Another chance for redemption
It’s become a weekly ritual during Washington State quarterback Alex Brink’s conference call with reporters. Inevitably, someone will ask the junior about trying to avenge a heartbreaking defeat from the previous season that week, and the quarterback will attempt to pass off what happened last season as being a thing of the past.
Whatever the motivation for the Cougars – be it revenge, a bowl game or anything else – they have a chance to add yet another feather to the cap of what is beginning to border upon a wildly successful season of redemption.
The 5-3 Cougars will take on UCLA in the Rose Bowl at 4 p.m. today, and in doing so they’ll have a chance to earn a sixth victory and bowl eligibility. (Not to mention a little revenge after losing 44-41 in overtime to the Bruins last season.)
“Our UCLA game a year ago, we’ve got the thing won, they throw a pass in the air,” WSU head coach Bill Doba said. “Our guy is right there to knock it down and they outjump us to catch it and win the game in overtime. This year, we get the interception. I don’t know if you call it luck, confidence or whatever. But a lot of it is mindset, and just how you approach it.”
The Cougars’ mindset hasn’t been this good in years. All week, they’ve talked about the possibility of winning out this season – a notion that suddenly doesn’t seem so far-fetched after beating then-No. 16 Oregon last week at home.
Outside a defensive meeting room this week hung a blown-up photo of UCLA quarterback Patrick Cowan, with a quote from Oregon defender Enoka Lucas after the Ducks beat the Bruins earlier this season: “The more we beat them down, the more they gave up.”
Last week’s victory has the Cougars thinking big, and today’s game should go a long way in proving whether it’s justified.
“Winners expect to win and they make plays when they have to, and I think that’s what we’re trying to get across to our kids,” Doba said. “We’ll find out if it’s still working.”
Things won’t be easy for the Cougars, though, as UCLA sports a 4-3 record overall, 4-0 at home. WSU will play today’s game without its three best defensive tackles, relying on little-used backups to combat the Bruins’ power-running game. Top cornerback Tyron Brackenridge could also be out because of a hamstring injury.