I’m not naive enough to say all of this is wrong - because in the short term, today, this makes sense for all these schools. This is shortsighted self preservation. But if you can’t see what’s coming, then you’re just looking at trees - not the forest. 1)
Thread 🧵
It’s time Gardner Minshew is recognized as a top Heisman contender - 5, 400 yd games (only QB in the country), meaningful wins in a 9 GAME LEAGUE SCHEDULE & makes big time plays in big time situations. Give the man his due. Also, Cougs in PAC driver seat and playoff contention.
Headline says it all. Coug players, coaches and fans answered the call on a national stage. Some things that really stood out to me 🧵
⁃Jake Dickert is a leader in the truest sense of the word. The culture of this program is phenomenal 1)
Earlier this week, Wazzu head coach Jake Dickert and former QB Ryan Leaf criticized College GameDay for turning Oregon State-Washington State into a joke.
Pat McAfee appeared to respond this morning. And then some.
This ‘18
@WSUCougFB
team has played for each other all year. They are the definition of TEAM. Great individual performances but different guys stepping up week in and week out. One of the most impressive coaching jobs I have seen in a long time. The seniors deserved this win.
Let’s be clear. This is a statement about the current landscape of college football and the decision makers that are so out of touch with reality that they believe a top 20 football team that garners 1.5+ mil/ viewers/game since 2015 doesn’t deserve a seat at the table.
Jake Dickert was fired up about the lack of respect shown to WSU on ESPN this morning saying Lee Corso called today’s game the “No one watches Bowl” This is 1:32 well worth your time to hear Coach fight for his team
With the Pac-12 down to 2, you'd Wazzu and Oregon State are off to the MWC.
Actually, they're still figuring out whether the $$ are there to invite the top MWC and AAC schools their way.
My story on the status of the last two standing.
Beavs look like they’d rip through the Big12. No wonder they don’t want ‘em.
Revamped Reser looks great on TV too. I would call that crowd Power 5.
Can’t wait to see these viewership numbers 🤷🏼♂️
Can’t wait to see my mentions but this is exactly what I’ve been talking about - college football is a regional sport. The networks have it wrong. The general public doesn’t want to watch Georgia/Alabama every week. They want the underdogs. This is the product 👇🏼👇🏼
I’m sure I’m in the minority here - but long term, turning down Apple @ $25+ million today (and the opportunity to be the first conference to align with them), is a colossal error by all involved. Great reporting from
@slmandel
NEW STORY:
Inside the four days that led to the Pac-12's death, including
-- All the details of that infamous Apple+ offer
-- Another deal yanked at the 11th hour
-- Even then, late Thursday night it looked like the league was going to stay together.
Now imagine if you were talking about a grad transfer who took over a team w 0 pre-season top 25 votes, led them 10-1 and
#7
in the country, has 6 - 400 hard games, 3 - 4th qtr game winning drives and is the nation’s leader in passing..
@Minshew4Heisman
#Minshew4Heisman
#GoCougs
The outrage of the SEC crowd is hilarious...How DARE I suggest that a player, who is doing something NEVER done before in the history of the sport, has a slight edge over another great player with 2 games left for the Heisman
As a PNW kid, born and raised, I am unabashedly biased - I grew up on the PAC. Today is a sad day for West Coast sports but this is definitely not the final iteration. /
But we already have that product - it’s called the NFL and it will always be better than a top 30 of college football programs. That’s where the networks have it wrong. The beauty in college football is the ability for David to beat Goliath any given Saturday. 3)
Couldn’t have written a better script here on the Palouse. Gameday experiences best atmosphere ever & WSU dominates UO for 3 quarters and a huge win. No doubt Mike Leach is in convo for national coach of year and its time the Cougs are recognized as playoff contenders
#GoCougs
Wazzu coach Jake Dickert on College Gameday's shot at WSU over the weekend: "Cougs, I feel the passion, and I love it. Let's place that passion back on the games."
This. If I could stay and watch Alex Brink throw 6 INTs vs Oregon State in a driving rain back in 07, you guys can stay and watch the No. 8 team in the country.
Thoughts after visiting fall camp
1. OL might be the most underrated part of this team. Big, athletic & experienced
2. DL will wreak havoc
3. Max Borghi is special, like Heisman Trophy special
4. After 11 W’s, with this roster, its criminal the Cougs are ranked out of the top 20
Big time conference win for
@WSUCougarFB
. Oregon State is a really good team and WSU was in control the whole way. This team has a chance to do some special things.
