Theo Lawson

All Stories

Sports >  WSU football

Mike Leach was a Kyle Whittingham fan long before Washington State, Utah became Pac-12 rivals

UPDATED: Mon., Sept. 24, 2018

In the late 1970s/early 1980s, Mike Leach was an undergraduate student at Brigham Young, a devout follower of LaVell Edwards’ football team and by virtue, a big fan of the Cougars’ top defensive player.

Sports >  WSU football

Washington State’s Mike Leach declines to comment on Porter Gustin’s vicious hit, but suggests reporters take deeper dive

Mon., Sept. 24, 2018

Like everyone else, Mike Leach replayed Porter Gustin’s controversial hit on Gardner Minshew while he reviewed game tape from Washington State’s 39-36 loss to USC Friday night at Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum.

Sports >  WSU football

Pac-12 announces kickoff time for Oct. 6 battle between Washington State and Oregon State

Mon., Sept. 24, 2018

An Oct. 6 game between Pac-12 North foes Washington State and Oregon State will kick off at 6 p.m. in Corvallis, the league announced Monday.

---

Sports >  WSU football

First look: Utah at Washington State

UPDATED: Mon., Sept. 24, 2018

Washington State (3-1, 0-1) returns to the Palouse to host Utah (2-1, 0-1) in its first home conference game of the 2018 season.

Sports >  WSU football

Analysis: Washington State could’ve used mulligan three times during final drive of narrow loss to USC

UPDATED: Sat., Sept. 22, 2018

Spending 15 minutes inside Washington State’s interview tent following the game, you didn’t get the sense the Cougars (3-1, 0-1) were ready to view their first loss of the 2018 season through the glass-half-full lens.

News >  Home

USC escapes Coliseum with 39-36 win over Washington State after blocking late field goal

Fri., Sept. 21, 2018

At one point early in the third quarter, Washington State held a 13-point lead at the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum. USC’s 17-game home win streak was on the fritz and the Cougars were threatening to beat Clay Helton and the Trojans for the second time in two years.

Sports >  WSU football

Difference makers: JT Daniels shines in second half of USC’s victory over Washington State

UPDATED: Fri., Sept. 21, 2018

Difference makers from USC’s 39-36 victory over Washington State

Sports >  WSU football

Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum more than half full for Washington State, USC game

Fri., Sept. 21, 2018

The Coliseum may not have drawn record numbers, but it was still more than half-full for a Pac-12 duel against the Cougars.

Sports >  WSU football

USC racks up the rushing yards early, but loses steam late in first half against Washington State

Fri., Sept. 21, 2018

Stephen Carr broke away for a long 50-yarder and Vavae Malepeai capped the drive with a strong 3-yard touchdown. Then, quickly as it arrived, the Trojans’ run game disappeared into the smoggy LA air.

Sports >  WSU football

The pick: Why Washington State will beat USC

Fri., Sept. 21, 2018

USC’s current point-per-game average (20) certainly doesn’t hold up against a WSU team that’s averaging more than 43 and if the Trojans offensive line can’t find a way to protect J.T. Daniels, the USC rookie will likely be forced to make a few ill-advised throws. The Cougars scored 24 points off turnovers last week and it could be a key for them once again.

Sports >  WSU football

Washington State seeking consecutive wins over USC for second time in program history

UPDATED: Thu., Sept. 20, 2018

The objective for any road football team is to play so well through the course of a game that it can zap energy and passion out of the crowd and neutralize the advantage a “home field” is supposed to provide.

Sports >  WSU football

Two-minute drill: Keys to victory for Washington State against USC

UPDATED: Thu., Sept. 20, 2018

Keys to a potential Washington State victory Friday against USC at Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum.

Sports >  WSU football

Why Washington State keeps going back to Los Angeles’ Cathedral High

Thu., Sept. 20, 2018

Both receivers, and now Djibril, have expanded WSU’s footprint at Cathedral, but so would a big result for the Cougars (3-0) this Friday night against USC (1-2) at Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum, which is a pebble throw away from the high school in Chavez Ravine area of LA.

