Hello loyalists! Today is a day partway from last Saturday’s beat down of Southern Utah and partway to next Saturday’s probable beat down of Idaho. There are periods of time between these two games where we analyze and critique and soothsay about the Washington State football squad, but in all honesty there’s only so much we can learn. As the old saying goes, you learn more in a close game than a blowout, no matter which side you’re on. With that in mind, Sutra and I exchanged twitters Saturday night. I mentioned the fact that writing about a blowout win over an overmatched team would be challenging, its not exactly a drama filled story. Sutra aptly replied, and I doth quote:
@mobilemasonry Nah. When its the Cougs, all blow outs that we win are interesting. #GoCougs
— Coug-A-Sutra (@CougSutra) September 15, 2013
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And you know what? He’s completely right. Perhaps in the viewpoint of a recently successful team, these two tilts mean very little. But to a squad and a fan base that’s been through the last 5 years, been through the toil and frustration and anger, a game like this means a lot. It’s that healthy dose of fresh air into a dank and stinky program. And lets not forget, WSU has fallen prey to many a “bad” team over the last few years. Need I remind you (or more likely myself) about Colorado, barely beating Montana St, or losing almost the entirety of our quarterbacks against Portland St? Although Cougar football is clearly on the rise, lets not forget about where we’ve been quite yet. Those tough years will make the future success so much sweeter….
With that in mind, I was curious about something that’s popped up from those who were in Pullman on Saturday. At the beginning of every 4th quarter in Martin Stadium, if the Cougs are down, Tom Tuttle from Tacoma Washington makes a visit.
[youtube=://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VxaKczASEdg&w=420&h=315]
The great John Candy’s role in Volunteers has been a “good luck” charm for WSU football as long as I can remember, him singing the fight song while tied to a stake is well, pretty awesome. But its only played when WSU is behind and needs that little extra push. Due to the recent, I guess struggles is one word for them, we’ve heard a lot of Tom Tuttle. So much in fact, that many of us as fans have forgotten why the clip is played! Heres a breakdown of the NOT Tom Tuttle's between 2008-2013:
2012: Eastern Washington (W), Colorado (L) (6 home games)
2011: Idaho St (W), UNLV (W), ASU (W) (6 home games)
2010: All Tom Tuttle's (6 home games)
2009: All Tom Tuttle's (6 home games)
2008: Portland State (W) (7 home games)
Exceptions: Utah in 2011 (Tied at 4th, Loss)
Outside of just another ridiculous statistic to portray how bad football was in Pullman since 2008, what does this really tell us? Well, out of the 31 home games Washington State has played in the last 5 years, in only 6 have they been leading going into the 4th quarter. Only twice have they been leading when facing a Pac 12 foe, and only once have they actually beaten that Pac 12 team.
Take that Sparky!
Out of the 12 total victories over that time period, 7 of them have either been on the road (Colorado, UNLV, Oregon St) or comebacks in the 4th quarter at home(UW (twice), Montana St, SMU).
In that perspective, these two games mean a whole lot more than just victories. These are the games fans expect. We should expect to see a Washington State team dismantle someone from the Big Sky. Is it arrogance? Sure. But a UNLV or Montana St is not put on the schedule as a top 25 ranking game, it’s a game to pad the wins column for bowl season, plain and simple. And taking care of business in games like these is the first step towards a team even considering a bowl or successful season, no matter which way you slice it.
And boy was it just downright pleasant to watch this game last Saturday. The offense clicking as well as we’ve seen it in Pullman, the defense making big plays at big times, and Furney being Furney in front of a packed house (at least to start).
Oh CougCenter, how I wish I knew how to make GIF's like you!
As I sat with a group of alumni in a local establishment here in Atlanta, you could tell there was a new excitement about the team. Many of us exchanged memories of “the old days” and cougar victories, but more striking was the talk of when the last time anyone had been back to God’s Country was. For many it had been since the early 2000’s, others graduation in the mid’s. But almost to a person plans were being made to travel back. An old alum and linebacker from the early 80’s was making plans to take in a long weekend, he and his wife hadn’t been back since 2002. Another gent already had travel arrangements for the Apple Cup. Theres a new buzz around Cougar football that started the day Mike Leach was hired, these fans have been aching for good football to watch.
Bowl game….and beyond?
And that brings me to my last point. I think everyone is sensing the beginning of something special with Cougar football. We’ve been waiting a long time, but theres a sense around this team and a sense in this fan base that this squad is going to be successful. And not just successful for a season or two, no this is a program being built. The investment from the athletic department to bring in a top tier coach, upgrade the facilities, and rebrand the program is one thing, but when that is coupled with vastly improved content on the playing field…. Man. I get the sense that this team is poised for a season the likes we haven’t seen in over a decade, but more importantly this program is poised for a resurgence and sustained excellence it only sniffed under Mike Price.
Call it drinking the Kool-Aid or wearing the glasses, but folks, color me crimson!
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