Leaf Almost Complete Package
Today’s Husky joke:
The Husky football captain ran off the field at the opening coin toss because when the WSU captain introduced himself as being from “the Palouse”, the Husky player thought he said “the POLICE”!!
Today’s Cougar joke
Bear Bryant’s widow was seen in Pullman looking to buy a home. When she was asked why she was considering moving to Pullman she responded, “I want to get as far away from major college football as possible.”
Advice from a Coug
No quarterback in the history of the Washington-Washington State series has matched the five TD passes Jack Thompson launched in the ‘76 Apple Cup.
Who better qualified to counsel WSU quarterback Ryan Leaf heading into Saturday’s game than the Throwin’ Samoan?
Now president of a Seattle-based gourmet coffee supplier, Thompson threw for 736 yards and seven TDs in his three Apple Cup starts.
His advice is simple, with a self-deprecating twist.
“Don’t change a thing,” Thompson said. “Nothing. I applaud what that young man and Coach Price have done. This is the best team the Cougars have ever fielded.”
If this is the best team, is Leaf the finest of all WSU quarterbacks?
Without doubt, Thompson said.
“This team ebbs and flows with him. That’s how powerful a leader he is. He has the drive of Timm Rosenbach with (Drew) Bledsoe’s body and the athleticism of Mark Rypien. All that stuffed in a 6-foot-5, 235-pound frame (the WSU media guide actually lists Leaf at 6-6, 240).
“If Leaf had my hair and my tan he’d be the complete package.”
In the ‘75 Washington game in Seattle, Thompson was a freshman, watching quarterback John Hopkins make all the right choices in Jim Sweeney’s option offense - all the right choices until the final 3 minutes.
Incredibly the Huskies came back to win 28-27.
“I was standing there, contemplating a transfer to San Diego State or UPS,” said Thompson, who couldn’t picture himself in the veer offense.
But Sweeney resigned, the Cougars brought in Jackie Sherrill and overnight for better or worse the Cougars were committed to the pass.
Now, fast forward to the Minnesota game the following season.
As Thompson remembers it, “I was third string (behind Hopkins and Wally Bennett). The backup hadn’t noticed that the first-string quarterback was coming out, so I ran out there.
“We were supposed to run the ball but it was third and long. Why run it? All the coaches on the sideline were yelling. My butt was grass anyway so I audibilized. I completed the pass, either to Eason Ransom, our tight end, or to Brian Kelly, I can’t remember.
“Anyway it was a first down. I get back to the sidelines and it’s like I had a disease. Coach Sherrill was saying , ‘You ain’t never goin’ to see the field again, son.’
“I was thinking UPS again.”
Hopkins was unable to go in the second half after getting picked off and making a touchdown-saving tackle. The Cougars went with Thompson, who went on to become only the second player in school history to have his jersey number retired.
Great moments
1960: UW 8, WSU 7
The Huskies couldn’t have taken a more dramatic path to the Rose Bowl. The Cougars held UW to a scoreless tie for three quarters, then took the lead on Mel Melin’s 3-yard pass to Hugh Campbell. UW dodged a bullet when Charlie Mitchell fumbled the ensuing kickoff, saw it bounce twice off the sod and back into his hands.
Then Don McKeta took over. Returning after taking 10 stitches to close a gash on his left calf, McKeta kept a 15-play touchdown drive alive with a desperate 3-yard run on fourth down - then caught a two-point conversion pass from backup quarterback Bob Hivner for the winning margin. The Dawgs secured victory when Ray Jackson blocked Melin’s 38-yard field goal try with 3 seconds remaining.
, DataTimes ILLUSTRATION: Photo; Staff illustration by Milt Priggee