Former Washington State safety Hamza Abdullah took to Twitter today to share some passionate thoughts on the state of the Cougar football program and what he thinks needs to happen to turn things around.

@HamzaAbdullah21's on WSU football

"The problem with Washington State football is a lack of pride," Abdullah tweeted. "I'm not in the building or around the team on a daily basis but I'm just saying from what I see on the outside and how we play. I wonder if the team even knows what Cougar pride is.

"How would they know? Who would show them and school them on what it means to have Cougar Pride? I thought Jason Gesser coming back to Pullman would help in that, but it seems like we're not using him at all. That doesn't make any sense.

"Gesser needs to have an expanded role with the team and we need more COUGS in the building. I'm not a proponent of firing people because I don't see how you can get better by subtraction. We need additions. We need people around the team who the players respect and trust.

"Watching the Apple Cup made me sick to my stomach. It's like we didn't even care. It was just another game. [Senior year], I didn't go [to] a bowl game, so we treated the Apple Cup like like our bowl game. We banded together and laid it on the line for our teammates.

"We understood what it meant to put that gray helmet on, to wear the Cougar logo and to represent for everyone who's ever worn the Cougar logo. I'm saying this because I care, just as everyone else does. I'm not a guy to sit back and complain, I want to help in any way I can.

"I think we need to get more Cougs involved and allow Jason Gesser to be a leader and show the team what Cougar Pride is. We need Cougar Pride to be a staple in our program. Here's to the ascension of our program."

Link: https://twitter.com/HamzaAbdullah21

This post was edited on 12/9 1:34 PM by Britton Ransford

According to coachingsearch.com. I was looking for WSU news when I stumbled upon.

I'll admit it. I was so frustrated watching the women play Gonzaga I stopped watching with about 7 minutes left and down about 8 points. The reffing was brutal and I felt there was no way they would ever overcome that and a pretty good Zag team. I just had to tune back in for the final seconds and somehow the Cougs had gotten a 1 point lead and Galderia went to the line, made two, for a 3 point lead with 6.9 on the clock. Lo and behold, the Zags dribbled it down for a layup with 0 seconds on the clock and a final score of 59-58. Only in the women's game could such a scenario unfold.

According to a source, Riverside (Calif.) C.C. defensive end DaVante Wilson may still visit California this weekend and his commitment to Washington State, which occurred during an official visit with two teammates last weekend, may be soft.

The source cites the fact that he has a newborn and moving his wife and child up to Washington could be a bit much while also indicating that Wilson's father wasn't exactly thrilled that his son made the commitment in the first place. I'll reach out for more.

According to Adam Gorney, USC coaches reached out to Marysville (Wash.) Pilchuck athlete Austin Joyner today and asked him to take an official visit but the four-star declined. He told the coaching staff that he's focused on Washington, Boise State and Washington State.

Link: http://sports.yahoo.com/ncaa/football/recruiting/player-Austin-Joyner-143445

Washington (D.C.) Gonzaga cornerback Marcus Lewis will announce his top three schools at 5 p.m., he announced on Twitter moments ago. The four-star, rated the No. 6 cornerback in the country, has officially visited Washington State (10/3) and has trips set up to Kentucky (12/12), Ole Miss (1/23) and Miami (1/30).

Link: http://sports.yahoo.com/footballrecruiting/football/recruiting/player-Marcus-Lewis-144817

So, there's so many different ways to run the D. With a new D-coord coming in, it seems like we might be changing. So what will it be?

4-3
3-4
4-2-5
3-3-5

Watching TCU for quite a while and I see how their D scheme works pretty well but it's all about personnel at the time. Thoughts? If we could have whatever we want, what do you think will work the best in the PAC?

Chatsworth (Calif.) Sierra Canyon defensive end Hunter Mattox was visited by Washington State coach Jim Mastro tonight and the three-star will officially visit Pullman this weekend.

The 6-foot-4, 255-pound lineman is currently committed to Oregon State but that situation is obviously in flux and so the Cougars have a chance to make a move on yet another Beaver commit this weekend. In addition to Oregon State, Mattox holds an offer from Fresno State.

Link: https://rivals.yahoo.com/ucf/football/recruiting/player-Hunter-Mattox-143484

Here's an update on Darrin Paulo, the three-star offensive tackle from Sacramento (Calif.) Grant, who says he has a top five of Washington State, Oregon, USC, Utah and Oregon State, though he has yet to talk to the Beavers' staff since Riley left.

Link: https://washingtonstate.rivals.com/content.asp?CID=1713927 (via Alex Markham of UteZone)

Bruce Feldman of FOX Sports was on Sports Radio KJR today and when asked about the Mike Leach to Houston rumors, he said he would be "very surprised" if the Cougars' head coach went that route. Feldman, in New York for an awards ceremony, which I hear Leach and Moos are also attending, spoke to Leach today regarding the ABC13 Houston report.

"Spoke to Leach. Has no idea where the #Houston rumors started," Feldman tweeted moments ago. "'I'm very happy at #WashingtonState and plan on being there for a very long time."

I had a chance to chat with David Nuno, the Houston-based reporter who originally reported Leach's interest in the job, and he indicated to me that he heard, through a source close to Leach, that should Houston reach out to Leach or his agent, Leach would listen. He also says that Leach is likely at the top of their list, but there's no sense that he'll even sniff out the Houston opening.

Essentially, should Leach be approached by Houston, he'd answer the phone, but there's no chance that he leaves Washington State for Houston, as I reported last night and was then confirmed by Washington State SID Bill Stevens.

