On this holiday, Cougars thankful for camaraderie
PULLMAN – Thanksgiving is a holiday best spent with family and, thanks to the length of the college football schedule, that’s what the Washington State Cougars will be doing today.
It’s just not their real families.
It’s their football family. After a morning practice, the Cougars will gather in a local hotel and share a pre-Apple Cup Thanksgiving feast. In the spirit of the holiday, The Spokesman-Review asked a sampling of Cougars to share what they say if asked to tell their teammates what they are thankful for.
Senior safety Husain Abdullah: “I would tell them, when you play football, you get to meet a lot of different people. There are a lot of characters on the team, a lot of people you are going to remember, that are fun around everybody.”
Senior offensive guard Bobby Byrd: “This is a rough one. I’m just thankful for them, especially being a Southern California guy, you’re far away from home. This is like one big family. I’ve got a bunch of brothers from different mothers.”
Junior linebacker Cory Evans: “I would thank them for doing a lot for me. I could be dead right now. I want to thank them for my life, thank them for being a part of my life and for being a family to me away from Louisiana. I’ve grown (close) to them, I’ve grown (close) to every coach on this staff. I’d just have to thank them for being there for me and being my home away from home.”
Senior kicker Romeen Abdollmohammadi: “To my teammates, I would definitely just say I was thankful for this opportunity that I got, and I wouldn’t have asked for any other guys to spend it with because everybody on this team, since I first came on the team, they accepted me with open arms. They didn’t give me any problems or anything like that, I was a walk-on, wasn’t scholarshipped, just kind of another player that comes and goes, but they didn’t treat me like that.”
Sophomore linebacker Andy Mattingly: “I would tell the seniors I’m thankful that I was lucky enough to play with them and meet them. It’s been a real privilege to be out there on the field playing with all those seniors. I’d just thank them for everything.”
Senior cornerback Ryan Kensok: “I’m thankful to be here, to be at Washington State, and be able to be a part of this family. I’m thankful that things panned out how they did.”
Junior wide receiver Brandon Gibson: “I’m thankful for being here. God put us in this situation to play college football and I’m excited for that and my teammates and, just living life. I’m thankful for everything.”
Senior linebacker Chris Baltzer: “I would tell them I’m thankful for the opportunity I’ve gotten the last five years up here. And tell them that, although I would really want to be with my family, if I had to be away, couldn’t be with my family back home in Eugene, I would definitely want to be here with these guys. … Without the game of football I never would have been able to meet these guys. That’s my favorite part about the game is coming together with guys from all different walks of life who never would have met each other and try to complete a common goal, which is win a game.”
Senior running back Kevin McCall: “First of all, I’m thankful to play for a program that’s truly built on family. Where the whole town is all about football – it’s big-time football in Pullman – and playing for a Division I football team such as the Cougs. I think they all can relate to that, because we are all Cougars.”
Senior receiver Michael Bumpus: “I’m thankful for still being healthy. The last two seasons I haven’t been healthy around this point of the season. I’m thankful for being surrounded by so many good people, so many good teammates and coaches. And it wouldn’t be right if I didn’t thank my mom just for putting up with the terrible teen years we went through and just all the lessons she’s taught me.”
Senior quarterback Alex Brink: “There’s not doubt I would tell them I’m thankful for them. Saturday kind of hammered home the point for me that those guys have been by me through thick and thin and they’ve stayed there and never wavered. I’ve seen a lot of people waver and I’ve seen a lot of people go back and forth, but my teammates have always been there for me, my coaches have always been there for me and, so, I’m thankful for them and thankful for everything they’ve done for me.”
Notes
The Cougar held a spirited 90-minute practice Wednesday morning, highlighted by a number of Lambeau Leap-like jumps in the snowdrifts on the north side of the field. Before practice the offensive linemen took turns trying to hit the videotape guy on the lift with snowballs and failed miserably. … Backup running back Marcus Richmond won’t play Saturday after suffering a knee injury in Monday’s practice. With the injury, WSU has just two healthy running backs, Chris Ivory and Kevin McCall. If both are injured during the game? “We won’t have any injuries,” head coach Bill Doba said. But if they do, Doba said it is highly unlikely freshman Logwone Mitz’s redshirt would be burned for one game. … Senior defensive lineman Aaron Johnson may not make the trip. Johnson, whose playing time has diminished through the season, is suffering back pain again – he missed time in his career due to the same problem – and hasn’t been able to practice this week. … Doba doesn’t think starting tight end Jed Collins will play much either due to his ankle sprain. “He’s probably a four-play guy,” Doba said, mentioning the number of plays Collins was in against Oregon State. … Kevin Kooyman and Mike Graise have bounced back from their high ankle sprains and should play. … The Cougars prepared for Jake Locker and UW’s option offense, though Doba said he expects the Huskies to employ a rushing attack similar to last week when they ran for 334 yards against Cal. Doba thinks UW’s Louis Rankin is the Pac-10’s most underappreciated running back.