Mike Leach won’t engage in any Apple Cup trash talk

PULLMAN – Washington State football coach Mike Leach has resisted all attempts to turn the Apple Cup into anything more than an ordinary matchup between two teams, both of whom will try their best on Friday.

He has not made players available to the media this week, lest they talk a little smack, and has refused to gin up any controversy himself. So, when informed of some potentially enraging words made by a Washington assistant after last year’s Apple Cup, Leach refused to take the bait.

“I don’t care what he thinks,” Leach said when asked about the interview, which has resurfaced this week.

The interview involved UW secondary coach Jimmy Lake, who told KJR radio host Dave Mahler that WSU’s Air Raid offense is “basketball on grass” rather than “hard-nosed, tough football.”

Leach often bristles at the frequent implication that because his offense is open and takes advantage of space it somehow is more finesse less physical than those run by other teams.

In the interview, Lake also argued that WSU starting quarterback Luke Falk missing the game did not lead to UW’s 45-10 win.

“What I did see was some nervous receivers going downfield after they got hit a few times,” Lake said.