WSU heads to the bay
COUGARS
FROM PULLMAN -- And so do we, in a few hours. Can already taste the first Double-Double. And the second, and the third. Read on.
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We'll start with an off-field note, and link to the NCAA's new graduation rates released yesterday. As we mentioned on Twitter, WSU's football team is tied for 10th in the Pac-12 with a 53 percent Graduation Success Rate for the classes that entered the school from the fall of 2002 through the fall of 2005 (Arizona was also at 53, and Cal was the only team lower at 47). There was better news for the men's basketball team, which posted a 78 percent mark, tied for third in the Pac-12 in that time. You can browse and search the data yourself on the NCAA website. Bud Withers breaks the numbers down here. ... In today's newspaper, we examined some of WSU's rushing numbers, and also had some notes from practice last night on the blog. ... Mike Leach, Twitter and the First Amendment. SB Nation's Jacob Thorpe weighs in on the matter. ... From Stanford: Jon Wilner writes that Stanford's game against WSU is the first of two "off weeks." Ouch. ... Sometimes, the Cardinal uses an offensive lineman as a tight end.
Around the Pac-12 ... Mike Riley is a different kind of coach in today's Pac-12. ... Steve Kelley says Washington must beat Oregon State to salvage its season. ... UW is trying to solve the Beavers' "charmed" defense, which is led by a player the Huskies didn't want. ... UCLA coach Jim Mora nominates one of his own for Pac-12 Player of the Year. ... Arizona's quarterback is a late bloomer. The Wildcats might be without three starters against USC on Saturday. ... Arizona State's kickers remain untested this season. ... Cal's running back will play in his hometown this week. ... Utah's young offensive coordinator is trying to get things going. ... Oregon's defense has been on fire in the red zone this season. ... Sure, things aren't going very well for Colorado this season. But at least the Buffaloes passed on a potential Heisman candidate.
That's all for now.
Christian Caple can be reached at christianc@spokesman.com. Twitter: @ChristianCaple