Washington State’s bowl drought stretched to nine seasons after the Cougars solidified their five-year run as a Pac-12 doormat, falling 49-6 to Utah Saturday afternoon in Salt Lake City. Those seeking reasons for the Cougars’ sixth consecutive defeat needn’t look past Mike Leach’s horrific offensive line. Fresh off surrendering 10 sacks in a loss to
Author: Adam Lewis
Adam Lewis
An alumnus of Washington State University's Edward R. Murrow College of Communication, Lewis is a sports journalist working at Sportspress Northwest. He spent his first three years in Pullman at the school newspaper writing his weekly column "Backrow Banter" while covering the WSU baseball team. His opinion piece in the fall of 2011 on Cougars football, "The Campus That Cried Wulff" received attention from media outlets throughout the Northwest. The column called for the immediate dismissal of former WSU head coach Paul Wulff. With a family background in the newspaper industry, Lewis's passion for objective sports journalism wins out over passion for his favorite teams. Lewis graduated cum laude from WSU in May. His senior year on the Palouse was spent covering Mike Leach's tumultuous first year coaching the Cougars. At Sportspress Northwest, Lewis will help cover the Storm, Mariners and Seahawks before returning to Pullman in August to cover WSU football's fall camp.
Marquess Wilson is Washington State’s best player, but Leach benched him because of poor habits. He deserved it, and showed signs vs. Stanford that the message was received.
Different path, same destination. Washington State finally looked the part of an upset specialist when quarterback Jeff Tuel hit Bobby Ratliff streaking 25 yards downfield in the waning seconds of Saturday’s 24-17 loss to the No. 17 Stanford Cardinal. The spectacular, back-shoulder reception converted a 4th-and-21 and gave WSU possession at Stanford’s nine-yard line.
By Joe Utter, Murrow News Service, and Adam Lewis PULLMAN — Cougars football players were banned from using Twitter by Washington State head coach Mike Leach Tuesday evening after a series of messages ascribed to players on the social media platform were brought to his attention earlier in the day. Twitter is now banned around
Add dropped passes to the growing list of problems riddling the Washington State football program. Numerous throws careened off the hands of Jeff Tuel’s intended targets in Saturday’s 31-17 loss to Cal — the most critical when Gino Simone let a sure touchdown pass fall through his hands in the second quarter.
Coach Mike Leach’s original choice of scolds has overshadowed the fact that the Cougars are actually playing defense that is bringing no shame to the campus.
PULLMAN — If Mike Leach’s commentary in weekly press conferences during the first half of the 2012 season is any indication, there is little doubt the Washington State head coach could host a successful comedy hour. Monday’s show wouldn’t elicit many laughs, however.
What Cougars thought was a strength, the offense, turns into a big weakness Saturday as Halliday and Tuel flop in Corvallis when WSU’s defense was respectable.
Oregon State has a pass defense that could be an easy target for WSU QB Connor Halliday, if he can learn to dial down his penchant for superhero status on every pass.
Yes, the Cougars sell more tickets for games in Seattle, but at what cost? Ducks fans may be in the majority Saturday night when Oregon and WSU come to the Clink.