Grip on Sports: Saturday’s football was great though we still yearn for simpler days
A GRIP ON SPORTS • We have no desire to keep you from your NFL games, especially with the added importance the pregame activities have these days. Read on.
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• I never thought I would ever write, or even think, this. I long for the days when President Richard Nixon, the former backup center at Whittier College, drew up a reverse for George Allen – and the Redskins’ coach ran it. It lost a bunch of yards.
Simpler times.
Anyhow, on the field yesterday, Washington State picked up its fourth consecutive victory, Eastern Washington rallied in Missoula – I didn’t know Montana state law allowed that – and Idaho survived the charged air of southern Alabama. It was a pretty exciting Saturday.
Yes, the Cougars are 4-0. But not all of those four wins were created equally. In eight halves, they have not played any better than they did during the first one Saturday. On both sides of the ball. It was impressive. Play like that for 60 minutes Friday against fifth-ranked USC and WSU will be 5-0.
It’s hard to tell, however, how good Washington State is. Montana State wasn’t a huge test (though the Bobcats are probably better than people thought), Boise State was but the Broncos haven’t played that well since, Oregon State might be the Pac-12’s worst team and Nevada, well the Wolf Pack has dropped off a precipice in Jay Norvell’s first year as a head coach.
That’s the schedule WSU put together. All the games were at home. None were as hard as an Organic Chemistry final. But all offered opportunity to improve. And the Cougars seized it. The first-half Cougars yesterday were the best Cougars of the season. Even Mike Leach thought so. The second half ones? OK, so there was a letdown after a short halftime with a 35-zip lead.
Leach hopes those first-half guys show up Friday at 7:40, when the biggest kickoff in Pullman will happen since, oh I don’t know, last year’s Apple Cup. But all Apple Cups are special just because it’s a rivalry. This showdown is special without any rivalry accouterments. It’s all about staying in the race for a Pac-12 title, probably the high-point of WSU’s expectations.
Even if the Cougars were to go 13-0, it’s hard to see them jumping a one-loss SEC or Big Ten school and earning a playoff berth. Geography, tradition and the non-conference schedule would assure that.
USC, however, expects to be in the championship picture. Not just this season. Every year. If not, the coach is fired on an airport tarmac somewhere.
Those are the stakes. It’s going to be a fun week.
• Speaking of stakes, the Griz just couldn’t put one in Eastern’s heart yesterday, which is a testament to how tough that muscle can be. And how strong Gage Gubrud’s right arm is.
Gubrud’s two best games of his career have come in two tough matchups: last year’s opener at Wazzu and yesterday’s Big Sky opener in Missoula. Big players have big games in big spots.
I’m not sure there is a better feeling in all of sports than to go into your rival’s stadium – Montana is Eastern’s top rival these days – and earn the right to sing the fight song in front of your fans afterward.
It may not have the national importance of Baker Mayfield trying to spike the OU flag into the artificial turf at Ohio State, but it holds a special meaning in the Inland Northwest. There is only one chance a year. The Eagles seized theirs.
• A two-hour lightning delay. Another half-hour one. Seven hours in the stadium playing a Saturday football game. And it’s all worth it. For one reason.
Isaiah Saunders scored from 2 yards out in the second overtime and Idaho had earned a 29-23 Sun Belt Conference win over South Alabama.
In the Vandals last-time through the Sun Belt, they are hoping to leave a lasting impression. Saturday’s win was a great start.
Like a bolt from the blue, actually.
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WSU: Where to start? Well, my three takes, which I finished as the game ended, seems as good a place as any. At least in my eyes. … Now to the real interesting stuff, like Theo Lawson’s game story and Jim Meehan’s column. … Theo also has stories on freshman receiver Renard Bell, the Freeman flag waving next to WSU’s on ESPN’s GameDay and the shorter halftime used yesterday. … Ryan Collingwood supplied a handful of other stories, including a look at Luke Falk’s records, the defensive performance without Peyton Pelluer, difference makers and Hercules Mata’afa’s explosive start. … Tyler Tjomsland patrolled the sidelines and has this picture story. … If visuals are your thing, you’ll enjoy this package put together by the talented folks in the office. … There is more from the Nevada side as well, as the Wolf Pack players had to be impressed with Falk and the Cougar defense. … The Times Stefanie Loh, watching from Seattle, had some thoughts afterward.
