When was the last time...
- Thread starter 95coug
- Start date
Probably never. I typically like to keep track of history and there are only 21....total...7 wins or more seasons for is in our century long history.
Of those 21 - 7 wins or more seasons Leach accounts for now 4 of them or 19% all by himself.
2015 Falk had just 8 interceptions
Red zone was 94.55%
But Falk was sacked 40 times.
So 2015 (a year we were 1 game away from the title) was the closest to that we were like it. We played Stanford Halloween night that year and lost by a missed field goal after Gameday snubbed us.
This year Gameday came and the next week we beat Stanford by a field goal.
We are not making the mistakes we did in 2015. The sacks the missed opportunity (aside vs USC/refs/Dixon)
Once again we are competing for the North title but it is looking more and more like this may be the year with an even better ending than the Sun Bowl.
Of those 21 - 7 wins or more seasons Leach accounts for now 4 of them or 19% all by himself.
2015 Falk had just 8 interceptions
Red zone was 94.55%
But Falk was sacked 40 times.
So 2015 (a year we were 1 game away from the title) was the closest to that we were like it. We played Stanford Halloween night that year and lost by a missed field goal after Gameday snubbed us.
This year Gameday came and the next week we beat Stanford by a field goal.
We are not making the mistakes we did in 2015. The sacks the missed opportunity (aside vs USC/refs/Dixon)
Once again we are competing for the North title but it is looking more and more like this may be the year with an even better ending than the Sun Bowl.
What’s really worth mentioning is that, with the horrific officiating tonight, we truly had about a 10 point handicap against a ranked team on the road, and STILL pulled it out.
Will the P12 give us an entire makeup game this year given the absolute SCANDALS at SC and Furd? Can they make it the Apple Cup?
Will the P12 give us an entire makeup game this year given the absolute SCANDALS at SC and Furd? Can they make it the Apple Cup?
I suspect that with the other “big market” teams now losing like UW and Oregon and now Stanford it won’t surprise me that the conference begrudgingly turns its “influence” on supporting WSU to run the table. We are its last chance to cash in on the playoffs.
This season certainly feels like it compares very well to our 1997 season. I'm not sure how meaningful it is to pick a few stats as proof of that, but it certainly feels like everything is going our way. That team was undefeated at home, beat what turned out to be a really good UCLA team in the season opener (UCLA finished #5 in the country), beat USC in the Coliseum for first time in 40 years, overcame some truly bizarre officiating at times and nearly beat the team that was declared the national champions.
This season certainly feels like it has the potential to surpass that season. Cal is suddenly living up to the hype but we get them at home. Arizona is coming around but we get them at home. CU is on the road but they may be in freefall mode if they lose to Arizona this week and the Mutts appear to be in disarray. A loss to Stanford may spur a full on crisis for the mutts. I'm excited about the way that things are going and the stats are certainly a nice reflection of that, but more important than the stats is the sense that we have a QB is willing and able to make the plays that count and doesn't live in fear of mistakes, we have a defense that's flawed but typically steps up in the fourth quarter, the deepest and most talented wide receiver corps in the conference and maybe the country and a coach with a mystique that will appeal to those who like a good story.
We'll need to win the Rose Bowl to surpass that 1997 season, but it's great that 8 games into a "rebuilding" season, we are still in the position to do that.
Playing conspiracy theorist now. I was just doing a little thinking (I know, dangerous) that the conference was trying to protect USC against the Cougars, as they were thought to be one of the conference's teams that could make it to the final four.
Now, that protection in not calling targeting against Gustin, could be the thing that keeps WSU, the only hope for the conference, out of the playoffs.
'97 would beat this team but it would be fun as hell to watch.
Interesting discussion. 97 defense was better. That offense was awesome for the times but this offense might be more efficient. I would say the top teams in the conference we had to beat were better in 97 then they are this year.
I'd have to believe that Leaf and the Fab Five would have shredded our current defensive backs. On the comment about top teams comparison, I would have disagreed with you prior to the mayhem that happened yesterday. UW, Oregon, CU and USC all going down against teams that they were expected to beat certainly makes the 2018 Pac-12 look even more mediocre than before. The bright side is that it may mean that we get to play in the Rose Bowl even if we win out and are sitting at 12-1. As good as Minshew has been playing, Leaf was still an awfully good college QB. I'd put money on the 1997 team at this point.
Good points, interesting question, but If we win the Rose Bowl this year, the discussion will be over.
Agree completely. Even though I think that 1997 team was a superior team when comparing starters head to head, a Rose Bowl win over Ohio State or MIchigan (the two most likely candidates) would put that 1997 team firmly in second place.
Somewhat of a bigger question to me right now would be who should angler about the loss...
1) the 97 team losing to Arizona State?
Or
2) this year's team losing the USC?
I think the Arizona State team was more powerful in 1997 than this year's USC team. Therefore I'm still siding with the 1997 teen Being A step above this year's Squad.
And to be fair... I am not counting our 2002 team out of the equation
1) the 97 team losing to Arizona State?
Or
2) this year's team losing the USC?
I think the Arizona State team was more powerful in 1997 than this year's USC team. Therefore I'm still siding with the 1997 teen Being A step above this year's Squad.
And to be fair... I am not counting our 2002 team out of the equation
The 97’ team would beat this years team by 2 TDS. My God, can you imagine our secondary trying to cover the Fab-5, while the front deals with Michael Black?
