Apple Cup pregame post

The students are starting to come in and the line, which stretches back to the library, is starting to snake into Martin Stadium. I wonder how many of them are lacking voices after last night? I know my ears are still hurting. For more about today’s game, read on.

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• The Cougars are going to need a big game from Klay Thompson to win … wait, wrong sport. Jeff Tuel. That’s it, that’s who I meant. All joking aside, it is true. If Jeff Tuel plays like Jeff Tuel played in Corvallis, WSU has a good chance of pulling the upset in this, the 103rd Apple Cup. But if he plays like the Jeff Tuel in his last start here, against California, Washington will win going away. It’s not that simple of course, but I’ve noticed the last few games when Tuel plays well, is accurate with his throws, makes the right reads, is aggressive with his decisions, the Cougar offense clicks. When the ball starts to sail a bit, and it does when Tuel tries to put a little extra on it, when he is tentative on his handoffs, when he hesitates before he goes, then the offense sputters. Watch Tuel today. His first few throws may tell the tale of his day. … Some other things I would look for today include special team trick plays – yes, the Cougars have been practicing some – and from the offense – heck, each of the last two years WSU has pulled something out – and what UW does offensively to fool the Cougar defense. C.J. Mizell has brought some intensity to that group but he also has a tendency to overpursue. He did a much better job of staying in his gap and attacking downhill against the Beavers and he must continue to do that today if WSU is going to limit the Washington running game. And the guys up front have to stay disciplined in their rushing lanes, limiting places for Jake Locker to break out. … Drew Bledsoe and Robbie Tobeck are raising the Cougar flag before the game today but the two already have contributed to the WSU cause. They both met with the team Friday night after walk-through. My sources tell me the talk served its purpose of firing up the Cougars. … Finally, if you are wondering what WSU is wearing uniform-wise today, I’ll tell you, though I’ll probably be rubbed out for it. There will a lot of similarities between today’s uniform and those worn by Bledsoe in the Snow Bowl. Crimson pants, jerseys and gray helmets with the script Cougar. At least that’s what I heard.

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• That’s all for now. We’ll be back on Twitter (vinceg55) from now until near the end of the game. With the start time and our deadlines, the blog posts will be problematic but we’ll try. Until then …