The Cougars from Seattle, Pregame Edition
UPDATED 1:40; 1:55; 2:05
Here's a note you probably won't find anywhere else: The last time Baylor played against WSU in the state of Washington, the game was at Albi Stadium.
That happened back in 1966, when the Bears came into Spokane for an Oct. 1 date with the Cougars. Baylor, coached by John Bridgers, defeated the Cougars, with Bert Clark at the helm, won 20-14 before 19,775 (from the Baylor media guide) or 18,500 (WSU media guide). Add those two attendance figures together and you may have Saturday's crowd.
By the way, that game was the second of three the Cougars played in Spokane that season. They actually played more in Spokane that season then they did in Pullman. The largest Spokane crowd? The Apple Cup, with 33,500. That was also a loss (19-7), part of the Cougs' 3-7 record. Baylor finished 5-5 that season.
And don't think the folks in Waco know the difference between Seattle and Spokane. In the pregame notes, the Baylor release lists the neutral site record of the teams at 1-1, with WSU winning in San Antonio (or was it Houston, all those Texas towns are the same to me) and the Bears winning in Seattle. No, actually at Spokane, a little city 285 miles east.
UPDATE: After sitting in Qwest Field - or Seahawks Stadium if you prefer - just for a while, you can understand why WSU is over here. Even if you take out the be-nice-to-the-Seattle-alumni argument, and the money-making potential, there is still one great reason for the Cougs to be here: This stadium is first class.
Playing here can only be a positive for the players, for recruiting and for the Cougar faithful who decide to attend.
Look at it this way. We all know Seattle is the new Spokane. And everyone in Spokane loved it when the Cougars played there.
UPDATE NO. 2: How many of you out there think of John Candy in "Volunteers" every time you hear the Cougar fight song? Am I the only one?
It hit me again a couple of minutes ago when the Coug band sprinted onto the Qwest turf, spelled out WSU and played the fight song.
Another thing, how many of the band members are actually playing? One of my best buddies spent four years in SC's band, and only got to play the final two years. The two before, he just marched and filled space.
UPDATE NO. 2: The game is about to start, so we'll be signing off for now. Click back for updates at the end of each quarter.