Garb Crimson, Hair Gray Colfax Man A Devoted WSU Football Fan Since 1929

Bill Munson bleeds more crimson than most. He’s a Cougar fan who may have started out life on the wrong side of the state but quickly found his colors.

On Sunday, he wore them. A crimson Cougar sweatshirt, a brand-spanking new crimson Cougar baseball cap and a slick crimson Cougar jacket with a Coug basketball pin on board.

“I hope his garb doesn’t embarrass you,” said Carl Gibson, Munson’s son-in-law. “He’s all decked out.”

On the contrary, Munson has earned his stripes. He’s seen every home game that he could since 1929. The 87-year-old Colfax man, a veteran of 12 Cougar football coaches and one world war, has squirreled away two file cabinets full of Cougar memories.

Munson missed the last Washington State Rose Bowl, in 1931, because the trip was too expensive. He wasn’t going to miss this year’s bowl, no chance. He’s staying with his daughter’s family in Mission Viejo. On Sunday, Munson went to the last Cougars practice open to the public.

He was one of about 300 people who came and went from the cavernous Memorial Coliseum in Los Angeles to watch the team run drills. Some listened to music on earphones. Kids ran around with special Rose Bowl footballs, trying to find somebody worthy of signing them. One girl counted seats for about an hour. And many stepped back from Munson, trying to gauge his age.

“What year were you?” asked a wild-haired man in snazzy gold wraparound sunglasses.

“I was a sophomore in 1930,” Munson said proudly.

“I figured I’d be the oldest one here, but you win,” said the sunglassed man, patting Munson on the back. “I graduated in 1952.”

Some wondered if Munson was a former Cougar football player, but he’s never played the game, preferring the role of sideline quarterback.

Others in the stands just wanted to compare Cougar tales. Lorie Dankers and Jeff Johnson, who married after meeting in the Washington State marching band, flew to Southern California from their home in Washington, D.C.

“I’m ‘89,” Dankers prompted.

“I’m ‘87,” Johnson added.

“I got you beat,” Munson said. “I’m ‘34.”

“Oh, you look like you could be in my class,” said Dankers, exaggerating only slightly. “You look great.”

Munson first saw the Cougars play in 1926, against the Huskies in his hometown of Seattle. The Cougars won a squeaker and Munson didn’t like it. He was a young pup and it took him years to learn.

A friend and wanna-be veterinarian persuaded Munson to go to school in Pullman. Munson still wasn’t pulling for the Cougars when they played the Huskies his freshman year. But Washington State’s impressive come-from-behind victory won him over.

He turned the Cougars into a hobby and even flew with the team to four games over the years. He paid $5 to be a charter member of the Cougar Club. He’s a former president.

Munson talks folksy, a football philosopher. He sells his speech with the word “incidentally” and peppers it with “gee whiz” and “darn.” He hopes for a Rose Bowl victory, but a loss won’t destroy him.

“I always come back to this: In the last analysis, it’s just a football game,” Munson said. “Ain’t that true? I got another expression. Ten years from now, it won’t make a darn bit of difference. I don’t let shooting a bad round of golf get me down either.”

After almost two hours, practice was over. Fans and family walked out of the Coliseum and only reporters and photographers waited. They swarmed Coach Mike Price.

“Let’s meander over there for the heck of it,” said Munson, scuffing his black dress shoes across the field. “Boy, this is a dandy playing field.”

He didn’t exactly muscle his way past the 25 journalists circling Price, but he somehow slinked into the front lines. Munson has never met Price, although he wouldn’t mind. He nodded his head at Price when the coach told reporters that we took football seriously in the state of Washington.

“You know what I’m gonna do?” said Munson, walking out of the stadium. “After all this hubbub is over, I’d like to go to Pullman and go over to Bowler Gym. Maybe I’ll pop into his office, and say, ‘Hey, I’ve been wanting to talk to you for a long time.’ I’d like to do that. I think he’s doing a darn fine job.”

, DataTimes ILLUSTRATION: Color Photo