| 20 November 2009
Welcome to another WSU Football Friday, where each week we belly up to the bar and throw down our takes for the coming Saturday, plus pick some of the other Pac-10 games. You know the drill.
First off, in this hailstorm of negativity in regards to the incredible struggles of late, we wanted to remember something, well, good. You know, when the Cougs were relevant on the Pac-10 scale? And since we're playing Oregon State this week, we thought it would be a good idea to look back at the last time WSU beat them in Pullman, all via video. Some of you may not remember, heck, 2003 was a long time ago. Jay Leno was still stinking it up on the Tonight Show at 11:30, long before he was exposed as a ratings-killing fraud at 10 PM. Howard Stern was on the free airwaves, battling the FCC and unable to say the seven dirty words that now flow freely on Sirius (check it out weekdays on Howard 100 and Howard 101!). Arnold Schwarzenagger became governor of California after Gray Davis was recalled. Oh, and a young, spry George W Bush had just started his first war in Iraq! Aww, they grow up so fast, don't they?
But enough of that talk. I barely remember what I had for breakfast, so if you've forgotten what happened back in '03, it's understandable to say the least. But the Beavs swaggered into Pullman with a 5-2 record, and some serious NFL talent, including Derek Anderson at QB and of course, the mack truck at running back, Steven Jackson. But this wasn't a pushover Coug team, not by any stretch. Coming off the '02 Pac-10 title, they were playing with a chip on their shoulder after Mike Price bolted for 'Bama. This was a crucial game, as WSU came into it at 6-1, 4-0 in the conference and #14 in the country in the rankings. WSU was staring at a showdown with USC the following week in LA for the Pac-10 title, but first they had to get past the rock-solid Beavs.
It was a see-saw battle, all the way. WSU jumped out to a 14-0 lead, which included a fantastic, leaping TD catch by Devard Darling. But then the Beavs would reel off 25 straight points to take a 25-14 lead into halftime. The Cougs would battle back, finally sealing it with a 4th quarter Jonathan Smith TD run in a 36-30 victory. Check it out (and be sure to listen to the crowd, pay attention to the atmosphere! Yes, it really used to be like this!):
Some really good players in this game. Jason David, Erik Coleman and Karl Paymah all have played in the NFL. Will Derting, be still my heart, one of the all-timers and easily one of my favorite Cougs ever. And I'll always love the speed on the edges with Isaac Brown and DD Acholonu. Man those guys could run! But it's easy to forget that with all that talent on defense, the offense had some pretty good players too? Devard Darling, an NFL wide receiver. Sammy Moore and his excellent speed, showing up in the big games with game-breaking ability (remember his plays vs. Texas in the Holiday Bowl?). Jonathan Smith and the quick feet out of the backfield. And you even get a glimpse of a frosh named Jason Hill on special teams. Lots 'n lots of talent.
It makes it easy to see what people like Paul Sorensen and others have been talking about in recent weeks, about the lack of depth and talent on this current team. You see this, you realize how far it's fallen, how much work lies ahead. But it's also important to remember where things used to be, and can be once again!
Moving on.....
So, this week. It won't be pretty, I think we can all agree there. The Cougs will fight, like they have been doing every week, but the deck is stacked in more ways than one. Oregon State is really flippin' good, and maybe they'll end up stealing the whole Pac-10 title when this year is said and done. I sure can't wait to see the Civil War on 12/3, where it could be a winner-take-all battle royale with Oregon! Anyway, the same formula plays out for us this week. Cougs start super-slow on offense, opponent strolls up and down the field four or five times in the first half, and we're buried early. This time it's behind Sean Canfield's accuracy, the Rodgers brothers talent, and a nasty, take-no-prisoners defense that will have Kevin Lopina and, maybe eventually Marshall Lobbestael, on the run from beginning to end.
We'll find a score or two along the way, most definitely in the second half, but it will be more of the same. Beavs 58, Cougs 14.
Others:
Ducks 37, AZ 30 - Shoot-out time in a huge elimination game for the Pac-10. I look at Oregon and you can see that they have had issues on grass, where they kind of struggled vs. UCLA earlier in the year and of course, lost to Stanford. But Arizona's green stuff is like a putting green, and Oregon will look just as fast as they always do on the flubber/field turf/whatever.
