Leaf Disputes Report About Husky Qb
Washington State quarterback Ryan Leaf came out swinging Tuesday, angrily challenging an Associated Press story in which he was quoted as having taken verbal shots at Brock Huard and rival Washington.
Leaf, speaking during his weekly conference call with reporters, claimed the AP story distorted comments that were made during a private conversation between Leaf and his father after the Cougars’ Oct. 26 home game against Arizona. The conversation took place outside the postgame interview room, Leaf said.
The AP stood by the story and denied Leaf’s claims.
The story, which made waves in Seattle last week, quoted Leaf as saying he had no interest in meeting Huard, his UW counterpart. Also in the story, Leaf predicted that the Huskies will lose to UCLA next week.
Leaf demanded a retraction. He said he would have contested the story earlier, but he didn’t want to create a distraction heading into last week’s game at Arizona State. The Cougars play 48-point underdog Southwestern Louisiana this week.
“Now I want to set the record straight,” Leaf said. “Brock Huard is an exceptional football player and somebody that I respect.”
Dale Leach, chief of the AP bureau in Seattle, defended reporter Nick Geranios, who wrote the story.
“Everything that Ryan Leaf said to Nick was said in the interview room,” Leach said. “We don’t know what Ryan Leaf’s father looks like. We have no idea if he was in the room or not. There was nothing that he told us that was not said directly to us.
“The last question that Nick asked was if Leaf thought that the Apple Cup was going to be for the Rose Bowl. Leaf was heading out the door and said, ‘They won’t beat UCLA.”’
Not so, Leaf claimed.
“I had just got done doing my interviews after the Arizona game, and I’m walking out, wanting to be with my family,” Leaf said. “And this guy follows me out there through the hall and then listens in on my conversation with my father to get his quotes.
“I think that’s immoral. You’ve got to respect people’s privacy.
“Me and my dad are talking about college football - UCLA and Washington, stuff like that,” Leaf added. “I’m like, ‘Yeah, I don’t know if Washington can beat UCLA down there.’ He takes it, puts it in the paper.
“He says that I don’t like Brock, that I don’t want to meet Brock. I think Brock is an exceptional person and exceptional quarterback. But then everybody in the country believes I’m a (jerk) because of this stuff.”
Leaf has a reputation for speaking his mind, but he claims to be making an effort to avoid controversy this season. “I’ve tried to be as PC as possible this year, doing the right thing for everybody,’ Leaf said.
“I’m saying I don’t know what’s going to happen with the Washington-UCLA game,” he added. “They’re two great football teams and it’s going to be a great game.
“But again, people are trying to say that I don’t want to meet Brock. That’s bull.”
The 16th-ranked Cougars and No. 6 Huskies meet Nov. 22 in Seattle. Leaf ranks third nationally in total offense. Huard leads the nation in passing efficiency.
Notes
WSU’s final home game of the season, Nov. 15 against Stanford, will not be televised. Kickoff is set for 2 p.m. … As a precautionary measure, Leaf rested his sore right arm during Tuesday’s practice. Tailback Michael Black (sore knee) is expected to start against SWL, but backup DeJuan Gilmore (turf toe) is doubtful. Adam Hawkins would be Black’s backup. Former backup Miguel Meriwether has had two arthroscopic knee surgeries and is not available, coach Mike Price said. … Correction: Price is 51 years old, not 54, as reported Monday. It only seemed as if he aged three years during the ASU game.
, DataTimes MEMO: This sidebar appeared with the story: TICKET PACKAGES OFFERED In an effort to boost attendance for this week’s non-conference game against Southwestern Louisiana, the Cougars are offering two discounted ticket packages. Four-ticket family plans are available for $20. Blocks of 10 or more seats are available for $5 per ticket. Info: 1-800-462-6847.