First sign of fall: Rain and WSU football
COUGARS
It's raining in Pullman this morning. If it had only arrived a day earlier, we could have seen a reprise of last year's Stanford game. In weather only. Because, as every player who talked after Saturday's game insisted, this isn't your 2008 Washington State football team. We have coverage of that game – hey Stanford is atop the Pac-10 standings and will stay there a while – and every other game involving Pac-10 teams. And, no, nobody was bopped in any of the post-game celebrations.
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• Washington State: While watching the pregame handshake yesterday, I was thinking the players should enchange gifts, like they do in the Olympics. You know, maybe a flower, some candy or maybe a kicking tee. Anyhow, I digress. On to the game coverage. ... Here's our print version of my story along with the notebook John Blanchette and I put together. There is also some web-only stuff on the bottom of the notes from last night's post. Finally, for us, John had his column looking at the 2009 Cougar model. ... The Times' Bud Withers covered the game with his column. ... Freelancer Howie Stalwick had his game story in the Kitsap Sun and other papers. ... And here's Nick Geranios' AP story.
• Around the Pac-10: Most of the first day's games started at ungodly hours, so the Pac-10 will once again lose out in coverage every where except on the West Coast. But ESPN.com's Ted Miller still found time to give out his helmet stickers and to summarize the few early games. ... Washington: The new era – and again, no, we don't mean the apparel company – got under way in Husky Stadium and from what I read – I was writing the WSU story while the game was going on – the Huskies played well. Here's Todd Milles' gamer in the News Tribune, Steve Kelley's column in the Times and some thoughts from Buster Sports Nick Dashel. ... Oregon State: If you remember anything from last year, it might be how easily WSU handled Portland State, despite losing two quarterbacks to injury in the game. Well, the Beavers' did just about the same thing. The winning part, not the injuries. ... Oregon: The Register Guard's George Schroeder took a little time and now reflects on the LeGarrette Blount incident, putting us into Chip Kelly's office. ... Cal: The Bears had little trouble with Maryland as Jahvid Best officially starts his Heisman campaign. ... Stanford: So we do have Cardinal stories. Old friend Elliott Almond – we both worked in Orange County a lifetime ago; Eliott just published a book on surfing – came to the Palouse and filed this game story. There was also game coverage in the Chronicle. ... USC: They started slow, but the Trojans routed San Jose State. Next up: A trip to Ohio State. ...UCLA: They started slow, but the Bruins routed San Diego State. Next up: A trip to Tennessee. ... Arizona State: The Sun Devils yielded just 37 yards in their blowout of the Big Sky Conference's worst team last season, Idaho State. ... Arizona: A speedy defense lifts the Wildcats past Central Michigan in a tight opener at home.
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• That's it for this morning. I'll probably always post a little later on Sundays, what with the usually late Saturday nights, an occasional flight and it being Sunday, after all. We'll see. We'll be back tonight after we have a chance to talk with Paul Wulff and write our Monday story. Until then …