Elsewhere in the Pac-12, there were some questions about Washington after a lackluster non-conference schedule. No worries. The Huskies dominated on the ground and rolled over host Colorado 37-10 in rainy Boulder. It was wet enough Ralphie didn’t run and neither did the Buffs. … UCLA’s defense didn’t show up at all in the last half of Stanford’s 58-34 late-night pasting of the Bruins. The game was tied at six early and then UCLA seemed to disappear. Will the same happen to Jim Mora soon? The Cardinal played a backup quarterback throughout the offensive surge. … Speaking of coaches with a target, Arizona State’s Todd Graham seemed to have one. Thankfully, for him, Oregon reverted to the defensive form it displayed last year that cost head coach Matt Helfrich his job. ASU pounded the Ducks on the ground and won a back-and-forth 37-35 game in Tempe. … Is California better this season? Yes. But are the Bears so much better they could stay with USC three quarters yesterday? Yes again. Unless the Trojans just aren’t as good as everyone thought. Or maybe the real Trojans are the ones who showed up in the fourth quarter of their 30-20 win in Berkeley. … Utah is still recovering from its 30-24 injury-marred win over Arizona on Friday night. … Back to Saturday, what was important? And what did we learn?
Gonzaga: He never coached at GU, but Jud Heathcote became somewhat synonymous with the Zags late in life. So we put this column by John Blanchette, written after Heathcote’s memorial service, in the Gonzaga section. … The volleyball team won a conference match. … GU assistant Tommy Lloyd will speak at a coaching clinic next month.
EWU: The player of the game yesterday? That would be Gubrud, who set single-game school records in passing yards and total offense. Jim Allen touches on that in the game story and goes in-depth here. He also has a story on receiver Nic Sblendorio, who caught 18 passes. … You want pictures from the comeback? How about stories from the Montana side of things? … Around the Big Sky, Montana State went into Grand Forks and handed North Dakota, the preseason conference favorite, another loss. … Northern Arizona won for the first time and kept host Cal Poly winless. … Northern Colorado connected on a last-second field goal to hold off visiting Idaho State. … The biggest upset of the day occurred in Sacramento, where the Hornets handled Southern Utah easily.
Idaho: I wrote this yesterday about UI’s game at South Alabama … “The Vandals are in Mobile, Ala., today to face South Alabama. Idaho play-by-play voice Dennis Patchin texted me yesterday to say you could feel the humidity before the doors of the plane opened. The weather isn’t part of Pete Harriman’s advance but it may play a part in the outcome.” … Did it ever. In a game delayed twice by lightning storms, the last time as the Vandals were poised to win, Idaho outlasted the Jaguars for a double-overtime victory.
Preps: If you are wondering what happened in prep sports yesterday, we can offer roundups of action in cross country, volleyball, girls’ soccer and boys’ soccer. … Central Valley honored some of its best all-time athletes Friday night.
Chiefs: Spokane couldn’t have started the WHL season any better. Two games in Prince George, two wins. … Around the WHL, Portland opened the season with a win over Everett. … Seattle hung its championship banner then hung a loss on Tri-City.
Mariners: The Indians and the M’s got back to normal last night, with Cleveland pounding Seattle 11-4. The Mariners are all but out of the wild-card race.
Seahawks: Much of the news from the NFL today revolves around President Donald Trump’s remarks about anthem protests and the backlash to those remarks. The Hawk players had their opinions, as did the organization. … On the field, the offense needs to get going in Tennessee today. Expect the Titans to blitz often. … Who are important to watch today?
Sounders: The unbeaten streak is toast, as host Real Salt Lake, fighting for a playoff spot, scored twice in the second half and gave the Sounders their first loss in months, 2-0.
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• One more reminder. We won’t be here tomorrow morning. We have an early doctor’s appointment and won’t be able to get everything done in time. We’ll be back Tuesday. Until then …