UCLA 27, ASU 17 - Bruins are looking better, ASU is falling apart.
Stanford 49, Cal 30 - The big game is just that this year, but Stanford cannot be denied. They have it all rolling right now. Over 100 points scored vs. Oregon and USC in consecutive weeks!?! Stanford?? Are you f'ing KIDDING ME!?! No WAY I pick against them now!
Out-of-conference biggie - Ohio State 23, Michigan 19 - Eh. Ohio State has the Rose Bowl big already clinched, Michigan is playing out the string in the Rich Rodriguez era. But the boys in maize-n-blue will keep it close in the classic rivalry game. And how about that Michigan program, huh? Rich Rodriguez and his multi-million dollar salary, and they are ready to run him out of town just two years in? And he's a total jerk who burnt a major bridge at West Virginia, then has had nothing but complaints at Michigan? What a mess in Ann Arbor!
ENJOY YOUR Friday, and as always, GO COUGS!
SUTRA SEZ:
Hello Followers. Hope you’ve had a good week. (For me, its been a GREAT week—We’ve already won two games!!!!!!)
Well, despite some solid diatribes by people like my good friend, and former protégé, Paul Sorenson, this week is not a week to quibble about coaching. After all, as we’ve seen with our injury report, there is no coach in the world that could help our team cover this weekend. And that includes Mike Riley.
Here’s what to expect in this game: Beavs score the first 28 points of the game (all in the first quarter) and Riley empties his bench immediately to save his boys for the real game in two weeks. In turn, his third teamers beat our third teamers (who represent our current 1st string) 35-3. So, put two and two together and you get the final score:
Beavs 63 Cougs 3. Thank god there’s only one game left.
Ducks 42 Mildcats 28. Just when I get on Stoops’ side, he lets me down. Quack make sure the Civil War is for the roses.
USC 21 ASU 17. Red Rover, Red Rover, will Denny move over? You bet.
STAN 42 CAL 21. Punch Toby’s ticket to New York. Stanford will ROLL over that three man front.
OSU 28 Michigan 17. Rodriguez becomes poised to join Denny on the unemployment line.
Enjoy the other games!!!!
LONGBALL SEZ:
Alright Cougar nation, show of hands... who's joining me and Amieable in Martin Stadium this Saturday? I, for one, cannot WAIT to see how this one plays out. You think I'm kidding, right? Well I'm not, because Amieable and I have become very good at finding ways to enjoy Cougar Football Saturday despite what takes place between the goal posts. Most of the time we resort to that age old survival tactic humans have been using forever to make the unbearable, somewhat less unbearable... BOOZE.
This week, however, we are reaching a little deeper into the bag of tricks. That's right folks, its time to play Cougar Football BINGO! It's pretty simple, you just create a couple BINGO cards with various predictable on-field results and check them off as they occur. Of course, once you complete one row or column (or diagonal) then BINGO mo fo's! Some of the items we'll be checking off our BINGO cards:
Lopina INT
Lobster INT
Beaver kick return for TD
Cougar Drive killing penalty
Pac-10 referee brain fart
2 man defensive front for the Cougs
Longball says dirty words out loud while crying
Amieable attempts to gouge her own eyes out with a knitting needle
Well, you get the idea. So if you hear someone yell "BINGO!" from section 23 you'll know whats up. And if you hear it in the 1st quarter, you'll know things have gone just about as I expect them to.
Beavs 55, Cougs 10
Elsewhere Saturday:
CAL @ Stanford - Furd 38, Cal 35
The BIG game, and this year it's pretty big. Stanford has been one of the best teams in the whole gosh darn country the last couple weeks.
Oregon @ AZ - Ducks 45, Cats 28
Setting up the biggest Civil War since 1861!
ASU @ UCLA - Bruins 28, Devils 25
Bruins get bowl eligible, only because they are home.
And of course...
Ohio State @ Michigan - Bucks 31, Big Blue 24
Obviously Michigan is a bit over-matched this year, but at home in one of the greatest rivalry games in all of sports... anything can happen. Just don't bet on it.
That's it Coug fans, enjoy the games and GO COUGS!
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