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Stories tagged: john blanchette
UPDATED: Thu., Feb. 20, 2020
John Blanchette: Gonzaga learns new lessons while passing familiar test as conference champions
So it turns out the West Coast Conference still can teach the Gonzaga Bulldogs a thing or two.
UPDATED: Sun., Feb. 9, 2020
Cougars beat Huskies on day former coach George Raveling honored
At age 82, George Raveling didn’t slingshot himself out of his seat on the bench the way he used to 40 years ago. So it took a couple of beats …
Sun., Feb. 9, 2020
John Blanchette: Academy again has its blinders on when it comes to diversity and snubbing of sports flicks
It’s hard to be holy about inclusivity when 18 of your 20 acting award nominees are white. Oh, and you female directors? We’ll catch you next year, gals.
UPDATED: Sat., Feb. 8, 2020
John Blanchette: Razor-thin margin could be the difference in cross-country trek for either Gonzaga or San Diego State come March Madness
The month-before NCAA Tournament bracket reveal has become part of the sports furniture – or perhaps it’s more accurate to say it’s blended into the woodwork.
UPDATED: Fri., Feb. 7, 2020
John Blanchette: George Raveling lifted Washington State basketball into the spotlight – now the program will return the favor
George Raveling’s name goes up in those same rafters on Sunday at halftime of the Cougars’ game with rival Washington, and as appropriate as Klay Thompson’s day of tribute was …
UPDATED: Tue., Feb. 4, 2020
John Blanchette: Michael Roos hopes his post-NFL curling obsession turns into an Olympic opportunity
It can be said that professional athletes are not like us civilians. And even when they are, they’re not.
UPDATED: Sat., Feb. 1, 2020
John Blanchette: With a top-10 ranking on the horizon, Gonzaga women’s basketball is more than ready to step into the national spotlight
Jeff Judkins is one of those rare head coaches in college basketball who wanders out from the locker room to take in even the earliest portion of warmups instead of …
UPDATED: Sat., Jan. 25, 2020
John Blanchette: Unprecedented fall from the perch of college hoops polls won’t do much to derail Gonzaga’s confidence, focus
Having dispatched the Pacific Tigers in a fashion that evolved from street fight to stupefying on Saturday night, the Gonzaga Bulldogs figure to wake up Monday morning ranked, what?
UPDATED: Thu., Jan. 16, 2020
John Blanchette: Nick Rolovich’s Apple computation adds to his growing popularity at Washington State
It took 25 minutes for Nick Rolovich’s introduction as Washington State’s 33rd head football coach to crest on Thursday afternoon.
UPDATED: Tue., Jan. 14, 2020
John Blanchette: Hiring more about hope than home runs at Washington State
Time was, hiring a new coach began with winning the press conference. No more.
UPDATED: Thu., Jan. 9, 2020
John Blanchette: Now Mike Leach can become Mississippi State’s Starkville reality
Wonder if the folks at Mississippi State will enjoy discovering that their new coach considers the Egg Bowl to be just another game?
UPDATED: Thu., Jan. 9, 2020
Washington State AD Pat Chun optimistic about football’s future after Mike Leach’s move to Mississippi State
With the majority of the football team still elsewhere on winter break, and the streets of Pullman relatively quiet, Pat Chun stood at a podium inside the Cougar Football Complex …
UPDATED: Sat., Jan. 4, 2020
John Blanchette: Something’s afoul at the free-throw line for nation’s No. 1 team
Not quite 7 minutes on the clock had elapsed Saturday night when a whistle sent Gonzaga to the foul line for the first time.
UPDATED: Sat., Jan. 4, 2020
Sports letter: John Blanchette, Mike Leach feud easy to resolve
It’s relatively easy to resolve the escalating feud between Mike Leach and John Blanchette, and to additionally remedy the WSU and Spokesman-Review budget problems.
