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

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Inquiring minds wanted to know

COUGARS

OK, you've got questions, I've got answers …

Jimmy asks: What is the status of Mixon? Well, Jimmy, Terry Mixon is still nursing a hamstring strain. The highly thought of junior college transfer (Grossmont CC in San Diego) wasn't participating in practice Sunday and I'm not sure if he'll be on Tuesday. The sad thing for he and the Cougars is he came into fall practice overweight – rehabilitating a broken bone in his foot didn't help – and then suffered the injury. His injury, however, has allowed another JC transfer, Alfonso Jackson, to move ahead in the starting safety derby. Jackson, a muscular 5-foot-9 transfer from Blinn CC in Hearne, Texas, has impressed the coaching staff with his willingness to close a hole and his ability to make plays.

RayL asks: … but we have green offensive line players with only a couple of year’s experience playing football. My question is: How does this happen and is there hope? Ray, sure there's hope. Both Vaughn and Reed Lesuma, the inexperienced tackles you are referring to, are physical talented players with a huge upside. Reed is playing behind returning redshirt Micah Hannam at right tackle but Vaughn is currently the starter at left tackle. Plus, any line coached by George Yarno is going to improve. As the days wear on, they are working together better and showing growth as a group. How does this happen? There are two ways to look at it. One way is to say the Cougars have mined some unlikely talent, beating other schools for a couple talented players just because they were willing to take a chance. The other way is to shake your head in disbelief because a Pac-10 team is reduced to such extraordinary measure in an attempt to put together a productive offensive line. Take you pick. But remember, if Andy Roof were available, four of the five starters would be guys who started a lot last year.

Scott wanted to know: Hey I was just curious why you don't ever link Lewiston Tribune or the Moscow-Pullman Daily Bulletin? Scott, the answer is simple. Both Lewiston and Moscow are pay-to-read sites. The Spokesman is as well, but if I link a S-R story, that allows you to read it for free. Such is not the case with other pay sites. If I were to link their stories, you would have to pay to read them. So I don't send you there.

CougNut was interested in: the Cougar Hardwood Classic and the Hispanic Invitational: Well, I listed the teams in the Spokane tournament earlier (Air Force, Montana and Mississippi Valley State), which hadn't been mentioned anywhere else as far as I know. Plus, as of last week, the Cougar game in Seattle was still up in the air. According to a source, as of late last week there was a chance WSU might play in the Pete Newell Classic instead of the Seattle game. That might have changed, but that's the latest information I had.

Amy emailed asking for information on Coug alums playing in the NFL: That information will take some time to compile, so I'm passing for now. I would rather spend my limited time on current Cougars. If I happen to see or hear anything, I'll pass it on.

Finally tomdorkey: I fixed the link so you can get the second page of the Gibson story.

I'll be out of here early tomorrow to make the 9:30 a.m. practice, so there probably won't be a morning post. As I didn't write for publication today – and the Cougs didn't practice – there isn't much to link to anyway.



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