staff is headed and which prospects they're checking out as I gather the information.

New Orleans (La.) Brother Martin defensive end Brendon Hayes says he'll visit Washington State in January. The two-star does not yet have an exact date picked out but he fully expects to visit.

In addition to the Cougars, who offered a couple weeks ago, the 6-foot-4, 240-pound defensive end holds offers from Mississippi State, Tulane, Central Florida, Wake Forest, Western Kentucky and several others.

For those who have not noticed, Daugherty and her girls are on a hell of a roll. Started out the Idaho State game 40-0. Good Lord! Been watching various sports for half a century and never heard of anyone starting out a bb game by scoring the first forty points. O.K., maybe ISU is not that good but still...

And check out the LOI's on the official website. They signed the #1 and #3 international players available. Also the So. Dakota women's bb player of the year. A 6' g-f from Bulgaria rated #1 internationally, a 6'4" c from Portugal rated #3, and a 5'11' g from So. Dakota. The pick up of the two European girls is particularly impressive. The Bulgarian kid was the European MVP in 2011 during the under 16 championships, the 2014 MVP in the under 18 championships. 28 ppg, 7 rpg and 2 apg. The 6'4" center was the 2013 MVP in the under 16 European championships. 14 ppg and 11 rpg. The guard from South Dakota hit 20 ppg with 4 rpg, 2 apg and 3 spg. One pretty impressive haul. Again, check out the official website.

Watched the ISU highlights on same website. Passing and teamwork was excellent. Yes, highlights show only the best but I have not seen one of our women's teams play like that.

Will be interesting to see how the rest of the season plays out.

Washington State will host yet another big visitor for the Apple Cup as four-star cornerback Taeon Mason confirmed he'll be in Pullman next weekend on an official visit. The Pasadena (Calif.) Muir product is currently committed to USC and is rated the No. 33 cornerback in the country.

Link: https://washingtonstate.rivals.com/content.asp?CID=1706838

Post a recap of the Lewiston Tribune article on Kristoff?