Sports >  WSU football

Pac-12 picks: A smaller slate this weekend means a better chance for perfection

UPDATED: Wed., Sept. 19, 2018

We correctly picked the winners for 10 of the 11 games last weekend, and could have been 11 for 11 had officials in the game between Arizona State and San Diego State determined Manny Wilkins’ 48-yard pass to Frank Darby was complete – a decision that would have given the Sun Devils the ball back on the 2-yard line trailing by seven points with 6 seconds left.

Sports >  WSU football

Weekly WSU football chat transcript - 9/19

Wed., Sept. 19, 2018

A transcript from Wednesday's Cougar football live chat with Spokesman-Review Washington State beat writer Theo Lawson.

Sports >  WSU football

USC game carries more significance for 33 Southern Californians on Washington State roster

UPDATED: Tue., Sept. 18, 2018

The Cougars’ Pac-12 opener is meaningful because it’s the first of nine games that counts toward conference standings. But, similar to how the Apple Cup excites just about every Washingtonian on the Cougar roster, the USC game bears that much more importance for 33 players who hail from Los Angeles, San Diego or a close-by suburb of those two.

Sports >  WSU football

Pac-12 power rankings: South Division continues to nosedive after another forgettable week

UPDATED: Tue., Sept. 18, 2018

The weekly Pac-12 power rankings from Spokesman-Review Washington State beat writer Theo Lawson.

Sports >  WSU football

Washington State outscoring opponents 52-0, outgaining them 462-92 in 4th quarter

UPDATED: Mon., Sept. 17, 2018

If football games ended after three quarters, Washington State’s record would be no different than it is now. The Cougars have played well enough through the first, second and third quarter this season to dispatch Wyoming, San Jose State and Eastern Washington. But the fourth is why all three have been so lopsided.

Sports >  WSU football

USC to play first half of Washington State game without standout linebacker Porter Gustin

Mon., Sept. 17, 2018

In the third quarter of USC’s 37-14 loss to Texas, Gustin was first flagged for a personal foul penalty after a punishing hit on Longhorns quarterback Sam Ehlinger and later ejected from the game when officials determined the Trojans defender had led with his head.

Sports >  WSU football

Washington State quarterback Gardner Minshew, receiver Travell Harris earn weekly Pac-12 honors

Mon., Sept. 17, 2018

After going two weeks without recognition, Washington State players picked up two of the three weekly Pac-12 Conference honors after Saturday’s 59-24 blowout win over Eastern Washington at Martin Stadium.

Sports >  WSU football

Afternoon kickoff announced for week five matchup between Washington State, Utah

Mon., Sept. 17, 2018

The Cougars will follow Friday’s late-night kickoff at USC with a mid-afternoon game against Utah the following week in Pullman.

Sports >  WSU football

First look: Washington State at USC

UPDATED: Mon., Sept. 17, 2018

Washington State (3-0) looks to stay unbeaten when it opens up Pac-12 Conference play against USC (1-2).

Sports >  WSU football

Offensive camaraderie apparent for Washington State through three games

UPDATED: Sun., Sept. 16, 2018

Too bad Mike Leach had already exited the interview room, because even Washington State’s coach – candid and blunt as he can be – may have cracked a smile hearing the exchange between Andre Dillard, Gardner Minshew and James Williams.

Sports >  WSU football

Travell Harris gives Washington State a boost with 100-yard kickoff return for touchdown

UPDATED: Sat., Sept. 15, 2018

Travell Harris is debuting as Washington State’s new kick returner this season, but up until Saturday’s game against Eastern Washington, the redshirt sophomore wide receiver hadn’t had many opportunities to do what he does best: return kicks.

Sports >  WSU football

Peyton Pelluer briefly contemplated move to Alabama before deciding on return to Washington State

UPDATED: Sat., Sept. 15, 2018

Alabama knew of Pelluer because defensive coordinator Tosh Lupoi, a former defensive line coach and defensive run game coordinator at the University of Washington, is married to the WSU linebacker’s older sister, Jordan. Pelluer’s family is from Sammamish, Washington – a suburb of Seattle.