More for a Sunday from WSU
COUGARS
Ever get that antsy feeling as you near vacation? You know, the one that forces you to start making lists of everything you have to get done before you can leave? Me neither. That's why, on the desk next to me, is a list three-miles long of things I've got to do before the middle of next week. Atop the list? This Sunday's morning post. Read on.
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• Washington State: Get this. I got stuck in a bumper-to-bumper traffic jam after the football scrimmage yesterday. Heading back to my apartment, there was a half-mile-long line of cars waiting to turn onto Stadium Way by Beasley. It stretched past the Rec Center parking lot. I was so glad to be going the other way, where the only slowdown came from people rubbernecking at the line of cars, sort of like what happens on the 405 in LA when there's an accident on the other side. ... The play of the defense Saturday was no accident (segues, the foundation of blog writing), not after the way the offensive line had carved up the defense the Saturday before. Following the first scrimmage, Alex Hoffman-Ellis told me the defense knew the offense wanted to be more physical and that it would try to run the ball right down the defenders' throats. And it ticked him off because it did just that. So this time the defense decided to turn the tables and drive the offense back. And it did. Now next week, in the spring's final scrimmage in Spokane, I wonder if both teams will up the ante a little bit? ... I'm not sure just yet how WSU is going to run that scrimmage, whether it will be the ones vs. ones and twos vs. twos or a real game with the teams mixed up. But I was wondering, if you were picking teams right now, and had the first pick of defenders, which one would you take? With the dearth of defensive linemen and as well as he's playing, I might just take tackle Anthony Laurenzi. The first couple of series he played Saturday, he was tough to block, getting a sack and clogging holes in the middle. How about you? ... Of course, Jeff Tuel would be the first offensive player taken, but after that I think I might choose David Gonzales. Always important to have the best left tackle you can and he's been playing well. ... We had more notes after the scrimmage yesterday and our story. By the way, Tyrone Duckett is playing linebacker. That's why I always label the stories on the blog the unedited version. Things like that get caught in the editing process. And thanks to those of you who noticed. ... Cougfan had this scrimmage report from Braulio Perez. ... And that's about it from Saturday's scrimmage. Remember, WSU has a lot of stuff scheduled for the Spokane area in the week ahead, including a fashion show of sorts on Monday, where athletic director Bill Moos will reveal new football, basketball (men's and women's) and other teams' uniforms at the Davenport. I'll tell you what, this is a big deal to the football players. And that got me to wondering. There are wonderful pictures in the grand hotel of auto shows held in the lobby from the early 20th century, with Model Ts and the like. I wonder if in a hundred years there will be pictures of Jeff Tuel in his Nike garb on the wall. And if people will wonder what that was about.
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• Around the Pac-12: Nothing here. ... Washington: Isaiah Thomas has gathered an all-star group of advisors around himself as he prepares to enter the NBA draft. ... Oregon State: Nothing. ... Oregon: The first of a theme. Malcolm Armstead is leaving Eugene, transferring to a school closer to his home in Alabama. ... Colorado: As the Buffs enter the Pac-12, the seniors have a big responsibility. ... Utah: Another player leaves a basketball program. ... And Norm Chow is enjoying his return to the state of Utah. ... California: Nothing here. ... Stanford: Spring ends with Andrew Luck leading the stacked Cardinal team to an easy victory. ... USC: Sophomore receiver Robert Woods continues to dominate the Trojans' videos. ... UCLA: Another theme from Saturday: defense dominates the scrimmage. ... Arizona State: Here too, where the Sun Devils had to scrimmage indoors because of the bad weather. Yes, bad weather in Tempe. ... Arizona: The Wildcats' running game got going despite the rain. ... And more on the soon-to-be-going Derrick Williams. ... Finally, a fun read for this Sunday from earlier in the week. Greg Hansen shares some new info he learned on the "Bear Down" tradition.
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• That's it for today. We'll be back only if events warrant. I'll be busy. I have to lose 127 pounds by tomorrow so I can model the new Nike crimson cords exclusively for WSU beat writers on Monday night. They only come with a 32-inch waist. Of course I kid. They come in 36-inch waists as well. Still too small for me though. Until later ...
