Letters To The Editor

Price, not Cougs, to blame at WSU

A few years back the saying at Washington State was “they Couged.” That should now be renamed “they Priced.”

Consider the following:

Too many penalties, players undisciplined; Unable to make adjustments until halftime;

Defense “tired” when more depth this year than any year;

Unprepared. “If I had it to do over I’d … ”;

Good players sitting on the bench while “grass killers” play …;

“We’ve got a young team.” Other football teams in the Pac-10 have young teams (Huskies).

Bottom line, folks, for Cougs’ poor showing is the coach. What we pay him yearly adds up to about $100,000 per win! He has the quarterback, talent, best recruiting class (after the Rose Bowl) and this is what we get. “I’m Disappointed the way we played!”

C O A C H! Ed Hollow Spokane

Mead, Mt. Spokane do selves proud

To all those in attendance at the Mt. Spokane and Mead high school volleyball match Sept. 26, I would like to extend a congratulation.

To witness a match between sister schools of the same community was outstanding, but the bonus was watching as both teams and fans poured out onto the floor after the match and shared a moment of community and respect for each other. It is what high school athletics is all about.

Watching the student bodies, complete with costumes and body paint, cheer and support each team and shake the gym with enthusiasm sent chills through all of us. Thank you for demonstrating the true embodiment of competition and spirit. John Reid Spokane

Vandals `classless’ winners

I’ve been to a lot of football games and other sporting events in my life, and I have never seen poorer winners than the Idaho Vandals.

I’ve seen the Washington State Cougars lose to, among others, Washington, USC and Michigan, teams known nationally as bad winners, but nothing compares to the Idaho Vandals.

After the game (Sept. 23), while most of their football team danced on the Cougars emblem on the center of Martin Stadium, other Idaho players taunted and ridiculed the Cougars fans waiting for the aisles to clear so they could go home. On the outside of the stadium, groups of college-aged Idaho fans were taunting and threatening Cougars fans as they left the stadium.

I have never seen another football team within a light year of having less class than Idaho, and the football team was arguably better behaved than their fans. After witnessing the game I have a few thoughts:

One, congratulations to the Cougars students for turning the other cheek. They have had enough bad press for their behavior in recent years and deserve credit for unilaterally showing class after the game.

Second, I think the Cougars football team (or at least the Cougars defense) should be forced to watch the Vandals dance on their logo so as to serve as motivation to actually show up for the next game with the Vandals.

Third, why is WSU allowing the Vandals to play their home football games in Martin Stadium and how soon can they rectify that mistake? Larry Medin Spokane

Can Vlahovich be cloned?

I am writing in response to a letter by Char Dauterman (Letters, Sept. 24, “Harriers unsung”). I agree with her wholeheartedly that there needs to be more coverage on cross country. I also get tired of all the information on pro sports in The Spokesman-Review.

However, I disagree with her criticism of Mike Vlahovich. I coach cross country and have found him to be one of cross country’s greatest supporters in our area. He attends the meets, gets to know the kids, and has a genuine passion for the sport and the kids.

Perhaps the problem of coverage is because there is only one person assigned to cross country. I read the article and assumed Vlahovich was at the Mead-Mt. Spokane-Shadle meet. He can’t report in depth on a meet he didn’t see. Char suggests if he can’t write an informative article, to not write one at all.

I can imagine all the complaints that would pour in if he didn’t report on the Ferris meet at all.

She points out several exciting parts of the race that she witnessed. Each cross country meet that goes on out there has many great stories within the races. That is what makes cross country such an exciting sport. Even if a runner is 2 minutes behind the leader, there is a race going on. That runner is either battling with another runner or is battling with the clock.

If these stories were reported about the Ferris and U-Hi meet, there would need to be that amount of coverage for all the meets (which would be OK with me!).

I hope Mike continues to do the great job he does with the space restrictions he has. My only complaint about Mike is that he can’t be cloned! Dori Robertson Chattaroy