Hi everyone, Longball here for a quick rundown of things in the Cougar Universe (and other universes) as I see them from the cheapseats. This week I am going to give it to ya straight… thumbs up for stuff I like, and the dreaded thumbs down for stuff that JUST MAKES ME CRAZY, ARRRRRGH!
Read on if you have the stomach for it…
Lets start off with…
THUMBS UP!
Cougar Cannon
The Cougar Cannon made its much anticipated return against Montan State in week 2 and I am thrilled to have it back. Lets just find a better location for it. As they have it now it fires from atop the library with a bit of a delay. Given the current state of Cougar football you can imagine a scenario where we score and the cannon fires just as the visiting team has returns the ensuing kickoff for a touchdown.
Sports Page Tavern
This Cougar hang out is the difinitive “Coug” bar, with the helmets of each opponant above the bar (including an itsy bitsy Husky one), a real stuffed Butch over the door and Coug History all over the walls, plus they now have liquor and food. This place also attracts Coug greats, in fact Montana State offensive line coach and veteran of the 1997 Pac-10 Champ Cougs, Jason McEndoo couldn’t resist the chance to drop in the night before the Bobcats played the Cougs and revel in Crimson glory (and tubs of beer) with yours truly…
Welcome Back big fella!
Colored Turf
Only 3 teams do it, but nonetheless colored turf is part of the fabric of college football. Boise State is notorious for their blue rug in Bronco Stadium, as is lesser known New Haven and their own version of Smurf Turf. This year Eastern WA joined in the fun with a red field that can best be described as an assault on the senses. All I can say to Eastern’s Big Sky foes is, dread the red! Montana went to Cheney last weekend all fat and sassy and left with their tail between their legs in a 33-27 upset. This week, Oregon State has painted their practice field blue, at a reported cost of $11,000.00 in preparation for their trip to Boise. Like em, or hate em… colored fields are making for great stories this year.
Jeff Tuel
Lost a bit in all the hand wringing, ranting, raging and debating about this year’s Coug football team is the fact that after two long years of uncertainty… we once again have a leader under center we can believe in. Jeff Tuel hasn’t been terribly sharp in the first 3 games this season, but lets remember… he is a true sophomore. A quick look at the numbers tells me we have a lot to be hopeful about.
The most important stat I see there? ONE interception, in 91 pass attempts. He is taking care of the ball and that ain’t easy when you are under the kind of pressure he has been, sacked a league-worst 10 times in three games. So far our O-line has stayed healthy (knocks on wood!) and if they continue to improve we could be in for some pleasant surprises from Mr. Tuel this year.
Dave Ungerer
Another positive we aren’t talking about much is our improved play on special teams. Last year a lot of games that were not going our way to begin with, spun completely out of control due to inept special teams play. First year special teams coach Dave Ungerer definitely has more bodies to work with then his predecessor, and so far he is making good with the hand he’s been dealt. I feel much, much better this year every time we line up for kicks.
Australian Cuisine
In basketball news, sophomore forward Brock Motum went home to Australia this summer and came back weighing a much beefier 230 lbs, OY!
Of course, this is a culture that subsists mostly on Fosters and meat pies, so maybe it was to be expected.
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