Last Apple Cup you really felt good about WSU's chances?

[OrangeGravy]

When was the last AC you really felt good about winning this game going into it? I mean really felt strongly about a win. Not hopeful or this should be closer than last year type of feeling. I know some people will predict a win every year, but when was the last time you that we SHOULD win this game?

For me, the last time I felt that way was my junior year with the Leaf lead team and eventual Rose Bowl appearance. I haven't felt less anxiety about an AC game before or since. I lean more towards the negative side of things than most people though. My brain won't allow me to throw out the historical record until I see a fairly long run of results on the field against a specific team. As of now, UW is the last team in the Pac that I feel it will take something out of the ordinary to get a W against.

 

[SaveFerris]

For me it was probably 2002 right up until Gesser went down. Maybe one of the Reggie Williams dominating Trufant games. Was that 2012? So sad.

 

[How_did_this_happen?]

When was the last AC you really felt good about winning this game going into it? I mean really felt strongly about a win. Not hopeful or this should be closer than last year type of feeling. I know some people will predict a win every year, but when was the last time you that we SHOULD win this game?

For me, the last time I felt that way was my junior year with the Leaf lead team and eventual Rose Bowl appearance. I haven't felt less anxiety about an AC game before or since. I lean more towards the negative side of things than most people though. My brain won't allow me to throw out the historical record until I see a fairly long run of results on the field against a specific team. As of now, UW is the last team in the Pac that I feel it will take something out of the ordinary to get a W against.

I never feel good going into the game. Again...talent differential is primarily the reason.

 

[dgibbons]

For me it was probably 2002 right up until Gesser went down. Maybe one of the Reggie Williams dominating Trufant games. Was that 2012? So sad.

2002 was the only one where Trufant got abused.

 

[FedWayCoug]

2007 AC in Husky Stadium with Brink and a cast of talented receivers, along with a bulldog, ball hawking LB Mattingly.

That was a really fun game.

 

[CougPatrol]

2018...before the snow.

 

[dgibbons]

2018...before the snow.

I’m in for a rematch today at 5:30.

 

[kougkurt]

I’m in for a rematch today at 5:30.

Leach’s first year

Like I said. We missed sun by a day.

 

[ttowncoug]

2019. I believe we are going to win every one

 

[COUGinNCW]

Leach’s first year

Like I said. We missed sun by a day.

Hell, if we would have played in the slot Oregon and OSU played in we would have been fine and I wouldn’t have had a 4 hour drive to Spokane.

 

[kougkurt]

Bad from the start. Should have never let the band play that damn song.

 

[chipdouglas]

Bad from the start. Should have never let the band play that damn song.

I get where Chun's head was at with that but it really completed the package of Coug servitude.

We pregame by marching into their W on the field and playing their arrogantly titled fight song, we win the toss and go on offense (?), have a particularly ugly 3-and-out, and let them drive the length of the field and beat us at our own game on their first drive.

On that note, one thing that is not getting enough press is the fact that our offense really only scored 1 TD and they scored 4. I reject the "it was closer this year", at least from a systematic standpoint. Two points were from their XP fail, and 6 were off a takeaway (partial credit). Not only that, but we failed to cash in on other takeaways. If I told you they were coming onto our home field with 3 losses and a sub-100% Gaskin and that we would win the turnover battle, you would surely have taken us.

 

[Cougsocal]

We have been favored on only a handful of occasions in the last 40 years and never more than by a TD as I recall. So feeling good about our chances is a relative term. But seeing the forecast, feeling the rain, knowing our D, our anti-Leach run first offense and the way we had been playing, I liked our chances in 1983 and the team didn't disappoint. In 2004 and 2005, I felt good going in, but that is only because they were utterly awful, 3-19 over that span, but we made those games close nevertheless.

 

[Observer11]

We have been favored on only a handful of occasions in the last 40 years and never more than by a TD as I recall. So feeling good about our chances is a relative term. But seeing the forecast, feeling the rain, knowing our D, our anti-Leach run first offense and the way we had been playing, I liked our chances in 1983 and the team didn't disappoint. In 2004 and 2005, I felt good going in, but that is only because they were utterly awful, 3-19 over that span, but we made those games close nevertheless.

