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?

UPDATED: Fri., Nov. 8, 2019

John Blanchette: Kyle Smith’s new-look Cougars send clear message to fans, foes in season-opening romp

Playing actual basketball at both ends. Guarding and everything. With a … what do they call those again? Oh, right. A plan.

UPDATED: Tue., Nov. 5, 2019

John Blanchette: Gonzaga’s quiet cast must learn to chat, and in a snap

There was a sitcom-worthy moment last week after Gonzaga’s exhibition game romp as a few young Bulldogs relaxed in their locker-room lounge, refueling on some grub and, well, doing what …

UPDATED: Sun., Nov. 3, 2019

John Blanchette: Time to change Hawks’ bird logo to yin/yang symbol

John Blanchette: Perhaps it’s time for the Seattle Seahawks to ditch the beloved Haida eagle logo for something more befitting the 2019 season, like the tai chi symbol. You know. …

Thu., Oct. 31, 2019

John Blanchette: Ol’ Doc Basketball has a wonderful mix of ingredients in creating the perfect Gonzaga player

Ol’ Doc Frankenstein – movie Frankenstein, anyway – had it easy.

UPDATED: Wed., Oct. 30, 2019

John Blanchette: ‘Positive stubbornness’ allowed Sam Jankovich to reshape Washington State athletics

Sam Jankovich, who died in his sleep early Wednesday morning at the age of 85, was sometimes brusque, often polarizing, combustible, fiercely loyal. Also wise counsel and enduring friend.

UPDATED: Mon., Oct. 28, 2019

John Blanchette: Jason Hanson’s not the type to go just halfway

Jason Hanson joins the Inland Northwest Sports Hall of Fame on Tuesday as part of a splendid 2019 class in a ceremony at the Spokane Arena which, alas, he won’t …

UPDATED: Sun., Oct. 20, 2019

John Blanchette: The Seahawks have a big problem when Russell Wilson isn’t himself

His previous four passes had sailed or fallen incomplete, and 20 minutes of clock time into the proceedings at CenturyLink Field, it was apparent that Russell Wilson wasn’t Russell Wilson …

UPDATED: Sat., Oct. 19, 2019

John Blanchette: With HBO cameras rolling, Washington State rolled out the red carpet for Max Borghi

Other than Wazzu’s first step into the Pac-12 win column, the best news out of Saturday’s 41-10 drubbing of hapless Colorado was Borghi amassing a career high for touches – …

UPDATED: Sat., Oct. 5, 2019

John Blanchette: Gonzaga needs Killian Tillie to be whole as desperately as Tillie needs Tillie to be whole

On Thursday, the 6-foot-10 senior and presumptive drive train of these Bulldogs underwent surgery on his right knee, and a brief statement from the school said “his status will be …

UPDATED: Thu., Oct. 3, 2019

John Blanchette: Russell Wilson’s rise to elite level boosts Seahawks’ fortunes

As the sure-thing kick missed by no more than the width of the hyphen between sure and thing, there was one obvious conclusion: It’s better to be lucky than …

UPDATED: Sun., Sept. 29, 2019

John Blanchette: Whatever you choose to call it, Washington State shows lack of electricity

Larry Scott can’t get his league’s games on DirecTV, and now he can’t get them on Dish, either. But apparently he has enough pull to harness lightning.

UPDATED: Sun., Sept. 22, 2019

John Blanchette: Seahawks not afraid to accept blame for blunderous effort

Safe to say that a favorite topic around Sunday’s tailgates was Saturday’s late-night Marx Brothers movie on national TV, featuring a core melt by the Washington State Cougars – turnovers …

UPDATED: Sat., Sept. 21, 2019

John Blanchette: Mason Petrino kicks up heels in Idaho’s defining win over Eastern Washington

Faux outrage is fun reserved for winners, and surely the Vandals were that on Saturday at the Kibbie Dome – 35-27 over the school up the road, Eastern Washington, which …

UPDATED: Mon., Sept. 9, 2019

John Blanchette: Seahawks produce answers and questions in Week 1 escape

Earl Thomas got himself an interception in his NFL season opener. Richard Sherman had a pick-6. And their old team, the Seattle Seahawks, surrendered 418 passing yards to Andy Dalton, …

UPDATED: Sat., Sept. 7, 2019

John Blanchette: As WSU rises in college football’s ranks, attendance for nonconference tilts sputters

Look, winning football is a fan magnet, but there’s still a limit for a discerning clientele.

UPDATED: Fri., Sept. 6, 2019

John Blanchette: Eastern Washington’s biggest donor ‘ask’ in history comes with some odd optics

Just another reminder that the old-school household economics learned as mom and dad balanced the checkbook at the kitchen table just don’t have much application in today’s world of college …

UPDATED: Sun., Sept. 1, 2019

John Blanchette: Washington State shining brighter than ever standing just outside spotlight

All in all, it’s pretty good being Washington State these days, and not just because the scoreboard read 58-7 in the Cougars’ favor on Saturday night.

Thu., Aug. 29, 2019

Washington Huskies season predictions: Sky is the limit for Jacob Eason and the Huskies

Will it be a trip to a bowl game or an early offseason for the Huskies this year?