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The Spokesman-Review Newspaper
Spokane, Washington  Est. May 19, 1883

Allison gets a rude reception

PULLMAN – Coming to Washington State from California, Cougars linebacker Jeremiah Allison only truly began to understand the nature of the Apple Cup football rivalry between WSU and Washington after he played in one.

In 2012, Allison’s freshman year, the Cougars beat the Huskies, 31-28. During the following summer break he went over to Seattle to visit UW receiver Jaydon Mickens, his godbrother, unprepared for the icy reception he would receive.

“I was rocking my crimson gear because we won; I was rocking my crimson gear and they just looked down upon me, like they didn’t want to say hi to me,” Allison said. “Here it’s a good atmosphere in Pullman, everyone says hi to you and they acknowledge your presence. There they just look down on you like you’re not really there; like you’re invisible.”

Allison made it apparent during WSU’s Monday press conference that the scars from that experience are still there, denying that he has ever worn the color purple and replying when asked if the Cougars had to control their emotions and avoid penalties, “It’s a rivalry game so whatever happens, happens.”

Mayle to Senior Bowl

On Monday, WSU receiver Vince Mayle accepted an invitation to play in the 2014 Senior Bowl, an annual showcase in which prospective NFL draftees practice and then play a game in front of scouts and general managers.

Only 110 players are selected to play in the Senior Bowl and an invitation is generally a good indicator that a player is likely to be selected in the upcoming NFL draft. Of the 24 starters in the 2013 NFL Pro Bowl, 16 played in the Senior Bowl.

Mayle, a Biletnikoff Award semifinalist, is tied for the national lead with a school-record 101 receptions and is No. 2 in the country with a school-record 1,404 receiving yards. He is the only Pac-12 player to have six games with 100 or more receiving yards, and set the school record with 263 receiving yards against California.

After making 15 catches for 252 yards in Saturday’s loss to Arizona State, Mayle became the first player in Pac-12 history with two games of 250 or more receiving yards in the same season.

The senior is ninth in WSU history with 143 career receptions and tied for No. 11 all-time with 16 receiving touchdowns and 1,943 receiving yards despite having yet to play two full seasons after transferring from Sierra College.

The game will be played in Mobile, Alabama, on Jan. 20, 2015, and televised on the NFL Network.

Pippins to start again

Marcellus Pippins started against Arizona State by necessity because Daquawn Brown was ineligible to play in the first half. The true freshman acquitted himself so well that he is expected to start opposite Brown in the Apple Cup.

Pippins broke up a pass on ASU’s first offensive play and appeared to hold his own against much more experienced players. He is listed as the starting cornerback on the field side, with fellow true freshman Pat Porter backing him up.

“You know, the first thing when you recruit a guy from high school, he says he wants to play as a freshman and then once you get to play as a freshman you need to play like you belong there and I thought Marcellus did,” coach Mike Leach said.

Leach denied

A Texas court has denied an appeal by Leach over his firing by Texas Tech.

Leach was fired in 2009 amid accusations he mistreated a player suffering a concussion. That player was the son of Craig James, a former SMU star and ex-broadcaster with ESPN.

Leach sued James, along with ESPN Inc. and Spaeth Communications, a public relations firm, alleging libel and slander. A judge in 2013 granted summary judgment in favor of James, ESPN and Spaeth. The case against Texas Tech had previously been dismissed.