At Least On Paper, Jackson Wises Up

Just like University of Washington football coach Jim Lambright, Washington State’s Mike Price sent out a warning to his players about firing off verbal barbs about the Huskies.

And if his words weren’t strong enough, Price brought out a letter from Chris Jackson. He was the Cougar who popped off about Washington before last year’s Apple Cup.

“I hope everyone gets their mouth shut to the media, because, believe me, getting a call from Mike Price at 5:30 a.m. is no joke,” the letter read. “At least he gave a little sage advice,” added Price.

Washington’s Andre DeSaussure could have used some of that advice. The Huskies wide receiver recently made several negative comments about Pullman and was subsequently demoted to third string by Lambright. DeSaussure is in jeopardy of not making the travel squad.

Turnabout fair play

Lester Towns and the rest of the Huskies can still hear the voices.

Loud, boisterous Washington State voices, celebrating on his field.

It happened almost a year ago, but the voices still echo.

The Cougars had just beaten the Huskies 41-35 at Husky Stadium and earned their first trip to the Rose Bowl in 67 years.

“You could hear them all in the tunnel,” said the Washington middle linebacker. “They were in there yelling and celebrating and you pretty much couldn’t get away from it.

“It’d be nice to have it go the other way this year and us be the ones celebrating on their field.”

The celebration was not confined to the tunnel. Thousands of Cougars fans stormed the field, ripped down the goal posts and celebrated their team’s winning the Rose Bowl berth.

That celebration has caused some bad feelings among the Huskies and their following.

But Price is not exactly issuing an apology.

“I think it went overboard and it probably should have,” he said. “It was 67 years, for crying out loud.

“It was certainly better than the celebration I witnessed my first year here (1989), when Washington students were getting Maced on the goal posts,” he continued. “Our students could have offended some of their players on the field as they were walking off. It was uncontrolled and I think it was handled very appropriately by the University of Washington.”

Smith doubtful

WSU’s Raonall Smith will probably not play on Saturday. The linebacker, who has had shoulder problems throughout the season, slightly separated the shoulder on Tuesday on a pass rush. He was out of practice on Wednesday and had limited range of motion in the shoulder after going to the training room.

Wide receiver Leaford Hackett, slowed by a concussion, will undergo an MRI at 7 a.m. today and the results should be back by 2 p.m.

But Price believes the junior will be ready for action.

“He should be ready to play,” the coach said. “He hasn’t had any headaches or shown any bad signs.”

Who’s who

Rob Rainville is now wearing No. 33. Mike Sage No. 24. Nian Taylor is No. 8. No, it’s not something to confuse fans, reporters or scouts from the West Side; the switching of uniforms has become a tradition among the Washington State players during Apple Cup week.

“It’s kind of something we’ve always done,” said Sage. “I’m wearing Jason Clayton’s number because we played high school football together and I’ve been blocking for him for nine years.

“It’s something we kind of do out of friendship.”

But it’s causing havoc among the pro scouts in Pullman.

“I had a scout come up to me and ask me what number I was,” said Sage. “I told him I usually wear 77. And he said there was no way I was going to get drafted because I was wearing 24.”

Forecast

The latest forecast for Saturday’s game is temperatures in the 40s and rain.

Price is hoping for snow. Well, a little bit anyway.

“Just on one side of the field,” he said.

As for the Huskies, they prepared for the Pullman weather by conducting a spirited Sunday night workout in a rainstorm.

“We have to get mentally prepared to play in weather like that,” said Lambright. “And that was part of that process.”

First to worst

As for being the first Pac-10 team to go from first to worst in one season, Price had this to say: “At least we were first.”

Run against cancer

For the 20th consecutive year the Washington and Washington State chapters of Kappa Sigma fraternity will run across the state to raise funds to help fight cancer.

The run started on Wednesday from Husky Stadium, with Lambright handing the torch to a UW Kappa Sigma member. The WSU chapter will meet the UW chapter in Wenatchee, and will take the torch from there. The torch is scheduled to be delivered to Price at 4 p.m. in Martin Stadium on Friday.