Cougar Night at The Loft of Bend, Oregon
Treat yourself to a one-of-a-kind evening with local Cougs in downtown Bend at The Loft on May 29, 2018.
Representatives from the Viticulture and Enology program will be on hand to discuss their work at the state-of-the-art Wine Science Center in the Tri Cities. Student-produced wines from the program will be available for purchase. Special guests speakers Drew and Maura Bledsoe will also provide wine tasting from their acclaimed Doubleback winery.
The cost to attend is $35 per person and will include light hors d'oeuvres, wine tasting, and a commemorative WSUAA wine glass. You won't want to miss this special event, so be sure to reserve your spot today!
Date & Location
Date: 5/29/2018
Time: 4:00 PM to 7:00 PM
Location:
The Loft of Bend
919 NW Bond Street, Suite #201
Bend, Oregon
GO TO THIS LINK TO REGISTER:
http://alumni.wsu.edu/s/1613/2015/index.aspx?sid=1613&gid=2&pgid=3859&content_id=3134
QUESTIONS? Call WSU Alumni Assn.
Phone: 1-800-258-6978
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WSU Athletics total deficit estimated at 67 million
by Evan Ellis, Pullman Radio News, 4/27/2018
Washington State University Athletics total debt is estimated at 67 million dollars. Cougar Athletics has provided the estimate to the WSU Regents to comply with a new state law. Last month Governor Jay Inslee signed a bill to increase the transparency and accountability of athletics budgets at state universities. The new law requires university regents to approve annual athletics departments’ budgets during an open public meeting. The bill also mandates that regents must approve plans for reducing deficits and that financial statements and fiscal plans for athletics must be posted on the institution’s website. The WSU Regents Finance and Compliance Committee will receive the Cougar Athletics deficit estimate during its meeting Thursday in Spokane. The brief report is identified as a "future action item" for the full board of regents.
Former Cougar Athletics Director Bill Moos revealed a 13 million dollar annual shortfall 2 years ago. That deficit level was reached during the 2013-14 fiscal year. WSU President Kirk Schulz has previously reported that the annual deficit was nearly cut in half during the last fiscal year. This 67 million dollar estimated accumulated deficit for Cougar Athletics is a projection for the end of this fiscal year which runs through June.
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Washington State athletic department projects $67 million hole, will discuss plans to reduce debt at Board of Regents meeting
UPDATED: Fri., April 27, 2018, 8:46 p.m.
By Theo Lawson Spokane S-R
PULLMAN – Washington State anticipates its multiyear athletics debt will reach $67 million by the end of the 2018 fiscal year, a school spokesperson confirmed to The Spokesman-Review Friday, and the school’s board of regents will convene next week to formulate a plan to reduce the operating deficit.
According to the agenda for Thursday’s board of regents meeting at the WSU Health Sciences building in Spokane, the committee will also discuss a bill passed by the Washington Legislature mandating increased transparency and accountability when it comes to athletics budgets.
Another clause in the bill, which was signed in March by Gov. Jay Inslee, states that Washington’s public colleges and universities must approve annual budgets for intercollegiate athletics “in advance of any expenditure for that fiscal year.”
Additionally, the institutions are now required to conspicuously post financial statements and plans on their websites.
WSU posted operating deficits in each of the last six years, totaling $51.5 million, as reported by USA Today. In 2016, school President Kirk Schulz and former athletic director Bill Moos formed a plan to help the school become solvent by the year 2020, but the single-year deficit in 2018 projects to be well more than the $4.9 million anticipated by Schulz and Moos. The president and former A.D. projected WSU to run a $900,000 deficit in fiscal year 2019 and finally get back into the black by 2020, when Schulz and Moos forecast a $300,000 surplus.
According to the Seattle Times, WSU estimated a $10.6 million deficit for fiscal year 2017. In 2016, the deficit was $12.9 million, in 2015 it reached $13.2 million and in 2014 it hit $13.7 million.