UPDATED: Mon., Dec. 30, 2019
John Blanchette: Peanut brittle, paydays make visit to Gonzaga worth the lopsided result for lesser-known nonconference foes
Men of a certain age who as boys collected baseball cards – along with marbles and skinned knees – may recall the morbid fascination that came with opening another five-cent …
UPDATED: Sun., Dec. 29, 2019
John Blanchette: Seahawks know drama – win or lose, every time
This was going to be Pete Carroll’s make-up gift to Marshawn Lynch. The shame is he took too long fussing with the wrapping paper and the bow. But this is …
UPDATED: Sat., Dec. 28, 2019
John Blanchette: Sour Cheez-It Bowl epitomized how Washington State regressed this season
Maybe it’s the regret of another defining moment slipping through the Washington State Cougars’ paws in Anthony Gordon’s finale – a 31-21 loss to Air Force on Friday night at …
UPDATED: Thu., Dec. 26, 2019
John Blanchette: Both Air Force, Washington State offenses prove balance is more about perception that percentages
Even with Air Force’s beloved triple-option Flexbone offense pushing 40 years old, does anybody hit Troy Calhoun with, “Coach, why can’t you pass it even a little more?”
Sat., Dec. 21, 2019
John Blanchette: Gonzaga not chicken when it comes to taking its spot atop the college basketball podium
“Welcome to your worst nightmare Gonzaga: the #1 ranking,” came the blast over Twitter. From Buffalo bloody Wild Wings.
UPDATED: Wed., Dec. 18, 2019
John Blanchette: Win over North Carolina shows how much Gonzaga has grown
Turns out the Gonzaga Bulldogs weren’t looking past North Carolina to Saturday night’s opponent after all.
UPDATED: Tue., Dec. 17, 2019
John Blanchette: Call the Gonzaga Bulldogs whatever you want, as long as you give them a call
By now, you’re probably so sick of the descriptive “blue bloods” that you might even skip whatever moral tug-of-war embroils Tom Selleck on the tube come Friday night – or …
UPDATED: Sat., Dec. 7, 2019
John Blanchette: Washington State sophomore CJ Elleby’s restraint a sign of maturity
The game’s final pass went deep beyond the defensive pressure to CJ Elleby, all alone in the frontcourt with but a few unimpeded steps between himself and the ritualistic exclamation-point …
UPDATED: Tue., Dec. 3, 2019
John Blanchette: Jimmy Lake has always been ready to answer the call
The call came on Saturday afternoon, sometime in the middle of Auburn-Alabama if Jimmy Lake recalls correctly.
UPDATED: Mon., Dec. 2, 2019
John Blanchette: Seahawks show knack for making plays when it counts
John Blanchette: So how does first place look on the Seattle Seahawks? Sharp. Smart. Sophisticated. “It’s a beautiful thing,” was tackle Duane Brown’s fashion review.
UPDATED: Fri., Nov. 29, 2019
John Blanchette: Washington happy to let Mike Leach keep getting in Washington State’s way at Apple Cup
Sometime in the second half of Friday’s Apple Cup, a Fox camera zeroed in on a couple in the stands, the female decked out in Husky purple, the male in …
UPDATED: Fri., Nov. 29, 2019
Excerpt: Washington State coach Mike Leach’s postgame exchange with Spokesman-Review columnist John Blanchette
The following is an excerpt from Friday’s Apple Cup postgame news conference in which Washington State coach Mike Leach took exception to a question from Spokesman-Review columnist John Blanchette.
UPDATED: Sun., Nov. 24, 2019
John Blanchette: Max Borghi delivers on guaranteed satisfaction
So, Max Borghi, any guarantees for the Apple Cup?
Tue., Nov. 19, 2019
John Blanchette: Killian Tillie proves good things come to Zags who wait
Killian Tillie’s belated entrée into the 2019-20 basketball season came at precisely 6:05 Tuesday evening, greeted with a clamor that made up in volume what it may have lacked in …
Sat., Nov. 16, 2019
John Blanchette: Whatever you call them, Washington State’s players are one (guaranteed) win from bowl game
The Cougars have at least put themselves in the conversation for one of college football’s many consolation prizes, though that’s barely a challenge with 39 bowls. And like every other …
Sat., Nov. 9, 2019
John Blanchette: Grad transfers Admon Gilder, Ryan Woolridge more than final ingredients in Gonzaga’s recipe for success
This grad transfer business – it’s a little like Christmas shopping, right?