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The all-time Apple Cup team includes three players who were selected in the first round of the NFL Draft, including Washington’s Steve Emtman, the No. overall pick in 1992.
Mel Hein, who starred for the Cougars in the early 1930s, became the NFL’s first-ever NFL Most Valuable Player in 1938 — as a center. / Photo by Washington State University
Prior to the 100th renewal of the Apple Cup in 2007, the (now defunct) Seattle Post-Intelligencer selected its all-time Apple Cup team. This is that team (notable performances since 2007 are listed below):
| Pos. | Player | School | Years | Skinny |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| WR | Spider Gaines | UW | 75-78 | Averaged 24 YPC in 3 Apple Cups; caught 78-yard winning TD in ’75 |
| WR | Hugh Campbell | WSU | 60-62 | Caught 10 passes for 178 yards and scored a 75-yard TD in 1962 |
| OT | Lincoln Kennedy | UW | 89-92 | 1992 All-America allowed only 2 sacks in his 4 years with the UW |
| OT | Glen Edwards | WSU | 29-31 | 1930 All-American later voted to College and Pro Halls of Fame |
| OG | Max Starcevich | UW | 34-36 | Consensus All-America in 1936 when UW finished 5th in AP vote |
| OG | Dan Lynch | WSU | 81-83 | Unanimous All-Pac-10 selection as junior and senior |
| C | Mel Hein | WSU | 28-30 | Member of all-time teams in college football and professional football |
| TE | Aaron Pierce | UW | 88-91 | Only UW tight end to catch 2 TDs in one Apple Cup game (1990) |
| QB | Drew Bledsoe | WSU | 90-92 | In 1992, threw for 259 yards, 2 TDs in a Pullman snow storm |
| RB | Hugh McElhenny | UW | 49-51 | Had 3 100-yard rushing games, including 296 yards, 5 TDs in 1950 |
| RB | Rueben Mayes | WSU | 80-82 | Cougar star ran for 165 yards in 1984 and 167 yards in 1985 |
| DL | Steve Emtman | UW | 89-91 | Won Outland Trophy and Lombardi Award as a junior in 1991 |
| DL | Vic Markov | UW | 35-37 | Named first-team All-America by Walter Camp and Liberty in 1937 |
| DL | Kai Ellis | UW | 01-02 | 4 tackles for loss, caused key fumble in 2002 triple-overtime game |
| DL | Keith Millard | WSU | 81-83 | All-American set 12 WSU records for tackles for loss and sacks |
| LB | Rick Redman | UW | 62-64 | Made All-America 3 times; averaged 12 tackles per game |
| LB | Michael Jackson | UW | 75-78 | In the 1977 Apple Cup, matched own school record with 29 tackles |
| LB | Gary Larsen | WSU | 72-74 | Had 10 tackles in 197 Cup and danced over prone Sonny Sixkiller |
| DB | Lamont Thompson | WSU | 97-01 | Picked off 3 passes in Rose Bowl clincher at Husky Stadium in 1997 |
| DB | George Wilson | UW | 23-25 | In 1925, ran 40 yards for a TD, returned an INT 90 yards for a TD |
| DB | Eric Johnson | WSU | 71-73 | Intercepted 3 passes in 1972 in Washington State’s 27-10 victory |
| DB | Al Burleson | WSU | 73-75 | 93-yard INT TD set up Washington’s 1975 Apple Cup victory |
| P | Channing Wyles | UW | 89-90 | Averaged 52.0 yards on 4 punts in 1990, including 65 yarder |
| K | John Anderson | UW | 99-02 | Kicked a record nine FGs in 4 Apple Cups, including 5 in 2002 |
| Return | Ernie Steele | UW | 39-41 | Only player with 2 80+-yard scoring plays in the Apple Cup |
Since the Post-Intelligencer selected its 100th anniversary Apple Cup team, these players have most distinguished themselves:
WASHINGTON
- Chris Polk has rushed for 314 yards in three wins over the Cougars — 130 yards in Washington’s 30-0 shutout in 2009, 284 in Washington’s 35-18 win in 2010 and 100 in a 38-21 victory in 2011. His 284 yards in 2010 are the second-highest, single-game rushing total in Apple Cup history.
- WR Jermaine Kearse caught six passes for 178 yards in Washington’s 35-18 win in 2010.
- Keith Price threw three touchdown passes in Washington’s 38-21 victory at CenturyLink Field in 2011.
WASHINGTON STATE
- Quarterback Alex Brink produced two, 300-yard passing games against Washington: 328 in 2006 and a game-record 399 in 2007. Brink is the only quarterback in WSU history to beat the Huskies three times (2004, 2005, 2007).
- Mike Lobbestael threw for 344 yards and three touchdowns in Washington State’s 38-21 loss to Washington in 2011.
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