Grip on Sports: Don’t forget which group is really the most important in college football

A GRIP ON SPORTS • Where were we? Oh yes, a long time ago in a galaxy far, far away. Read on.

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• You know how relaxed you feel after a vacation? That great feeling of contentment and calm that never seems available in an everyday setting? Well, we took a vacation of sorts yesterday – when you do this every day, a day off feels like a week – and tried to tap into those feelings.

And failed miserably. But, with the Cougar football team not playing and Gonzaga basketball off until Tuesday in New York, we were able to takes some time and actually get away from sports for a while.

So what did Kim and I do? We went to two high school basketball games. It’s a sickness, I know. But it’s also fun. Especially when you are connected in a lot of ways with kids playing or watching.

But we digress a bit. You probably want to read the latest on Mike Leach’s future. Or what’s going to happen with the Pac-12’s bowl situation. Or the Zags or Eagles or Vandals or Pirates.

We will get to that. Hopefully, you are starved for the service we provide here and sat at home yesterday cursing me for taking a day off. I said hopefully because, as a former baseball player, being cursed at is nothing new. And, as a former sports writer, ditto. Besides, if you are ticked this feature wasn’t here on Saturday, it means you like it and miss it and maybe, just maybe, the S-R will continue to see value. That’s a good thing.

So what is going to happen with Mike Leach? Honestly, I don’t know. If he really did initial a memo of understanding with Tennessee, and there is a report or two he did, albeit with John Currie, now the former Tennessee athletic director, that means he agreed to leave Pullman for Knoxville. In his mind, he was giving up the walks through the lentil fields for long strolls by the Tennessee River.

If you felt abandonment issues when Tony Bennett left for Virginia, then this has to be worse, right? It’s football after all, the front porch of the university. And Leach has been successful in Pullman, more successful by some measures, then even Mike Price. (But still less successful in the two areas that matter most to many, winning conference titles and beating the Huskies.)

Leach didn’t leave, sure. The deal with the Volunteers fell apart. But if he did sign an MOU, it does signal a willingness to abandon ship. And, if your alma mater winning football games is a big part of your self worth, than this weekend has been tough.

For my part, stay, go, it doesn’t matter, except as far as it concerns the players. Age brings perspective. Leach has been successful. He’s a hoot at times. It’s a pretty good time to be a Cougar fan. There might be lean years after he leaves. There might be even greater success. But it doesn’t really matter if Mike Leach is the coach or if Snoop Dog is. (Though the latter would be really interesting and I’m sure Snoop’s three things that would get you kicked off the team would not include cannabis use.)

Only one group really matters. It’s the players who come through.

The athletes who sacrifice their time, sweat and health for four or five years. It’s their experience that matters. The coaches are paid – and paid well these days. The players, they aren’t paid. They pay, and pay with the only thing that is non-refundable in life: time.

They are rewarded for sharing it with us, sure, by earning an education. Of course, to receive that, they have to put more time. Plus they earn experiences they will never forget. Both need to be worth the investment.

From the stars to the walk-ons who populate the scout teams, they are the heart and soul of any collegiate athletic program. The coaches are important to their collegiate experience just as, to a lesser or greater degree, an English prof, a trainer or a counselor is.

It’s the accrual of those experiences, in the locker room, on the field, in the classroom, on the training table, in study hall, that are what college athletics are about.

Whether Mike Leach is in Pullman or somewhere else next season, Washington State football will still be represented by more than 100 athletes. And they are who really matter.

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WSU: This year’s group of football players will find out today where their bowl destination is. Theo Lawson says all signs point to the Foster Farms Bowl, Dec. 27 in Santa Clara. … One of those players, Isaiah Johnson-Mack will be transferring. And he said yesterday on Twitter Leach is blocking his release. Theo has that story as well. … The basketball team’s perfect record was blemished for the first time yesterday, at home no less, against UC Davis. Theo was in Beasley and has this game story and a couple of postgame interviews. … The volleyball team lost at Nebraska in the NCAA tournament’s second round. … We can pass along more from the Johnson-Mack situation.

Elsewhere in the Pac-12, we will find out all the playoff and bowl assignments starting at 9 a.m. today. It’s all part of a really screwed-up system. … Washington still has a shot at a New Year’s Day bowl. … Oregon is going bowling but will Willie Taggart still be in charge? … In basketball, Oregon State, Arizona, Arizona State and Utah won while Colorado finally lost. The Wildcats struggled but the Sun Devils didn’t. … Washington is happy with its free throw shooting. … UCLA expects a high scoring game today.

Gonzaga: In case you missed it, Gonzaga roared back in the second half Friday night to run away from 25th-ranked Creighton. … Jim Meehan has a fun feature on a manager-turned-walk-on-player. My favorite part is the last two sentences. … The reason for the roster addition, the injury to Corey Kispert, is clearing up. Jim has that story as well. … The women hosted Portland State yesterday and won handily. Jim Allen has the coverage. … Around the WCC, Saint Mary’s held off California in a road contest. … BYU traveled to Utah State and won. … USD lost its second consecutive game.

EWU: Around the Big Sky, Weber State will continue on in the FBS playoffs after a 30-13 win at Southern Utah. It was a great season for the Thunderbirds. … On the basketball courts, Southern Utah and Montana State won while Northern Colorado has been winning.

Idaho: The FBS era is over. And the Vandals finished it with a win, traveling to Georgia State and leaving with a 24-10 win. They also leave with some important milestones reached.

Whitworth: The Pirates first Northwest Conference road weekend was a successful, culminated by last night’s 88-70 win over Pacific Lutheran.

Chiefs: Spokane rallied for a 4-3 win at Tri-City, giving the Chiefs one more win at the Americans’ home rink this year than they earned all last season.

Preps: On a typically busy December Saturday, Liberty came up one point short of winning the state 2B football title. Dave Nichols has the story. … We can also offer roundups of basketball action from boys and girls along with coverage from The Fitz Tournament by Justin Reed. … A Lewis and Clark cross country runner finished second at the Foot Locker West Regional.

Seahawks: If the Hawks lose tonight, we may see this game with Philadelphia as the end of an era. … There are two really good quarterbacks featured in tonight’s game. … Roster moves happen all the time.

Mariners: Shohei Otani is scheduling meetings. The M’s want to be the final team standing.

Sounders: Why is Seattle back playing for the MLS Cup?

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• There is no chance, but if the Cougars play in Santa Clara, I wish Michigan could be their opponent. Just saying. Until later …