Excessive spending in athletics can largely be traced to Moos’ goal to keep WSU relevant in the Pac-12’s facilities race. The school spent $61 million on its new football operations building, which was completed in 2014, and WSU’s earnings from a television deal with the Pac-12 Networks fell short of initial projections, adding to the debt. WSU still hopes to construct an indoor practice facility for its football team as well as a baseball clubhouse, but the school has stated it plans to lean on private donations and gifts to subsidize both of those projects.
WSU’s athletics debt has skyrocketed at a time the university is dealing with sweeping budget cuts. In October, Schulz laid out a plan and instructed each department at all five of WSU’s campuses to reduce spending by 2.5 percent in fiscal year 2018. Schulz hopes WSU can cut $10 million from an estimated $30 million in annual deficit spending.
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FOOTBALL
Falk, Mata’afa, Madison: How might the WSU Cougars fare in the NFL draft? Here’s a primer
Originally published April 26, 2018 at 10:18 am Updated April 26, 2018 at 5:49 pm
NFL draft weekend is here, and with five WSU players considered drafty-worthy talent, this could end up being one of the most bountiful draft classes in recent history for the Cougars.
By Stefanie Loh Seattle Times
Washington State has had one player selected in the NFL Draft every year since 2013, and the Cougars had two players drafted in 2015.
But the Cougars haven’t had more than two players selected in one NFL draft class since 2005, when CB Karl Paymah (third round, Denver), OT Calvin Armstrong (sixth round, Philadelphia) and DB Hamza Abdullah (seventh round, Tampa Bay).
This year, however, could be different.
By the time the final draft selection is called on Saturday evening, it’s possible that the 2018 Cougars draft class might equal the 2005 class, or perhaps, even match the 1998 draft class that saw four WSU players – including QB Ryan Leaf – selected.
Quarterback Luke Falk, defensive lineman Hercules Mata’afa, offensive linemen Cole Madison and Cody O’Connell and linebacker Frankie Luvu are the Cougars who stand the best chance of getting drafted by NFL teams in the next three days.
Something to consider, if the best-case scenario occurs and WSU has five players selected in the NFL draft, this year will mark the most Cougar talent taken in one draft since 1990, when six Cougars were selected.
The first round of the NFL draft begins Thursday evening. It’s unlikely that any WSU player will be selected Thursday, but the action could start for the Cougars on Friday, in rounds two and three. Things should heat up for WSU on Saturday, when rounds four through seven take place beginning at 9 a.m. PT.
Here’s a breakdown of where most analysts project the Cougars’ draft talent will end up. Jump directly to your favorite player or scroll all the way to the end.
QB Luke Falk
Falk will watch the draft in his hometown of Logan, Utah with his family, fiancée and close friends. He’s generally considered a mid-round draft pick.
Here’s our look at everything Falk went through to prepare for the draft.
Projection: Rob Rang, a Tacoma-based NFLDraftScout.com analyst, says he sees Falk getting drafted in the third or fourth round, though, he notes, “there’s a chance he could sneak into the second round.”
NFL.com ranks him eighth among quarterback prospects, with a third or fourth round projection. ESPN’s Mel Kiper thinks Falk could end up going to New England in the third round, while Eric Galko with Optimum Scouting also sees Falk as a potential third round pick, except he posits that the Seahawks might be the team that drafts him. NFL.com’s Gil Brandt ranked Falk the 105th-best prospect available in the draft.
On a recent segment of the show Soul and Science, Trent Dilfer praised Falk for his accuracy, rhythmic throwing and overall consistency.
Here’s Rang’s detailed breakdown of Falk’s strengths and weaknesses, from an interview with The Seattle Times earlier this month:
“We know what he does well. He’s a tough player who reads defenses well and can place the ball anywhere he wants it. He relies more on touch and anticipation than pure velocity. That makes him a better fit for some offenses than others. I’m a fan of Falk in spread type offenses. New England, New Orleans, maybe Miami, those immediately jump out as far as they have multiple receiver sets, and most of the time the QB is receiving ball out of the shotgun and the types of routes they ask receivers to run are often either fades or taking advantage of space.”
