Six Bad Apples

On Sunday, Washington State University head coach Bill Doba called the Cougars’ Rose Bowl-clinching win over Washington in 1997 his fondest Apple Cup memory. Unfortunately for Doba, that was also the last positive memory from the Apple Cup. The Huskies have won six straight in the in-state game for bragging rights, and this week The Spokesman-Review is taking a look back at each game.

2002: The Huskies upset the Cougars in Martin Stadium to run the Apple Cup winning streak to five. This time, Washington needed three overtimes to defeat WSU 29-26, and even then the game ended in controversy. John Anderson kicked five field goals for the Huskies, including a 49-yarder in the third overtime. The Cougars had the last crack at it on offense, but their third overtime possession lasted one play when Matt Kegel, in for injured Jason Gesser, tried to throw but had the ball come loose. Referees ruled it a lateral, and a Husky recovery ended the game. Once again, quarterback Cody Pickett and wide receiver Reggie Williams dominated WSU. Pickett threw for 368 yards and Williams was on the receiving end for 169.

Before injuring his shin and leaving the game, Gesser completed 14 of 24, including one touchdown and one interception.

The result: WSU recovered the next week to defeat UCLA and qualify for the Rose Bowl, where they lost 34-14 to Oklahoma to finish the season 10-3. The Apple Cup loss was the Cougars’ only defeat in the Pac-10, and Mike Price’s last as head coach as he accepted the Alabama job in December. Washington, in what turned out to also be Rick Neuheisel’s final year, finished 7-6 (4-4 Pac-10), including a 34-24 loss to Purdue in the Sun Bowl.