Cougars Overwhelm Prime Rib Football Team Tests Appetite For Michigan, Eats Hearty At Beef Bowl

The Washington State Cougars chowed down at the Beef Bowl, with tackles Delmar Morais and Ryan Tujague becoming co-champions Tuesday by downing five 12-16 ounce prime ribs each.

At one point during the traditional meal for Rose Bowl teams at Lawry’s The Prime Rib restaurant, Tujague informed defensive end Shane Doyle, who was still working on his third slab of beef: “Hey, Doyle, by the fifth one, you start getting dizzy.”

Tujague is a 6-foot-5, 285-pound offensive lineman. Morais is a 6-3, 256-pounder on the defensive side.

Washington State coach Mike Price, who has guided the Cougars to their first Rose Bowl since 1931, said, “We’re great meat-eaters around our state.”

He joked about top-ranked Michigan, the No. 8 Cougars’ Rose Bowl opponent: “A Wolverine is just an ugly dog, isn’t it? Cats against the dogs in the Rose Bowl.”

Washington State’s star quarterback, Ryan Leaf, said he was going to eat light as he headed to the table.

“I’m taking it easy. I’ll have a roll and some salad and some water and I’ll be all right,” he said. Asked if he was going to eat prime rib, he said, “Maybe just a little cut.”

He did eat a prime rib, of course.

While several players were videotaping, linebacker Kenny Moore was particularly focusing in on Rose Queen Purdy Tran.

The Michigan Wolverines get their turn at the restaurant on Friday.