According to his Twitter account, Spring (TX) cornerback Willie Sykes had an in-home visit with JJ Jackson tonight. Dennis Simmons has also visited Sykes, a two-star cornerback, at school a couple times over the last few weeks.

In addition to Washington State, Sykes holds offers from Fresno State, Minnesota, Oregon State (Riley staff), Purdue, Southern Miss, Utah and several others. The 5-foot-11, 183-pounder has visited Minnesota and Purdue so far.

Link: https://twitter.com/williesykes11/status/542478655319212033

Norwalk (Calif.) defensive lineman Dillon Faamatau will have an in-home visit with Joe Salave'a tonight. The three-star officially visited Washington State in early October and also has visits set up to Arizona State (1/22) and Utah (1/16).

It is 57-34 start of second half. The cougs,especially Lacy now hitting his three pointers.A win is a win and they will be 4-4 heading to powerhouse Gonzaga.

Here's a picture of a new billboard, which I assume is located in Spokane, thanking Washington State quarterback Connor Halliday for his five years in Pullman.


(via @MelissaKXLY4)

I spoke to Kahuku (HI) athlete Tuli Wily-Matagi tonight and he tells me he'll be in Pullman this weekend for an official visit. Washington State is recruiting the two-star Utah commit as a defensive end and he's being recruited by Joe Salave'a.

In addition to Washington State, the 6-foot-3, 230-pound defensive lineman holds offers from Colorado, Utah and Utah State with interest from Wisconsin. His mother lives in Washington, so there's a draw there, but he also has a bunch of family in Utah. He visited Colorado last weekend and will take an official visit to Utah next month.

Link: http://sports.yahoo.com/ncaa/football/recruiting/player-Tuli-Wily-Matagi-141315

What defense does Riverside JC run? 3-4? 4-3? If it is a 4-3 I would think we would be switching defensive schemes this year. I would think you would want the new guys coming in to be comfortable in the scheme they are going to play? Are our current players suitable for a different scheme? Really curious who the new coaches are going to be.

fodder for discussion:

** Snyder is the ONLY coach (that I can think of) who swept Pete Carroll during his tenure at SC
** Snyder's second tenure seems just as good (or close) as his first at KSU. That is very rare (ask John Robinson)
** Manhattan, KS is rural (same analogs as Leach, etc. for Pullman).....

We never hear much about Snyder's mentees, guys in his coaching tree. From the outside, it would seem like a fruitful exploration for the cougs down the road. Snyder's MO (JCs, etc.) is fairly well-known, and he is highly respected in most circles.....I am aware of the controversies that have followed him, but they seem to be about the same as other programs, etc. Thoughts??

He has a ton of NFL experience and big boy college football experience.

This season, he had SJSU as the #1 pass defense in the nation.

http://www.sjsuspartans.com/sports/m-footbl/mtt/greg_robinson_887752.html

He was supposed to trip to WSU this weekend. He is a high quality juco receiver. He may have gone to USC and he will visit Rutgers next weekend. This may effectively eliminate WSU as a possibility. That is unless his juco teammates visiting this weekend help him to change his mind.

According to his Twitter account, Washington (D.C.) Gonzaga cornerback Marcus Lewis has an in-home visit with Mike Leach and Jarrail Jackson tonight. The four-star defensive back, who officially visited Washington State in early October, was recently re-ranked as the No. 6 cornerback and No. 93 overall prospect in the country.

"Thank you to Coach Leach for coming all the way from Pullman to DC to chill with the fam," Lewis tweeted on Sunday night. "Appreciate you!! #Cougs!!"

Link: https://twitter.com/THE_NUMERO_UNO/status/541760553644216321

According to his coach, Steilacoom (Wash.) linebacker Fotu Leiato had an in-home visit with Ken Wilson, Joe Salave'a, Eric Mele and Graham Harrell.

Anyone notice that Railey's dunk over the UTSA player was #1 on the Sportscenter Top 10?

Says Rob Rang CBS Sports.


3 reasons, according to Rob given are:
1. He's already graduated. Congrats, Kid.

2.NFL has a dearth of D tackle seniors

3. He is shooting up draft boards, he'23 years old


This post was edited on 12/5 3:39 PM by Britton Ransford

DeVante Wilson committed this weekend, who looks like a beast, who will help this team greatly. Adam said he was a giant Cal lean, so why would a kid with the offers that he has commit to a school without a DC? Now, I look at Wilson's prep profile page, not his JC page, but when he was in high school. Guess who recruited him at Nebraska? John Papuchis, who has been mentioned as a candidate for the DC here. I'm not wild to the idea of him as our DC, I think there is better candidates out there, but if he's the new linebacker coach or ST one, I will be OK with that.

This post was edited on 12/7 12:45 AM by Brent H.

Wilson

According to a report from David Nuno of KTRK-TV in Houston, Washington State head coach Mike Leach has expressed interest in the Houston job.

I spoke with two sources this evening who refuted the report, saying there's "zero chance" Leach has any interest in leaving Pullman. "He loves it here," a source, who requested anonymity, texted WazzuWatch.com on Sunday night. "Ridiculous."

"I haven't heard anything about Leach and openings," another source said. "He is very happy here." I'll have more as I gather it.

UPDATE: The official Washington State athletics account tweeted moments ago that there's no truth to the Leach to Houston rumors.

Washington State SID Bill Stevens also confirms there's no truth to the Nuno report of Leach having interest in the Houston opening.

Link: https://twitter.com/WSUCougars/status/541802086371835906



This post was edited on 12/7 8:32 PM by Britton Ransford