Last time a QB was drafted out of WSU: 2008 – Alex Brink went to Houston in the seventh round (223rd overall).
Hercules Mata’afa
Mata’afa opted to forgo his senior year at WSU and declare for the NFL draft. He did well at the NFL combine, but is bit of a puzzle for NFL teams because at 6-2, 254 pounds, he’s linebacker sized, but has only ever played on the defensive line. A former wrestler who’s lauded for his ability to slip by offensive linemen, he led WSU with 22.5 TFL and 10.5 sacks from the defensive tackle position in 2017.
“Mata’afa is the guy someone is going to be willing to get creative to find a role for,” Rang said. “He’s just too productive a player.”
However, Mata’afa’s “tweeter” status could also affect where teams draft him.
“Every team is going to view him as a possible player for them but not necssarily as a player they are going to target,” Rang said.
What works in his favor is that this draft is thin in pass rushers. So, by day three, teams who have yet to pick up any edge rushing talent could look to Mata’afa as a weapon to add if they’re willing to be creative with how they play him, Rang said.
Projection: Rang sees Mata’afa as a fourth or fifth round selection, but adds he might sneak into the third round because of his pass rush ability. NFL.com rates Mata’afa as a fifth or sixth round prospect, while Brandt sees Mata’afa as the 119th-best prospect, which also roughly works out to the fourth round. The Washington Post posits that the Washington NFL team could select Mata’afa with one of its two fifth round picks.
Last time a DL was drafted out of WSU: 2015 -Xavier Cooper went to Cleveland in the third round (96th overall).
OL Cole Madison
Madison, a Seattle native, was a an ironman for WSU, starting 47 games at right tackle throughout his career. He saw his draft stock rise steadily throughout the pre-draft process thanks to solid performances at the Senior Bowl, the NFL combine and WSU’s pro day.
Even though Madison played tackle in college, while his linemate, Cody O’Connell played guard, it’s likely that the two Cougar linemen in this year’s draft will exchange positions at the next level.
Madison projects best as an NFL guard, partly because his arms are only — yes, “only” — 32 1/4 inches. At 6-5, 308 pounds, he’s not quite as big and girthy as the NFL likes its tackles to be.
Madison played guard at the Senior Bowl and did well there, which will help him in the draft, Rang said.
“He’s a tough guy,” Rang said. “He’s stronger than people give him credit for, and he bends his knees really well and can hold up at the point of attack better than most tackles can.”
Projection: NFL.com projects Madison as a fifth or sixth round pick. NFL.com analyst Mike Mayock rates Madison the 95th-best prospect in the draft, which hints at a late-third round ceiling for Madison. But SB Nation has Madison ranked as the 160th-best prospect, which is more of a fourth round projection. NFL Network’s Ian Rappoport reported earlier this month that Madison has visited with Seattle, Washington and Dallas.
Last time an OL was drafted out of WSU: 2016 – Joe Dahl went to Detroit in the fifth round (151st overall).
OL Cody O’Connell
O’Connell said in a phone interview from Pullman this week that he isn’t going to watch the draft. Instead, the Wenatchee native plans to hang out with his family, watch some movies, go mini-golfing and take his niece to a trampoline park in Moscow.
“I don’t want to sit there and wait for a phone call,” O’Connell said. “I figured, if anything happens, they’ll call me.”
O’Connell’s stock perhaps peaked after his breakout junior season in 2016, when he earned unanimous All-American honors and was a finalist for the Outland Trophy. His senior season failed to match his junior year, but his size (6-8, 368 pounds) nonetheless makes him an intriguing prospect for NFL teams.
Since WSU’s pro day in March, O’Connell has fielded interest from a couple of NFL teams, and had a private workout with the Texans, he said.
“Most of them want to see me at tackle, just because of my size,” O’Connell said. “I’ll do whatever I need to to play.”