And let’s be clear;
@Cameron7Ward
deserves to be in the Heisman convo yesterday. Shredded the top D in the PAC.
That is a season defining win for WSU. Coming off a tough loss at USC, so important to win at home. Utah is a solid, well coached football team - kudos to Gardner Minshew/Easop Winston for executing in a big moment. Even bigger shoutout to D for responding in 2nd half
#GoCougs
Sad to hear of Bob’s passing. It was an honor to not only have my college career called by one of the all time greats, but also to share the booth with him for a short time. I think it’s fitting to remember:
“Always be a good sports, be a good sports all ways.”
#GoCougs
It’s going to take awhile, but this will self correct - college football is a regional product & the economics only work for schools on a regional level.. They’ve over extended with facilities, salaries, personnel and eventually the money runs out, even for the big players 4)
Wk 1 WSU thoughts:
1. Mike Leach success with 5th yr QBs is incredible. Gordon looked comfortable and in command all night
2. Defense is going to be a work in progress early in season but as talented/athletic as I’ve seen at WSU
3. Best WR GROUP in the PAC-12 and it’s not close
Jake Dickert’s emotion after the game was undeniable. One of the biggest wins in program history in front of family and friends in his home state. As he said postgame, he challenged the team to buy into his vision back in January and boy did they ever.
#GoCougs
My thoughts on
@NickRolovich
hire: Love his offensive system and the differences from Air Raid. Experience recruiting & developing talent at places like NV/HI is a huge plus for WSU - knows how to find athletes on the West Coast and the islands. Good network of coaches to find DC
I can tell you this: no way WSU gets shutout by Bama (stopping them is another thing)..disappointed the committee keeps a 2-loss LSU team ahead of the Cougs. Also not sure it’s a foregone conclusion OKLA should be ahead of them...
#GoCougs
Cougs couldn’t ask to be in a better spot: 5-1 headed into bye week. Defense has played solid, but great time for Claeys & co. to shore things up. Offense clicking on all cylinders - Minshew playing like top 2 QB in PAC-12. If UO beats UW next week, Gameday in Pullman???
#GoCougs
Bear with me for a moment while I tell you how my friend
@M_Chaz
is the best play by play man in the game. He doesn’t miss. We are lucky to have him Coug Nation!
Also, this game was so fun to call
#GoCougs
Great start for the
@NickRolovich
era. Cougs played fast and aggressive. Run & shoot is as advertised - explosive.
@jayden_delaura
has the tools/mentality to be the next great one. What really stood out was defense.
@CoachDickert
and staff have re-energized that unit.
#GoCougs
Cougs couldn’t ask to be in a better spot: 5-1 headed into bye week. Defense has played solid, but great time for Claeys & co. to shore things up. Offense clicking on all cylinders - Minshew playing like top 2 QB in PAC-12. If UO beats UW next week, Gameday in Pullman???
#GoCougs
Alex Brink Appreciation Post
WSU Career:
•10,913 Passing yards (3rd in WSU history)
•76 Touchdowns (3rd in WSU history)
•Only QB in WSU history with three Apple Cup victories
@AlexBrink10
had some great moments under center for the Cougs.
Wk 3 WSU thoughts:
1. Just like 2018, WSU showing it can improve every week. D showed up v. HOU
2. WSU OL is the real MVP. Well coached and well developed athletes year in and year out
3. Anthony Gordon throws one of the best deep balls we’ve seen on the Palouse in a long time
Hard to imagine it’s been 10 years since the last time I️ stepped on the field for WSU. Honored to have the chance to speak with the team today! No week more important than Apple Cup week.
#GoCougs
Washington State Football, Pullman, etc. is a community that should be celebrated and there’s no other way around it. You can’t try to convince me otherwise. Been great to see the positive response from the entire country supporting the Cougs in the past week.
This is a race to the bottom..for the last dollars in a late cycle market. There’s no more big money media deals after this this. ESPN, FOX, etc. are declining. This will end up shortly as the 30 “top” programs in the country with a rights deal from the last network standing. 2)
Big time, “get off the mat” type of win for WSU. 2nd half was the best half of football they’ve played all year between Off/Def/ST. With all the distractions and noise this season, to be 1-win from 5 straight bowls is huge
#GoCougs
The logic is flawed, there is not merit basis to the decisions and
@CoachDickert
is dead right to stand up for his team in this moment.
