Grip on Sports: Rivalry games like the Apple Cup are more than just another game

A GRIP ON SPORTS • Rivalry games inspire the best efforts from everyone. Players, coaches, fans. And, yes, even sportswriters. At least that’s the case today. Read on.

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• The Apple Cup has been a rivalry since before Eve took the first bite, passed it on to her partner and told him he lost the bet, the Huskies won, so finish the darn thing. Or so it seems.

There have been great games played in snow and rain. There have been awful games played in bright sunshine. There have been quarterbacks carried off on their teammates’ shoulders and quarterbacks carried off on their shields.

It’s the quintessential end-of-season game around these parts – unless someone has another game the next week. That will happen this time around and, unlike the years the Pac-12 scheduled UCLA or California or someone the week after, no one is complaining. Much.

That’s because this Apple Cup decides something other than just who has to wear a crimson sweatshirt to their Google cubicle next week. The Pac-12 North, a steppingstone title, will go to the victor. Which is cool.

And just a little phony too.

Luke Falk throws five touchdown passes to lead Washington State to a win Friday and does he get carried down for a Palouse River dunking with a rose in his teeth? Nope, he has to start preparing for a rematch with Colorado.

Jake Browning finds John Ross III open for a 97-yard game-winning touchdown pass and does he get to scream “we’re going to Pasadena” to the cameras? Nope, he has to start preparing for a rematch with USC.

Ah well, that’s the nature of the beast we call college football these days. More games, more television time and, most importantly, more money.

• Speaking of more money, both Jacob Thorpe and Christian Caple, the two guys who were my successors on the Cougar beat for this paper, earned a few dimes more today.

Jacob has a great story on the Cup and what it means. He nails it. It probably helps he’s experienced both sides of the rivalry over the years. And speaking of both sides of the rivalry, Christian has another shouldn’t-be-missed piece on the two marquee receivers, Gabe Marks and Ross, in today’s Tacoma News-Tribune.

As I said, rivalry weeks bring out the best efforts from everyone.

• Don’t forget. We have a quick request from The Spokesman-Review sports department.

If you have a family split between the Huskies and the Cougars, they want to speak with you. How do you handle the volatile mixture Apple Cup week? Is it fun? Tough? Ignored?

You can let the guys in sports know by emailing them at sports@spokesman.com. Do it today.

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WSU: Besides the Apple Cup feature, Jacob has his first look at Washington in the paper as well as Mike Leach’s press conference on SportsLink. He also has video of interviews with Clay McGuire and Alex Grinch. … Winning helps in winning awards, with guard Cody O’Connell an Outland Trophy finalist. Jacob has that story as well. … He also posted WSU’s game notes. … The basketball team lost to Loyola-Chicago in the Virgin Islands. … Over on the West Side, Washington lost a backup cornerback, not to injury but to a transfer. It’s kind of an odd week to announce that. … It’s a rivalry all right, but the two head coaches seem to have an affinity for each other. Maybe there could be a web series, “Coaches In Cars,” or something.

Elsewhere in Pac-12 football, these power rankings seem almost perfect. … The Territorial Cup is important in the territory of Arizona and Arizona State and that’s about it. … UCLA might still back into a bowl game if the Bruins can get past California this weekend. … Oregon State is trying to win the Civil War. Oregon is trying to win and trying to figure out what’s next for the coaching staff. … Utah suffered quite possibly the worst loss of the Pac-12 season last Saturday. At least it was the most unexpected. Can the Utes bounce back against Colorado? There was a time USC and Notre Dame was the big game of a big weekend. … Rice and Stanford? That was never a big game.

Gonzaga: Monday is basketball poll day, and this Monday was good for the Bulldogs. The men moved up a few spots and the women made an appearance in the top 25 after their win at Stanford. … BYU continues to pound opponents and Santa Clara picked up a win.

EWU: It’s a basketball day, as the Eagles hosted Bryant University in a Legends Classic game yesterday and won, 81-77. Jim Allen has the game story. We can also pass along this news on Eastern losing a player for the season. … OK, you knew this was coming, right? Beau Baldwin’s name mentioned in connection with a top-tier FBS job. Ken Goe lets Oregon fans know a bit more about Eastern’s coach. … Around the Big Sky in football, Cal Poly had some emotional help last week. 

Idaho: It took overtime, but the Vandals figured out how to get past South Dakota State, 96-89 at home yesterday. Josh Wright has the story.

Seahawks: The injuries took center stage yesterday, with the running back situation clarified a bit – both C.J. Prosise and Traymaine Pope should be out four weeks minimum – with Thomas Rawls the last man standing. The defensive backs have hamstring problems that should require some down time. But maybe not. … So what’s the problem with Stephen Hauschka? … The offense is running hot right now.

Mariners: Once again Edgar Martinez is on the Hall of Fame ballot. Please, can enough voters realize how good he was and give him their vote?

Sounders: The MLS playoff series with Colorado begins at CenturyLink tonight. It’s a banged up Seattle team vs. a banged up Rapids group. Fun. … Jurgen Klinsmann is out with U.S. Soccer. Who is next? 

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• Is it Friday yet? It should be. Let’s get to the turkey, the NFL (and Gonzaga) games, the pumpkin pie and move on to the Apple Cup, OK? Until later …