They would hang 40+ on this defense easily.
They would hang 40+ on this defense easily.
And Lejuan Gibbons might give up 40 on his own if the coaches allowed him on the field.
I realize he was injured in the Rose Bowl. I mean "quit for the rest of the game". That implies that he chose not to play and I've never heard that. Where did you hear that?
Heard from a few players that he was always soft and he just didn’t want to give it go when they told him they needed him.
That’s exactly what the conference was doing. If USC fell to WSU then Helton was probably fired, USC market/revenue plummeted as does national attention in the biggest market.
Remember the conference is about making money 1st they say it’s about promoting all the schools in unison blah blah blah but I can tell you right now that’s just the PR talking points.
It’s about ratings, ad sales, ticket sales, merchandise etc. etc.
Seattle, San Francisco Bay Area, Portland, Los Angeles are the major money makers for the conference and they want that money flowing as much as possible.
With UCLA a disaster early and USC embarrassed by Texas and already losinf to Stanford the LA market was in deep trouble. Arguably the most valuable market for the conference on TV rights / ad sales.
If USC had lost that game they would be 1-3 25% of the way in the season.
UCLA was 0-4.
That would mean that the LA market was 1-7 25% of the way through the season. That’s a death sentence for TV ratings, ad sales, merch.
So what did Dixon do. Whatever he could to keep that market alive. It’s not right, it’s not fair, it ruins the integrity of the game. Dixon and Larry Scott should be fired.
Not saying it didn't happen, but I'd be curious if anyone else had heard that. All I'd ever heard was that he was considered a strong role model because he had overcome so much adversity. Of course, football mythology has always been strong and not entirely accurate, so his myth might be more favorable than the truth.
I don't buy that one. He sure didn't quit in the Apple Cup.
As one of those students that stood the entire '98 Rose Bowl and still wants our 0:01 on the clock, I would love to get another shot at those Michigan snobs.
Having said that, I would not mind at all being in the semi final game vs Alabama. I have previously posted on the cool storyline that would make (Godner transfer to Bama preempted by detour to Pullman to lead nation in passing.)
But we still have 4-5 very tough games ahead--
Cal beat us badly last year when we were riding sky high. Wilcox coached under Petersen and both have had Leach's number over the years. This is a big game.
@Colorado- the Buffs have fallen on hard times losing three in a row since starting the year undefeated (which most CFB fans suspected was a mirage.) However, they will still be hungry for what may be their next best shot at clinching a 6th win and bowl-eligibility. (Colo is @Zona before our game, our game, then hosts Utah, then @Cal.). They have weapons (well, one) and home field. Will be a homecoming for Borghi tho.
Arizona at home will be another interesting matchup insofaras they are currently 4-5 in need of 2 wins out of their next 3 games for Bowl eligiblity. They have Buffs, our game and home field for the Territorial Cup vs ASU. Losing against CU would put their backs squarely against the wall for a Bowl, but winning it might further embolden them to get that 6th before the always-unpredictable Territorial Cup. Either way, we will get their best shot (as I'm sure we will get from all mentioned.). And then finally ....
The Apple Cup. This will be the subject of another post as It will require its own supply of beer.
(Possible) Championship game vs (likely) Utah. Not necessary until North wrapped up.
Having said that, I would not mind at all being in the semi final game vs Alabama. I have previously posted on the cool storyline that would make (Godner transfer to Bama preempted by detour to Pullman to lead nation in passing.)
But we still have 4-5 very tough games ahead--
Cal beat us badly last year when we were riding sky high. Wilcox coached under Petersen and both have had Leach's number over the years. This is a big game.
@Colorado- the Buffs have fallen on hard times losing three in a row since starting the year undefeated (which most CFB fans suspected was a mirage.) However, they will still be hungry for what may be their next best shot at clinching a 6th win and bowl-eligibility. (Colo is @Zona before our game, our game, then hosts Utah, then @Cal.). They have weapons (well, one) and home field. Will be a homecoming for Borghi tho.
Arizona at home will be another interesting matchup insofaras they are currently 4-5 in need of 2 wins out of their next 3 games for Bowl eligiblity. They have Buffs, our game and home field for the Territorial Cup vs ASU. Losing against CU would put their backs squarely against the wall for a Bowl, but winning it might further embolden them to get that 6th before the always-unpredictable Territorial Cup. Either way, we will get their best shot (as I'm sure we will get from all mentioned.). And then finally ....
The Apple Cup. This will be the subject of another post as It will require its own supply of beer.
(Possible) Championship game vs (likely) Utah. Not necessary until North wrapped up.
I was talking with a friend about this and it's definitely true that our team can't take anything for granted in the next month. I have a feeling that Cal is going to be facing a WSU team that is hungry for redemption after last year. The Bears had lost three games and we may have been more focused on getting revenge against Colorado than we were about taking care of business against Cal. CU is the flip of that and I expect that to be a tough game. As mentioned by FedWayCoug, this could end up being a very important game to them in terms of the post-season and getting revenge for the 28-0 beatdown we gave them last year. Arizona will be coming off a bye week and will be ready for us. I would be really worried if this was a road game. At home, I feel better about it but still.....we struggle against mobile QB's.
Agree that any discussion of the Apple Cup requires a lot of space, but I'll say that if Stanford beats up on the mutts, the wheels are primed for falling off.
