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Over-Reaction Sunday: Don't Stop Believin'
Written by Sean Hawkins   
Sunday, 20 September 2009 13:07
Working hard to get my fill,
Everybody wants a thrill
Payin anything to roll the dice,
Just one more time
Some will win, some will lose
Some were born to sing the blues
Oh, the movie never ends
It goes on and on and on and on

(chorus)

Dont stop believin
Hold on to the feelin
Streetlight people whoa oh WHOOOOOAAAA.....

Well, I admit it.  I stopped believin' yesterday, a few times actually.  When it was 24-7 and the team showed little chance of slowing them down, I stopped believin'.  And even when we made it interesting, only to see SMU drive down for a field goal in the 4th to make it 27-13, again, I stopped believin'.  Good thing those on the field never gave up. 

But, I KNOW I'm not alone here!  Come on.  Fans left the building when it looked hopeless at Martin, only to come back when the game went to OT.  It's OK to admit it.  I sure do.

But whatever the case, I think that's what yesterday is all about.  We can chew on the numbers and point out how this one felt "flukish" with a capital F or whatever else.  We can wring our hands over the yardage discrepancy (504-276).  We can say that we might have been bailed out on that fourth down on the final drive of the game, when pass interference was called on a somewhat-questionable situation.  But with this team, with this season, why even do that?  Why should this team even be judged on the stats?  We know the deck is stacked, talent-wise, and most weeks are going to be a struggle on both sides of the ball.  We know we're young and beat up already, in a lot of key areas, and a QB situation that is still far from settled.  We know the upper classmen weren't exactly super-hot-n-sexy to the rest of the PAC-10, hence the five BCS offers to the 38 players Wulff inherited that are still on the roster.  WE KNOW ALL THAT.  The thing to take from yesterday is, more than any other stat or fact to over-analyze like you are pretending to be an unpaid analyst for ESPN.com?  They didn't quit. Even when Jim Walden was screaming on the radio in the first half that you could switch SMU jerseys for Hawaii jerseys and wouldn't notice any difference between the teams, they didn't quit.  When Walden was screaming that Marshall Lobbestael looked "lost" or was "melting down" in the third quarter and saying that it was time for Jeff Tuel, they didn't quit.  They could have, and last year they would have, but they didn't. 

Someone in comments suggested that it's going to be a bumpy ride the rest of the season, that even with the win we still have serious deficiencies.  I don't think that's news to anyone who is following this team closely, is it?  Of course we know it's going to be a struggle every week.  But even when they are outclassed on the field in terms of talent and speed, at least we've gotten over a hump after yesterday.  Sure, it's a mole hill compared to Mt. Everest, I mean beating the Ponies isn't the same as shocking USC.....but it IS still a hump they have gotten over.  They didn't give up, they never stopped believin', and they found a way to win.  It speaks very well for the future of this program, and maybe as soon as next year, when you see them selling out for themselves, each other and for their coaches.

That's all for now.  ENJOY THIS WIN, ENJOY YOUR SUNDAY, and GO COUGS! 
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Lobbestael
written by yakicoug, September 20, 2009
I too was screaming for the staff to just bite the bullet and put Tuel in. Lobe completed less than 50% of his passes, which is atrocious. The two picks he threw were terrible decisions, especially the second one. But when it came time to crap or get off the pot, he drove the team the lenghth of the field and tied the game. That was huge on his part. Is he the answer at QB? The jury is still out, and I hope we have something more in Tuel. At any rate, what a comeback yesterday. The D was layin' the wood in the second half yesterday, Stripling was very impressive, I thought. I took my daughter and niece to their first game...what a thrill for them, and me! GO COUGS!!
I gave up
written by Rick M, September 20, 2009
I gave up too Hawk and earlier than you. 17-0 I was done. I am ashamed today for that. No matter what happens the rest of 2009 I won't be doing that again. Go Cougs!
Stayed
written by trucoug89, September 20, 2009
Last year I stayed all 4 quarters of every coug game (including USC) but during the Apple Cup left WITH 2 MINUTES LEFT in the 4th quarter. I walked into my house to see us kicking the tying field goal. I vowed I would never leave a game early again. Yesterday I was very glad I didnt, the comeback was spectacular and that final drive was unreal. Lobbsta proved with that last drive that he certainly has the ability to lead the team and play with some poise, he just needs to play the whole game like that! He definitely earned his starting spot next week. As for silencing the fire CPW crowd.... doubtful. But whatever, I'm still jacked up about that win yesterday, no matter what anyone says smilies/cool.gif

Speaking of the fire CPW talk.... yesterdays game has ignited some of the fire June Jones talk at SMU!
...
written by james_wsu, September 20, 2009
I stayed the whole game too smilies/smiley.gif It was a lot of fun and my voice was a little rough for a bit from screaming so much towards the end of the game. smilies/grin.gif
...
written by lucascoug, September 20, 2009
Honestly, three weeks ago, I would have laid hundreds of dollars on the fact that UW would not have been ranked at any point of this season. Oh well..

The Wheel in the Sky Keeps on Turnin
The Bumpy Ride
written by norcalcoug, September 20, 2009
Ok, yeah i'm the guilty party who made the bumpy ride comment. The main purpose in that was to remind us as fans that it's going to take some grit and determination to stay positive about the future of our program. We're on the right track, it's just going to truly test our patience. Right now, we don't have the talent or depth to be consistently competitive. But we are building for the future!

I LOVE the fact that they fought back in this game. It's going to be a memory that helps them in many games this year and next (remember how we came back against SMU?). It's truly an experience that will help some really young guys develop some tenacity and hopefully some confidence too. I didn't mean to take away from that.

GO COUGS
Report from the sideline
written by kaddy, September 20, 2009
That was as much fun as I've ever had at a game. It was cloudy the whole game, but it was warm enough for shorts and a t-shirt.

These coaches have this team, as Hawk pointed out. When the O-line struggled, Etheridge was there, pumping them up, and Wulff came over, got on one knee, and every players' ears perked up and eyes focused on our coach. Wulff had a tremendous calm to him, and looked them all in the eyes, as he explained what they needed to do. Message received.

Ball and Levy are teachers, pure and simple. They never stop talking the players, after good plays and bad ones. Always positive.

I never realized how loud our crowd can be - even with 22,000. When Phase III is done, the environment and noise in Martin is going to be unconscious. No kidding. We're getting close...a little more money, and a few more luxury seats committed for, and we start building.

The sideline is awesome. If you ever have a chance to bid on sideline passes at an auction, I highly recommend it.

crow
written by Soze, September 20, 2009
I'm finally sober enough to post, since I've been celebrating since Saturday. As one of the few that from the beginning that didn't think the Cougs would win a single game this season, I must say that I'm eating some crow and enjoying every single f'n bite! GO COUGS!! Now, let's get this season over with and get on to bigger and better things (like a .500 record) in 2010.
...
written by yakicoug, September 21, 2009
I was a little surprised to see the positive reaction from the student body when they showed to UW/USC score. When I was a student at Wazzu, we NEVER cheered for the Huskies. If you need a reason to renew your hate for pompous UW fans, go read Jim Moore's story on the Seattle PI site and the comments posted by the re-energized Husky fans. Funny how some of those fair weather a-holes come storming back outta the shadows once they start to win again.

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