A GRIP ON SPORTS • There are some days when the subject of this column doesn’t jump out of bed with me. It stays there, sleepy, covers pulled up, trying to hide from the morning light. Today we had to drag it onto the computer for all you folks to see. Read on.

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• I think it was a bit ashamed. After all, it’s been dragged through the mud recently.

See, today’s subject is Gonzaga’s student section. Specifically, the costumes a few in the Kennel have worn when BYU is in town.

We’ve dragged this subject into the public eye before, most recently last year just before the Cougars ended Gonzaga’s perfect basketball season.

It just didn’t make any sense to us that a Jesuit school, supposedly continually celebrating the ideal of inclusion, would allow its students to make fun of another faith-based school’s heritage.

Doesn’t seem too inclusive.

And that’s the way the school administration is seeing it now. There is a well-reported story in Gonzaga’s student newspaper, The Bulletin, yesterday, concerning the school’s desire to curtail Kennel members’ costumes. Well, one costume, that of an LDS missionary.

You know, the white shirt, tie, bike-helmet look.

Maybe goodwill and good intentions are at the bottom of this campaign to just say no to the look. Or maybe it was BYU center Erik Mika saying after last year’s upset that the costumes fired up his teammates. Either way, it’s a good idea to try to curtail it.

However, reading stories from Provo and Salt Lake City this morning, it seems as if the BYU players were quite entertained by all the shenanigans. And love the challenge of playing in front of a couple thousand rabid GU students, wanting nothing better than to see them fail.

That’s college sports. That’s fun. But mocking a religion? That’s a little too much, especially for a religious school.

One wonders, though, if just encouraging the students to abandon the look this Saturday – when the Cougars visit – is enough. Such a request some 50 years ago might have enticed every student in attendance to don a tie and stuff their free-flowing hair under a helmet – just to tick off the administration.

But this is 2018 and it is Gonzaga. Rebellion isn’t in the air. We’re guessing the gentle nudge will be enough. Either that, or the offer of a free T-shirt.

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WSU: So much for optimism. When Theo Lawson asked Cougar coach Ernie Kent how his team would stop Arizona freshman post DeAndre Ayton tonight, Kent answered: “We’re not going to stop him.” OK then. That and more is contained in Theo’s preview of the game. … Theo also has video of his interview with Kent and two players, Drick Bernstine and Davante Cooper. … The Wildcats come into Pullman ranked ninth in the nation and atop the conference. … Elsewhere in the Pac-12, Washington sold out Hec Ed for the Cougars, which made head coach Mike Hopkins happy. And helped the Seattle Times’ bottom line. … Oregon is looking for help from its freshmen. … Colorado is looking for help from the doctor. … The Pac-12 is contemplating adding two more conference games. It’s being met with mostly positive reviews. But why not four more and play a true round-robin before the conference tournament? … In football news, California lost a player to a medical issue. … Arizona’s coaching staff is done and it includes a former WSU player – and Oregon State coach.

Gonzaga: Getting back to the Final Four in back-to-back seasons isn’t easy, but it’s not impossible either. Jim Meehan looks at some schools that have accomplished it recently. … Kelly Olynyk is fitting in well in Miami.

Preps: Gonzaga Prep’s boys basketball team has met every challenge thrown at them this season, from losing one of its best players, point guard Sheaden Byrd, to a knee injury before the season, to each of its first 19 games. Steve Christilaw was at last night’s 55-38 win over Lewis and Clark. … We can also pass along boys and girls roundups from the GSL and roundups of girls and boys action throughout the region.

Hockey: Playing ice hockey isn’t limited by age or gender. Whitney Ogden and Tyler Tjomsland introduce us to a handful of local folks that prove that every winter. Whitney has the Silver Skaters’ story and Tyler the photo gallery.

Seahawks: Is it possible for the Hawks to improve their running game next season? If they do, does that get them closer to their ultimate goal?

Mariners: It’s not too long now. Baseball is getting closer. Are the M’s any closer to the postseason? … The Ken Griffey Jr. statue will be fixed this weekend.

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• As someone who spent his college baseball career as a bench jockey, it’s hard for me to criticize anyone else for trying to help their school any way they can. But I do it anyway. What is it my father used to say? Don’t do what I do, do what I say? Or something like that. Until later …