Apple Cup focus on QBs
Cougars’ Halliday shows improvement
PULLMAN – Connor Halliday’s condition continued to improve Monday and Washington State’s redshirt freshman quarterback was moved from the intensive care unit to a medical floor.
Halliday spent another night at Pullman Regional Hospital and could be released as early as today. He suffered a laceration of his liver Saturday in WSU’s 30-27 overtime loss to Utah.
The Cougars began preparations for the Apple Cup on Monday evening, practicing outdoors in a light rain and slight breeze. Without Halliday or Jeff Tuel (fractured clavicle) available at quarterback, fifth-year senior Marshall Lobbestael took a majority of the snaps in team sessions, with sophomore David Gilbertson also getting snaps.
Lobbestael has started eight games this season and has completed 59.9 percent of his passes for 2,240 yards and 16 touchdowns.
“I think when you look at Washington State this year, arguably the best football they’ve played this year is with Lobbestael at quarterback,” Washington coach Steve Sarkisian said Monday at a press conference. “Marshall has really had a tremendous season, especially early on when he was playing.”
Vince Grippi