Grip on Sports: Decision by WSU’s Fossum is easy to understand

A GRIP ON SPORTS • Being a walk-on in Division I isn’t easy. Even if you play. And that’s not a given for those who pay their way in college athletics these days. Read on.

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• Full disclosure here. I was once a walk-on. Unrecruited, unwanted, undeterred. Which is the way for most walk-ons in college athletics.

When I did it, it was a lot easier. And cheaper. My fees at UC Irvine was somewhere just south of $500 a year, and I had a state academic scholarship that took care of them.

Room and board was a bit higher, but nothing that would break the bank. So indulging my baseball passion was pretty simple, even if the indulgence meant spending many a Saturday sitting in a bullpen waiting for a pitcher to bounce curve balls into my chest before he headed off to get lit up on the mound.

These days tuition and fees are a bit higher. What I paid a year is probably akin to what Kaleb Fossum’s folks are paying per class at Washington State.

Which makes the WSU punt returner’s decision understandable. Earlier this week Fossum tweeted he was transferring to the University of Nevada, which had a scholarship available.

Washington State didn’t.

Fossum had one job with the Cougars and, though he did it well, it wasn’t a spot that leads to many scholarships. (As a former bullpen catcher/first-base coach, I get that.) Last season he returned 17 punts for 155 yards, 75 of them in one scoring return against California. He returned six kickoffs as well, and averaged a team-high 23 yards on them, including one for 45 yards.

He’s also a receiver, sure, bit not one that you saw in the regular rotation, despite the Cougars’ need at the position. In fact, 14 receivers caught passes last year for WSU. Fossum wasn’t one of them.

So it’s understandable the Washington State wouldn’t dedicate one of its 85 full rides to a punt returner, even if that guy was the first to take one back for a score in more than a decade.

Nevada has a spot for him. One with his tuition, fees, room and board paid. His parents won’t have to write checks anymore. And he’ll still get a chance to play the game he loves.

The Cougars? They will have to find someone else to return punts.

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Gonzaga: If you watch the Bulldogs’ games on television, and you know I do, then you have heard over and over how improved GU’s defense is this season. Out front, the guy who does the best job is the guy Jim Meehan writes about today, Silas Melson. … Why watch on TV? Because getting a ticket to watch inside McCarthey isn’t easy. Whitney Ogden has more in this piece. … Is this year really all that different when it comes to pressure? I’m not sure it is. … Josh Perkins exploited his Colorado roots over the summer. … The GU women keep winning. But their RPI isn’t moving up as quickly as they would like. Jim Allen has the story.

WSU: Fossum’s transfer is about the only news from Pullman to pass along, but there are plenty of Pac-12 items to discuss in football and basketball. … In football, Washington may lose an assistant coach. … Anu Solomon struggled with lots of things at Arizona. … Stanford’s athletic director is just trying to keep the success going. … Speaking of success, Colorado has rebounded and is playing the game of basketball better now. … Oregon State isn’t. … Arizona is reaping some rewards from early season growing pains as well. … Utah was happy to get some rest. … UCLA wants to forget the first meeting with USC.

EWU and Idaho: The two rivals meet in women’s basketball this Saturday in Moscow for a key Big Sky Conference game. Jim Allen has a preview.

Chiefs: Spokane gave up five third-period goals and lost 7-2 at Prince George. The Chiefs are still eight points out of a playoff spot as the WHL season winds down.

Preps: Seasons are ending almost every day now, and such was the case in the 4A playoffs. Greg Lee was at Central Valley last night where the Bears moved on with a 53-46 win over Lewis and Clark. Colin Mulvany also has a photo report. … We also have a roundup of the area girls and area boys playoff games as well as Steve Christilaw’s story from the 1A playoffs at West Valley High.

Empire: The newest IFL team is letting the fans call the plays. Hey Seahawks, can Josh from Bellevue have the last Super Bowl play next time?

Seahawks: The Hawks aren’t going to face any punishment for not reporting Richard Sherman’s injury after all. … They will save some money at the kicker spot this season. … Cliff Avril had surgery yesterday.

Mariners: Felix Hernandez held court with the media yesterday and proclaimed he’s going to prove all the doubters wrong. Should I write, “I doubt it” or not?

Sounders: Clint Dempsey is back and says all is well.

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• No matter what, I will always have a soft spot for walk-ons. The work they put in is crucial to any college team’s success but the rewards aren’t anything to write home about. Unless you need a few extra bucks for Chipolte or whatever. Until later …