Nothing trivial about Saturday’s game
A GRIP ON SPORTS
We are going to share some trivia with you today. Which is different than our usual column, in which we mainly share something trivial. Only one letter different, maybe, but we'll go with that. Read on.
• Do you know USC and Washington State have played 71 football games since December of 1921, when the series began in Pasadena? Among those 71 games are 18 that have been played in Pullman. Yes, tomorrow will mark just the 19th time in nearly 100 years the Trojans have marched into the Palouse. You would think Hangman Creek is their Rubicon or something. See, five days before I was born in 1956, the Trojans played in Pullman. Then they didn't play there again until October of 1984, when Kim and I had been parents for a month. Oh sure, the Trojans ventured north five times in that stretch, but twice they played WSU in Seattle and three times the games were in Spokane. Drive down that two-lane road to Pullman? No way. Is it any wonder that between 1935 and 1985, a stretch of 50 years (in case your math is journalism-bad), WSU won one game against Southern California. One game. A 13-12 decision in the Coliseum in 1957. But when you consider the Cougars have yet to reach double digits in wins against USC – the mark is 58-9-4, with all those ties in the 50-year stretch – maybe the long drought is not that odd. But here's something a bit strange. In the 18 times USC has deemed it acceptable to visit the WSU campus, only two of them occurred in November. It happened in 1994 and again in 1998. Maybe the USC powers-that-be felt snow would melt their linemen or something, but whatever the reason, the Trojans have been pretty much fair-weather visitors whenever they've come to Pullman. Which is what makes Saturday so odd, in a way. Not only will it be just the third meeting between the teams in Washington during November, it may just rain. There's an 80 percent chance of the liquid stuff. Not snow, mind you, only rain. But, if WSU fans are looking for good omens, rain might just be it. After all, it was raining in Boston just before the Trojans took on Boston College earlier this season. The result? USC lost, 37-31. Want another odd piece of trivia? BC has also lost in the past year to Colorado State, just like the Cougars. Coincidence? Oh, sure. But, as straws go, it is at least grasp-worthy. Just about anything is when you are 2-6.
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• WSU: By the way, is Washington State the best 2-6 team in the nation? Being the other choices are Wake Forest, UT-San Antonio, North Texas, Eastern Michigan, Hawaii, UNLV, Colorado, Vanderbilt and New Mexico State, I would have to say yes. The competition isn't all that tough, though. And it's not a distinction – considering the record – any team wants. ... Jacob Thorpe has little competition in newspaper coverage of the Cougars either, though it wouldn't matter. He's much better than 2-6 this season. Heck, today he picked up another win, what with a story on USC's offensive line coach – a guy who has spent a lot more time in the Palouse than the Southern California football program – as well as a Thursday night practice report and a morning post with links. ... Bud Withers examines how the rest of WSU's season may go. ... There are always questions for ESPN.com's Pac-12 folks.
• Gonzaga: Loyola-Marymount handed the Zag volleyball team a rare defeat.
• EWU: Jim Allen took some time yesterday to hold a live chat and to put up a transcript on the blog. But his best work was this feature on receiver Cory Mitchell (pictured celebrating another reception), whose journey to today is filled with some interesting yesterdays.
• Chiefs: Portland returned home last night after a long road trip and lost, 5-0, to Kelowna.
• Preps: The Greater Spokane League 4A football title was decided last night at Joe Albi Stadium and it took four overtimes to get it straightened out. Gonzaga Prep finally prevailed, 29-21 over Ferris. Greg Lee has the story of that game as well as Rogers' 30-21 win over North Central. Jesse Tinsley has photographs from the Prep and Pirate wins as well. ... Mt. Spokane moved forward in the state 3A soccer playoffs with a 1-0 win over Shadle Park. ... Mead eliminated Lewis and Clark in 4A district volleyball.
• Seahawks: Is Walter Jones the best offensive lineman the Hawks have ever had? No question. Is he the best Seahawk of all time? Now that's a good discussion, but he's certainly on the team's Mount Rushmore. Now the Hall of Famer will be part of the Seahawks' Ring of Honor, He'll be inducted this weekend when the Hawks host the Oakland Raiders. (By the way, when I say "the Oakland Raiders" in my head, I always use Howard Cosell's voice. Anyone else do that?) ... Maybe all the Hawks need to do is relax. ... It's hard to relax, though, when there are so many injuries and the ensuing roster churn. ... Guess who always seems relaxed? Richard Sherman. That's not the case with his coordinator, Dan Quinn. ... Did you know there is a Russell Wilson (pictured) connection with Madison Bumgarner? Of course there is.
• Mariners: If you have a calendar for next year already, circle Feb. 20. That's when pitchers and catchers report to spring training. By then I will weigh 20 pounds less. ... With the free agency period beginning, it's always good to look at the list of folks who might be available. Seems like thin pickings this year. ... The M's have already picked up one player this offseason. ... Maury Wills, who has a lot of Spokane connections, is up for Hall of Fame consideration this year.
• Sounders: If the Sounders are to make the Football Manager game look like genius, and win the MLS playoffs, then it will take a close-knit group (check) and a hot goalkeeper (check). ... The first step begins Sunday night in Dallas.
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• Some quick news. I will not be posting tomorrow morning. I have some personal business that will interfere on what will be a long, busy day. I will still be watching the WSU game, however, and hosting the postgame call-in show with Dennis Patchin. And we'll be back here Sunday morning with links and notes after the game. Until then ...
