Those of us who have journeyed with WSU for 30, 40, 50 years are better able to appreciate this season than the fans who came on board in 2002 or at the beginning of the Leach era. When I first started attending WSU games in the early 80s, we were small time. Our equipment duffel bags were spread along the perimeter of Martin Stadium, while our opponents had fancy equipment lockers with their school logo. Programs like USC, Stanford, and UW would bring 3x the number of players into Martin Stadium than we had. Our scoreboard was the about the same size as the high school I went to.
Fast forward to this season. I recognize that we're not an elite team, but I don't care. I recognize that we're playing an easier schedule, but I don't care. We've been the punching bags of the Pac-8, Pac-10, and Pac-10 for too many years to mention, so I don't care if this year isn't impressive to out of touch pundits. We didn't have a schedule 8 months ago and we lost a QB to the transfer portal who is in the top-4 of the Heisman trophy race. Our current head coach was promoted by fire because the previous coach, his boss, decided to puff his chest and challenge COVID mandates. A few years prior to that, we lost one of the most significant coaches in WSU football history to Mississippi. It's remarkable how we've been able to keep the program rolling for the past decade.
Us playing Utah State last week and New Mexico this week isn't any less meaningful than the dozens of games that USC, UCLA, UW, and other mercenary power programs played against WSU. Awe shucks, we have better players. Is that how I'm supposed to feel, because I don't. If we go 11-1, it's going to be one of the more memorable seasons in my WSU lifetime.
I think you and I are about the same age, and you and I go back to CougZone with....(I can't remember his name from Tacoma).
I started on this board in 1997, and I think you were there, with several others, like Stretch, etc.
It's amazing how time has flown by. I had Glenn Johnson his very first year here....(he came up from LA in '78, or '79). Broadcast News in Murrow.
Think about it. Glenn is still doing the PA. That is crazy.
Looking back, who do I miss the most?
Bob Rob and Leach. Never thought I would like anyone better than Leach, but Dickert gets the nod, by far. Mike rarely won the big games. Plus, the Air Raid was pretty easy to defend against. If Dickert stays on, then we'll have a fantastic foundation for the future, regardless of losing players in the portal, NIL, etc.
We'll just poach from the FCS, continue to find players that are overlooked in high school, and then dominate in new Pac-12.
Just heard today that Mateer has already received a seven figure offer from another school. We can match or compete with $1.0M plus.
Maybe $300K, but not $1.0M, or more.
The great thing about Dickert is that the players want to be coached by him. They want to stay around, or sign up to play for him.
Dickert has more influence than we give him credit for. Players love him, parents love him, heck, everyone except for the one guy on this board.