Jacob Thorpe

PULLMAN – If there’s a downside to the Air Raid offense promulgated by Washington State University head coach Mike Leach, it’s that it’s not the easiest thing to teach, or learn. Few high schools run such a pass-oriented attack. And because of its unique properties, such as extra-wide splits for offensive lineman and the importance placed on running backs being able to catch the ball, it’s a lot for a college athlete to learn in four or five years.

If there’s a downside to the Air Raid offense promulgated by Washington State University head coach Mike Leach it’s that it’s not the easiest thing to teach, or learn.

PULLMAN – The career of a football coach is a winding, circuitous affair full of fits and starts, hirings and firings, promotions and demotions. It is a hectic lifestyle, one in which the No. 1 phone number on speed dial may be the babysitter, but No. 2 is a real estate agent. But no matter where the respective journeys of Mike Leach and Sonny Dykes seem to take them, their paths can’t help but cross. A relationship that began as an experiment in offensive innovation has taken them from the Commonwealth of Kentucky all the way to the west coast, with a pit stop in Lubbock, Texas, of course.

Key Returners: Royce Woolridge (11.0 ppg, 2.7 apg), DaVonte Lacy (10.5 ppg, 2.9 rpg), D.J. Shelton (6.2 ppg, 6.0 rpg) Key Departures: Brock Motum (18.7 ppg, 6.3 rpg), Mike Ladd (10.5 ppg, 5.9 rpg)

The career of a football coach is a winding, circuitous affair full of fits and starts, hirings and firings, promotions and demotions. It is a hectic lifestyle, one in which the No. 1 phone number on speed dial may be the babysitter, but No. 2 is a real estate agent.