Security is better prepared
PULLMAN – Washington State University plans to have an extra police presence on hand for the Apple Cup after bottles were thrown onto the field following Washington’s Martin Stadium win in 2002.
John David Wicker, WSU’s director of event and facility operations, said the school has added both internal and external security forces to maintain a calm environment regardless of the game’s outcome.
“We’ll have a Washington State Patrol on the field,” Wicker said. “And we’ll have uniformed officers – Spokane and university – in the stands, and they’ll be in the student section.”
The problems came when a controversial call went against the Cougars to end a triple-overtime game. Washington fans were allowed to storm the field, and the Huskies stayed on the field to celebrate, possibly inciting Cougars fans in the stands.
“That was unfortunate, but I don’t expect that to happen any more,” WSU head coach Bill Doba said. “Our fans were wrong and so were some of their guys. But that was really unusual. In the 15 or 16 Apple Cups I’ve been involved in, we’ve never had that problem.”
This year, Wicker said WSU is more prepared. Should the Huskies win, the team’s band will be standing behind the east end zone, essentially acting as a roadblock for Washington fans to charge the field. If the Cougars win, the police presence is there to limit the number of people on the playing surface.
“Our goal is to keep them in the stands, because that was a big reason we had a problem last time,” Wicker said. “The fans came on the field and celebrated with the Huskies, which was right in the middle of the field, then they have to go through the tunnel, which is right in the middle of the student section. So what happened is what happens.”
Doba has alluded to the current coaching staff at Washington as being too classy to allow something similar to happen this season. Husky head coach Keith Gilbertson was an assistant under Rick Neuheisel in 2002.
“If we are fortunate enough to win, we are going to walk across the field, shake hands with our opponent,” Gilbertson said. “If we’re not fortunate enough to win, we’re going to walk across the field and shake hands with our opponent.”
Injury report
Running back Jerome Harrison, right tackle Sam Lightbody and defensive tackle Odell Howard all returned to WSU’s practice on Wednesday.
Harrison (sprained thumb and turf toe) and Lightbody (torn thumb ligament and bruised knee) had been held out on Tuesday as a precaution, and both are expected to play. Howard, the team’s first substitute in an already-thin rotation, was considered day-to-day with a back strain after missing Tuesday’s practice. While Howard was able to participate in drills, his official status remains questionable.
Senior safety Jeremy Bohannon left practice early in an effort to get his problematic left ankle ready for the Apple Cup.
Food for thought
Plenty of analysis and planning go into each football game the Cougars play. But this season, there’s been an early indicator as to how things will turn out.
Each Thursday, WSU performs a two-minute drill near the conclusion of practice. The coaching staff sets a goal for the offense (i.e. number of points needed), puts the ball on the field and allots both time and timeouts.
Four times this season, the offense has successfully completed the drill and scored. All four times that happened, the Cougars won. Six times this season, the offense has failed to complete the drill and did not score. All six times that happened, the Cougars lost.
“You know what, I noticed that,” wide receiver Jason Hill said after Wednesday’s practice. “That’s pressure. … I’m going to go tell the receivers that and Alex (Brink) right now.”
No word yet on whether the coaching staff will start today’s two-minute drill on the 1-yard line to try, guaranteeing an Apple Cup win.
Notes
WSU coach Bill Doba has gathered his players before practice both days this week. On Wednesday, he took the time to read them a letter written by two soldiers – and Cougars fans – stationed in Afghanistan. … Early weather forecasts have temperatures dipping well below freezing, possibly into the teens, once nightfall comes on Saturday. … Washington, Oregon and Arizona State have agreed to switch playing dates for the 2005 season. The move was made at the request of ASU, which faced the prospect of playing three straight Pac-10 road games next season. According to the revised schedule, UW will move its road game at ASU from Oct. 15 to Oct. 29. UW’s game at Oregon will move from Oct. 29 to Oct. 8.