Playing The Name Game Cougar Cory Withrow Just As Talented As Cory Solomon
Just to clear up any confusion, Cory Withrow was Cory Withrow before he was Cory Solomon, and Cory Solomon returned to being Cory Withrow while most people still thought he was Cory Solomon.
On second thought, perhaps Mr. Withrow should explain.
“My real dad’s last name is Withrow, and my mom got remarried and I switched it over from Withrow to Solomon when I was like 7,” said Withrow, a 1993 Mead High School graduate and the starting center on Washington State’s football team. “And my dad was killed when I was 8, so I never really got a chance, you know - I always went by Solomon.
“No real reason, but then I changed it (back to Withrow) when I was 18 with my driver’s license and all that kind of stuff. And then it just took me like a while until I got real comfortable, until I could go talk to the coaches and change it. It’s something I’ve been wanting to do for a long time. I should have probably done it sooner just because I needed to represent my family more.”
There’s a less serious side to Withrow’s decision, as the 6-foot-4, 275-pound junior explained during Friday’s WSU media day/sweat festival in sizzling Martin Stadium.
“It’s gonna fool all the guys that are scouting me,” joked Withrow, who still wears No. 71. “They’ll be saying, ‘Look, this guy played - wait a second, his name’s changed. Who is this guy?’
They never even heard of me before. They’ll think I’m a first-timer. All part of the plan here.”
Head coach Mike Price was amused by the creative strategy, but seemed less enthusiastic when it was suggested Ryan Leaf become Chad Davis.
Withrow came into camp last year as the backup to senior center Marc McCloskey, but ended up starting every game at right guard.
With McCloskey gone, Withrow is the favorite at center.
“It’s just a real fight,” said Withrow, who will be pushed in camp by junior center Lee Harrison.
“Whoever can hold out the longest in two-a-days. (Line coach John McDonell) always says, you can’t make the club in the tub. You gotta be ready to play,” he said.
Weight a minute
How many USC football players does it take to screw up an elevator?
Ten, according to a recent report in the Los Angeles Times. Ten beefy Trojans - not a math major among them, our research revealed - crammed into a dormitory elevator despite a posted warning not to exceed 2,000 pounds. The elevator, anchored by 300-pounders Grant Boelter, Darrell Russell and Chris Brymer and straining under 2,775 pounds of USC recruiting prowess, became lodged between floors.
The players spent more than an hour trapped inside. By the time mechanics finally arrived, the players had broken their way out.
USC linebacker Mark Farlin, who wasn’t on the fateful elevator ride, will miss several weeks after jamming his foot in an industrial accident. Farlin was injured when an 80-pound drum fell on the foot during a summer job.
Oregon’s Belden out
Oregon kicker Matt Belden, who did not return to the lineup after tearing his right quadriceps muscle in last year’s season-opener, will miss this season with complications from the injury.
As a freshman in 1994, Belden made 13 of 23 field goals and averaged 39.8 yards on 81 punts.
Parting shot
Los Angeles Times columnist Thomas Bonk took a shot at Pullman while summarizing Jim Lambright’s support for the Pac-10’s decision to play overtime.
“(The) Washington coach said he is a big supporter of the no-tie setup because he doesn’t want people to think it’s more entertaining to play Nintendo than watch a college football game,” Bonk wrote. “We’re not sure if they’ve got Nintendo up there in Pullman yet, but Washington State coach Mike Price is well aware of the level of excitement associated with overtimes.”
Nintendo? Is that like Pong? , DataTimes ILLUSTRATION: 2 Color Photos