A Grip on Sports: Washington State’s Cheez-It Bowl defeat drains Cougars’ ability to have a successful season
A GRIP ON SPORTS • Yes, the 2019 Washington State Cougar football season ended in a bowl game – though Phoenix this week didn’t really qualify as a “warm-weather bowl site.” Then again, the 2019 Washington State Cougar football season didn’t really qualify as a successful one either.
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• First off, success usually means you succeed more than you fail. After last night’s demoralizing – just to let you know, I almost used Ryan Leaf’s favorite term, soul-sucking, but decided against it – 31-21 Cheez-It Bowl loss to the Air Force Academy, WSU didn’t succeed more than it failed.
And, as Mike Leach will always tell you, the only thing that matters is the scoreboard.
By that measure, the season was a failure.
Despite Washington State trotting out one of the most statistically impressive offenses in the school’s long football history. Despite quarterback Anthony Gordon throwing for more yards than all but a handful of college football quarterbacks ever. And despite a schedule that included enough “for-sure” wins, the Cougars were almost guaranteed a winning record.
A 3-0 nonconference start against overmatched opponents was followed by a sure-to-win game against UCLA. Except the Cougars found a way to lose, 67-63. Every one of the 50 second-half points the Bruins scored left a cut that never healed. It was the defense that was bleeding, but the whole team suffered from the resulting anemia.
There were chances for miracle cures. In the desert, but Arizona State scored late to inflict more damage. An even bigger chance occurred two weeks later in Eugene, but a late Oregon field goal snatched victory away again.
It took a one-point home victory – secured with two seconds left on a Max Borghi 2-yard run – against Oregon State to earn a bowl trip, but even that tourniquet was ripped off in less than a week when Washington manhandled the Cougars in the Apple Cup. Again.
When Borghi couldn’t repeat his Oregon State magic to finish off WSU’s first drive last night and that failure was followed by a 20-play, quarter-eating Air Force drive, it was obvious the Cougars were still in need of some sort of defensive transfusion.
It didn’t happen. Not during the season. Not during the bowl game.
• There are a lot of questions to be answered in the offseason. Yes, Washington State did roll over Leach’s contract early this year, but his name continues to swirl around the Tennessee job. Even if he stays, he will have to make changes to the defensive staff. Even if Leach feels the midseason changes worked, there still is a spot open on that side of the ball with Tracy Claeys’ departure.
On offense a quarterback has to emerge or the starter will have to be imported. It is the key position for Leach’s offense, sure, but he has shown over the years his teams can play .500 ball no matter who is back there.
Sure, seniors graduate every season but there are a few the Cougars will really miss. Brandon Arconado, Easop Winston, Marcus Strong, Fred Mauigoa and Robert Valencia as well as Gordon all played pivotal roles in whatever success the team had.
Strong is the only one on that list from the defensive side of the ball, which explains some of the group’s problems. It also means offseason player development will be crucial. Will it be enough?
Just another question that will have to answered.
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WSU: You want coverage of the Cheez-It Bowl? You came to the correct website. We start with Theo Lawson’s game analysis, as always. Theo also has the difference makers, a story on Arconado passing a receiving milestone, one on a senior headed to a post-season bowl and a couple of stories from before the game. … John Blanchette was in Phoenix and has this column. … Tyler Tjomsland was on the sidelines and has this photo report. … I was at home and put together a TV Take. … The folks in the office did what they do, putting together a recap with highlights. … We also have another story from the bowl site. … Before the game, Larry Weir spoke with Matt Chazanow and Sam Adams on the Press Box pod about what to expect. … There was game coverage from Phoenix and Seattle as well. … Elsewhere in the Pac-12, this is a somewhat local story, what with Evan Weaver’s Spokane roots. … USC decided to keep Clay Helton around. Then Iowa kicked his Trojans around the Holiday Bowl, handing the once-proud school one of its worst bowl losses ever. … Washington is now looking for a starting quarterback. … This is a great story from Ken Goe on Oregon linebacker Troy Dye. … Wisconsin’s offensive line will give the Ducks a test. … Utah is pretty depleted heading into the Alamo Bowl. …
Gonzaga: The women open WCC play tomorrow against Portland and are big favorites to win the conference once again. Jim Allen takes a look at what lies ahead for the Zags. … Around the WCC, BYU is having trouble grabbing rebounds.
EWU: The Eagles open Big Sky play today in Ogden, facing Weber State. Ryan Collingwood previews that game and the upcoming conference season.
CCS: The Sasquatch women won at home last night.
Preps: Dave Nichols takes some time to look back at the past decade of high school sports in the Spokane area. For the second consecutive decade, the GSL turned out back-to-back 4A basketball title teams. … There was basketball played last night, and we have roundups of games with GSL girls, GSL boys as well area boys and girls.
Chiefs: With the starting goaltender away for national-team duty and his backup injured early, Spokane used its third-string goalie in a 9-5 loss against Seattle.
Seahawks: Marshawn Lynch is giddy to be back in Seattle. Maybe it’s because he doesn’t have to worry about stopping George Kittle. … The Hawks seem somewhat healthy.
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• If you are wondering, I am still not doing all that well. Doesn’t seem to be just the common flu. And watching that first Air Force drive last night certainly didn’t help my intestinal issues any. Until later …