Our only wish is for warmer weather
A GRIP ON SPORTS
It's a busy day. Let's get right at it. Read on.
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• So busy in fact, we're not going to comment. Except to say we wish we were in San Luis Obispo to watch the Eastern Eagles play today. If nothing else to enjoy the weather. Or, for the same reason, in Tucson with the Cougars. This is the time of year road trips were good for the soul, if not the won/loss record. Enough of that, on with the links.
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• WSU: Yes, Washington State plays a close to must-win-if-you-want-to-go-to-a-bowl game as there is today with Arizona (pictured). Jacob Thorpe is in the land of retirees and sunshine and has an advance of the game along with the keys to a Cougar victory. Jacob also has a morning post with Pac-12 links (including those to Washington's tough loss at UCLA) and a post from yesterday in which Ken Bone announced the official arrival of the newest member of the WSU basketball family with a lot of exclamation points. His team will also hold a form of near-midnight madness tonight – a game with Lamar that begins at 9:30 p.m. ... The Cougar soccer team will host an NCAA tournament match today. Jim Allen has an advance. ... It's Saturday so we pass along ESPN.com's Pac-12 mailbag.
• EWU: The Eagles need to win today to keep their edge in the Big Sky Conference standings. Jim Allen is in California and has this advance of the game on the blog. He also has links this morning. ... Eastern is also the first school mentioned in our area roundup of college football games. ... Weber is at Montana today while Southern Utah travels to Montana State.
• Idaho: The Vandals aren't playing this week – they have a bye in advance of their matchup next week against second-ranked Florida State – but Josh Wright has some basketball news on the blog.
• Whitworth: The Pirates opened this basketball season the way they open most of the them: With a win.
• Chiefs: Spokane had to adjust to being home last night after spending much of the early season on the road. But when the Chiefs did, they exploded. Thomas Clouse has the story of Spokane's 5-2 win over Prince George.
• Preps: The high school football playoffs marched on last night, with Coeur d'Alene running past Capital 42-14 in front of Jim Meehan and a bunch of snow-covered fans. The Viks move into next Friday's state 5A finals in the Kibbie Dome. ... Shadle Park didn't put on the offensive show one usually expects, but the Highlanders' defense was good enough to get past Mt. Spokane 27-7. Greg Lee has the story and Jesse Tinsley has the photographs from the first-round 3A playoff game. ... Rearden rolled over Oroville 41-20 at Gonzaga Prep last night in the 2B playoffs. ... We also have a roundup of the rest of the football action. ... The state volleyball playoffs wasn't kind to Spokane-area schools, with Shadle Park falling in 3A action and Central Valley and Mead both losing in the 4A. Chris Derrick has the coverage. ... We also have the rest of the state volleyball action in this roundup.
• Seahawks: Only one more day until we find out if Percy Harvin will play for the first time this season. Also, only one more day until we learn if an injured Brandon Browner is able to go for the Hawks against Minnesota. ... Pete Carroll talked about those things and more yesterday. ... Former Seahawks general manager and interim coach Mike McCormack died yesterday. ... Michael Bennett was fined a lot of money for a low hit.
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• That's it for this morning. If you have snow on the ground at your place, drive safely. If you don't have any, like us, still drive safely. It only makes sense. Until later ...