The tone was way different back then. Say what you will, but Walden treated the Apple Cup like a holy war. 1982 will live forever as a legendary upset of #5, '81 would have been there too were it not for a soggy slip in the endzone on Skansi's sliding catch in the endzone. '83 - win in the bitter cold, '84 - Kevin Gogan cheats and bites his way to a win, '85 - win again on their field. At least during that era, you knew the team was going to come with something just a little bit extra in terms of emotions and desire.

That said, the RPM season was a total dud beginning with the Labor Day Weekend v. Oregton, '84's team was as good as any in the country at the end - it was the beginning that turned it into just 7-4, don't even remember much of '83 as eventful.

So, it's damned if you do, damned if you don't. Apple Cup wins are like gold - but sometimes a season full of silver counts the same.

 

[Cougzz]

For me, it was 1972 when the Cougs had a superior defense and Sixkiller was having his off the field Seattle adventures.

 

[CougEd]

For me it was probably 2002 right up until Gesser went down. Maybe one of the Reggie Williams dominating Trufant games. Was that 2012? So sad.

I felt confident about that game as well. It was a game we had in hand . The most confident I have felt was 2006.

Prior to that 1997.

 

[kougkurt]

Not really fair the Fuskies had 2 bye weeks before the Apple Cup

 

[Cougatron]

I am confident plenty of times, but also tempered because I know it is a stacked deck.

When Cougs get tired of pushing on the windshield to make the car go forward is when we will win.

Neutral field, 1st week of October even revenue distribution across the board tickets/concessions/ancillary revenue.

 

[FedWayCoug]

Bad from the start. Should have never let the band play that damn song.

So much THIS! Wtf?? Do you really think UW would return the favor? Hell no.

 

[Coug90]

I am confident plenty of times, but also tempered because I know it is a stacked deck.

When Cougs get tired of pushing on the windshield to make the car go forward is when we will win.

Neutral field, 1st week of October even revenue distribution across the board tickets/concessions/ancillary revenue.

Good luck Tron. I get where your head is at but NEVER GONNA HAPPEN. I love that you are a follow me and support the program guy. Best thing guys like us can do...keep giving to the program and selling to all what WSU is. The best college experience you can ever hope to have. For all those purple pants assholes dancing in the snow last night...maybe 3 of them will go on to successful NFL careers. The rest will have a fraction of the college experience that Hunter Dale, Nick Begg, Kyle Sweet, etc had. And I’ll bet my left nut that collectively our guys will be more successful at life. That’s what WSU is, and everyone who gets it and wants to experience it all in is welcome. Based on what I’ve seen with the recent talent OTW and the character and resolve of those who will be back next year, this program is just getting started.

 

[Cougatron]

Good luck Tron. I get where your head is at but NEVER GONNA HAPPEN. I love that you are a follow me and support the program guy. Best thing guys like us can do...keep giving to the program and selling to all what WSU is. The best college experience you can ever hope to have. For all those purple pants assholes dancing in the snow last night...maybe 3 of them will go on to successful NFL careers. The rest will have a fraction of the college experience that Hunter Dale, Nick Begg, Kyle Sweet, etc had. And I’ll bet my left nut that collectively our guys will be more successful at life. That’s what WSU is, and everyone who gets it and wants to experience it all in is welcome. Based on what I’ve seen with the recent talent OTW and the character and resolve of those who will be back next year, this program is just getting started.

I love our guys but I want to take the fight to the Huskies and start taking away their advantages. For me the Apple Cup every year is a losing battle until we start to flip the game into our advantage.

We have to be viscous against them on all fronts and push the front line up to Ellensburg to knock on their front door constantly.

I love the program but I hate the position we are put in and I see UW exploit it and it pisses me off. And I won’t stop fighting for equal footing. We deserve that.

 

[etowncoug]

The Ellensburg idea is a good idea for the reason it won't happen. UW would make less revenue and we'd make more. No way they'd ever agree to it and we can't leverage them into it.

Advantages/Disadvantages chance over time. Pullman used to be a nightmare to get to. The expansion of the airport has made it much easier for a football team to get there. Wasn't the case in 1982.

Very little ink has been spilled on the fact UW spends a disproportionate amount of time focusing on the Air Raid/Speed D. It gets at least two weeks of practices each year. Probably costs them a couple games a year but pays off this week.