So after a couple of long bye weeks, and a long season at that, it’s finally here. Apple Cup week is upon us once again. The storyline looks pretty simple too, doesn’t it? UW wins and they go bowling for the first time since 2002. Meanwhile we’re in the spoiler role, looking to ruin their holiday dream of postseason play, and oh yeah, hoping for the first winning “streak” since 2007 (yes, it’s really been THAT long since WSU won two in a row).
There will be plenty of time this week to try and get a handle on what’s to come, but for today I thought it was a good time to think back at the best – and worst – of times with this game. While there are several in, well, both good and the bad categories, here’s my own personal top choice for best and worst in my little world.
Let’s start with the bad news, shall we?
2002
The Cougs came into the game at 9-1, their only loss at that time to undefeated Ohio State (the 2002 National Champion, I might add). WSU sat at #3 in the BCS that week, and there was hope that if Ohio State or Miami were to stub their toe, the Cougs COULD possibly slide into the BCS title game! Of course, they had to beat UW, and then UCLA two weeks later. But that day, there was a feeling that anything was possible.
Off the field we had a blast. We went down with a big group on a charter bus, and yes, the drinks were flowing early! It was one of “those” days, where you just got after it. On the field, however, it was a different story. The Cougs had a decent lead, 17-7 at the half, but it could have been bigger. WSU had first-and-goal from the 2 right before the half after a pass interference penalty against Reggie Williams (anyone remember that Reggie Williams actually played some DB in that game for UW, as well as catching 12 balls for 169 yards??). But the Cougs couldn’t cash in, and after a couple of missed opportunities and a flubbed field goal attempt, the lead was just 10 at the half. I remember when they came off the field after the first half, and it really felt like a golden opportunity had slipped away at that point. Even getting 3 points would have made it a 20-7 lead and some nice momentum heading into the second half. Instead it was new life for UW, knowing they dodged a major bullet.
Of course, Gesser would go down early in the 4th quarter with the high ankle sprain.
Matt Kegel would struggle beyond belief the rest of the way with just 20 total yards passing, including a costly interception late in the game and the infamous backwards pass/incompletion/fumble/whatever that UW recovered to win the game.
After UW danced on the WSU logo, the water bottles rained down from every direction. That was one of the worst scenes I can remember at a WSU game, or maybe any game I’ve been to for that matter. It wasn’t pretty.
The worst part about that game is that I dreamed about it a week earlier! I dreamed of a last-second UW victory, and could even visualize the sports page the next day, right down to the picture of the celebration. I remember waking up and thinking “phew, that was all just a dream….” but I had that sense of, I don’t know, dread I guess is the best way to say it. And sure enough, we saw what happened.
But there was a silver lining. Gesser’s ankle was well enough so he could play two weeks later, and the Cougs blasted UCLA 48-27 in Pasadena, clinching their second Rose Bowl in five seasons!
That Pac-10 title helped salve the wound, but to this day I still don’t think I’ve ever been as disappointed after a sporting event as I was after that ’02 Apple Cup.
Enough of the bad. How about the good?
1997
This one’s pretty easy, and I would imagine many of you feel the same. The first Pac-10 title for WSU in 67 years was on the line, and Ryan Leaf led the Cougs into Husky Stadium at 9-1. It felt like that ’97 team was a team of destiny, that even though they had to go on the road and beat UW in Seattle to win the Pac-10, that somehow that team would find a way. After all, they had earned their record so far, winning at USC, at Oregon, and beating some really good UCLA and Arizona teams in Pullman. I was nervous all week, and couldn’t stop thinking about that game, what it would feel like it we got blown out or worse, if we lost a squeaker. I can’t imagine what the players felt like! You know, the ones who actually had to go out there and take the Pac-10 title, in Seattle, in the biggest rivalry game of their lives??
We had amazing seats for the game, right on the 50-yard line in the second deck as my brother-in-law let my Coug behind sit with him and his friends. It was tough, being in the middle of all that purple and gold on a day like that. And early on it didn’t exactly look promising. UW would take a quick 7-0 lead, and the stadium just exploded with noise. I remember turning to my buddy and saying “I’ve got a bad feeling.” But Leaf responded with a great performance, Lamont Thompson had three interceptions, and the Cougs were Pac-10 champs!
And I will admit this as well. Like many Coug fans that day, I wept a little bit as the fans stormed the field, seeing Leaf getting carried by Cougs, hearing the UW PA guy say “Congratulations to Washington State for winning the Pac-10. Good luck in the Rose Bowl.” It was surreal, it was amazing, it is something I will never forget.
Memories like that are what makes a rivalry game what it is. It’s something that is hard to describe, but the game is just bigger than the others. The memories from those rivalry games are what will stay with you, always, no matter how many games you’ve been to or experienced in one way or another. That’s what makes it so great. That’s why we love the game.
So enough of my memories, how about you? What are your best — and worst — memories of the Apple Cup? Feel free to share in comments, for the floor is all yours!
All for now. GO COUGS!
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