Verbal pre-game decorum rarely prevails in the Apple Cup rivalry, regardless of whether Washington and Washington State are ranked or wretched or both. The series tradition of trash talk dates to Nov. 27, 1900, or three days before UW and WSU engaged in the inaugural scrum. On that day, WSU coach William Allen provided the first “bulletin board” material in the rivalry’s history by predicting in newpapers that WSU would romp by a score of 30-0. That WSU fell considerably shy of Allen’s prediction — the teams played to a 5-5 tie on Nov. 30 — hardly ushered in an era of diplomatic oratory. For more than 100 years, the Huskies and the Cougars have traded zings, barbs and insults, with the Golden Age of Apple Cup gum flapping starting in the 1980s. Five top examples of Apple Cup smack:

• 5
  
  Marlin Brown, WSU, 1988: “This is the potatoes, gravy, stuffing, peas and everything.” (after Washington State’s 32-21 win)
• 4
  
  Joe Jarzynka, UW, 2000: “Their fans are real rowdy. During warmups, they were already liquored up. They had no clue what they were saying, so I didn’t pay attention to them.”
• 3
  
  Robbie Tobeck, WSU, 2000: “That’s what the Huskies do. They either win and they’re obnoxious about it, or they lose and they have excuses.”
• 2
  
  Don James UW head coach, 1983: “I’ve always felt that being a Cougar prepares you well for life. You learn not to expect too much.”
• 1
  
  Dan Lynch, WS, 1984: “There are four important stages in your life. You’re born, you play the Huskies, you get married and you die.”