Bad Apple of an idea

To suggest that Seattle is a neutral venue for the Apple Cup is beyond ridiculous.

As a player, when you run into the stadium to the cheers of your fellow Cougars for an Apple Cup home game and a Martin Stadium filled with a sea of crimson, it creates a feeling inside that empowers you to play much harder than you have and do more than just win – but send the Dawgs packing for their long trip home.

This is how we felt in 1982, underdogs but at home, and our coach knew the power the change to Pullman had and we kicked their ass.

I know the score was close that year, but in the trenches we destroyed them. Why? Because they were on our turf, in front of our fans! Had the 1981 Apple Cup been in Pullman, we most likely would have won and gone to the Rose Bowl that year. We were a better team but we were in Seattle, hence they beat us in the trenches and we lost.

Now the next time we are headed to a major bowl and UW is the only team left in our way, are we going to be in Pullman? No, every year we will be in Seattle. So goodbye home-field advantage.

We stay in the big leagues with our poor revenue base because coming to Pullman is a tough place for opposing teams to play. What do you tell recruits now? Hey, come play at WSU, but we think so little of our school we play the most important game of the year always in Seattle.

There are always good ideas out there that fall flat. Heck, New Coke was a good idea, Prohibition was thought to be a good idea.

Athletic director Jim Sterk needs to look at the history of supposedly good ideas that went south, because that is where he is headed.

Patrick Lynch (WSU D-line 1979-83)

Dan Lynch (O-line 1980-84)

Spokane