Also, it really doesn’t matter what Corso said specifically. They shouldn’t be making light of the situation to begin with on Gameday.
Hard fought battle on the Palouse. Heck of an effort by the Oregon Ducks on the road. Love
@CoachDickert
comments after the game about this team. We’ll find out more in the next few weeks but it feels l like this could springboard opportunity for this program if players respond.
Well this will cheer you up on a quarantine Saturday! Thanks guys! Shout to
@Bgibson04
for hauling this one in - ball was in the air for close to 9000 seconds. Also,
@michaelbumpus5
had two monster catches on this drive 👏🏼👏🏼
#GoCougs
Apple Cup 2007: Another game-winning touchdown pass by
@AlexBrink10
makes him the first and only quarterback ever for WSU to beat the Huskies three times in their career.
Words can’t describe how much respect I have for this man. He truly was more than just a coach on the field. Love to see the beautiful life he is living in retirement!
Just got off the phone with Trent - he confirms what those of us have seen the past few weeks. Gardner Minshew is special and he’s making fans across the country
#GoCougs
If you heard the emotion in the voice of
@AlexBrink10
talking to his former coach, Bill Doba, you will realize again that college football ISN'T just about the guys going to the NFL or cash compensation debates. It is so much, much more.
#GoCougs
“See what we are going to do is raid the West Coast because everyone across the continental United States wants to enjoy this incredible brand of football the B1G has created. But definitely the
#13
team in the country isn’t good enough for that.” - smart people at Fox, probably
They tried to keep us out like the B1G, but Bump and I wouldn’t let them!
Proud to announce the inaugural Talkin’ Cougars presented by
@FlatstickPub
airing this Thursday on
@ROOTSPORTS_NW
.
Giving a voice to Coug fans throughout the PNW!
@TalkinCougars
Been a great run - WSU Football is in a better place because of Mike Leach and this will be a great opportunity for the next coach. Looking forward to the future!
#GoCougs
Knock that number down to 3/1 - Auburn shouldn’t be ranked, Miss. St is a 3 loss team who’s only top 25 win is vs. Auburn. If Utah is in SEC they’re ranked. You’d be making the same case if Dawgs were in the convo. Thanks for coming, next...
LSU SOS:
#1
. WSU SOS:
#57
. LSU games/wins vs current CFP top 25: 5/3. WSU games/wins vs current CFP top 25: 0/0. Who you play matters. Who you beat matters.
First thing Gardner Minshew says to me post game when he sees his stat line (45/57 470 yds. 2 TD) - “boy we have a lot of guys making plays.” Unbelievable group of athletes for WSU offense. Testament to the recruiting Mike Leach and Co. have done the last few years.
Dave Lang was one of the first people I met at WSU. As freshman he pushed us hard & molded us into the men we would need to be for the next 4 years. I am forever grateful for his guidance while playing & for the friendship we shared since my graduation. Rest In Peace my friend.
NEWS: Washington St. and Oregon St. filed a formal legal complaint against the Pac-12 and George Kliavkoff on Friday, seeking an “emergency temporary restraining order” to protect what the schools see as an “imminent and existential threat” to the Pac-12.
@RyanL78
@michaelbumpus5
@WSUCougarFB
You’re not wrong - but no one wants to watch the NFL minor league. They want to watch college football and that’s why it will come back around. The money currently flowing in is not never ending
Of note-
WSU/Oregon State went head-to-head w/three other football games on linear television in SEATTLE on Saturday & WON time slot.
The Pac-2 scored a 6.0/23.2 share, beating Iowa/Penn State .3/1.2, Texas/Baylor .6/2.1, Notre Dame/Ohio State 2.7/10.2, aka "brands".
@WSUNews
Headed out from Pullman after a great weekend of
@WSUCougarFB
& Cougar QB Classic. Special thanks to QB legends
@PapaThrow
,
@DrewBledsoe
and
@mark_rypien
for gathering us together and creating such a unique event. We are bound by the position and our love for WSU.
#GoCougs
Incredible deep dive into PAC collapse in the LA Times today.
A couple nuggets:
✳️WSU solely responsible for bringing Luck on board.
✳️Phil Knight LIKED the Apple deal, but once UW bolted they felt like they had to go too.
✳️And remember that “it would be like selling