Projection: Rang cites O’Connell’s long 35-inch arms and his strength (he hit 28 repetitions in the 225-pound bench press at pro day) as two big assets. ” I believe his size and strength does warrant late round consideration, but obviously as a right tackle, which will be a challenge for him,” Rang said.
NFL.com’s Lance Zeirlein projects O’Connell as a sixth or seventh round pick.
Last time an OL was drafted out of WSU: 2016 – Joe Dahl went to Detroit in the fifth round (151st overall).
LB Frankie Luvu
Luvu said in a phone interview Wednesday that he will watch the draft in Seattle with some family members. Since WSU’s pro day, he has reportedly visited with the Raiders and Lions.
Playing the rush linebacker spot in Alex Grinch’s defense, Luvu had a breakout senior season, finishing second on the team behind Mata’afa with 12 TFL and 6.5 sacks. His speed off the edge and pass rushing prowess could merit consideration in the final rounds of the NFL draft.
Projection: Luvu is a deep draft sleeper. He could maybe sneak into the seventh round, but most analysts, including Rang and NFL.com’s Zeirlein, project that he’ll end up as an undrafted free agent.
Last time a LB was drafted out of WSU: 2002 – Raonall Smith went to Minnesota in the second round (38th overall).
Best of the Rest
WSU’s 2018 crop of NFL draftees is fueled by the Cougars’ 19-man 2017 graduating class. (And, most of those guys came out of the 2013 recruiting class that changed the trajectory of WSU football.)
These players are all hoping to at least get into an NFL camp:
RB Jamal Morrow broke his foot in the bowl game, and the recovery process kept him out of the pre-draft circuit. But he said in an interview this week that he’s fully healthy now and worked out for the L.A. Rams earlier this monthat their local audition day for draft hopefuls.
“It felt good because it was my first time running routes and catching balls since the injury,” Morrow said, adding that he’s fielded calls from multiple teams since that Rams workout that connived the NFL he’s now fully healthy.
RB Gerard Wicks worked out for the Texans and has also fielded interest from the Vikings. DT Daniel Ekuale says the L.A. Rams appear to be very interested in him. He will watch the draft from Seattle with family. CB Marcellus Pippins worked out for the San Francisco 49ers at their local draft hopeful audition day, and will host a draft party at home in Richmond, Calif.
FS Rob Taylor, LB Dylan Hanser, K Erik Powell, DB Kirkland Parker, WR Robert Lewis and DT Garrett McBroom all worked out for scouts at WSU’s Pro Day on March 8.
Notable omissions:
LB Isaac Dotson, who has retired from football after suffering five concussions in college. If not for the concussion issue, he might have been a late-round draft prospect. LB Peyton Pelluer who missed most of last season with a broken foot, was granted a sixth year of eligibility by the NCAA and will return for one final season at WSU this fall.
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WSU Organic ag student featured in USA Today article, aims at keeping humanity healthy
April 27, 2018
By Scott Weybright, Washington State University College of Agricultural, Human and Natural Resource Sciences
PULLMAN, Wash. – Keeping humanity healthy is the career goal of Katie Doonan, who is majoring in organic agriculture systems, while also taking the full WSU pre-med prerequisite coursework. Oh, and minoring in soil science.
Doonan was recently one of several U.S. students majoring in organic agriculture who were featured in an article in USA Today’s annual special edition on the U.S. Department of Agriculture. The article, titled “Planting Seeds: Sustainable agriculture programs produce global problem solvers,” highlights sustainable agriculture programs at universities around the country — including WSU’s Eggert Family Organic Farm and Regents Professor John Reganold, director of the organic ag systems program.
Doonan’s goal is to become a doctor who “views health and disease through the same lens.”
“I want to look at the whole system to improve the health of society overall,” Doonan told CAHNRS after the story came out. “Food is a huge part of health, so I want to get a good agriculture education before going on to medical school.”
Doonan’s family has an organic alfalfa farm near her hometown of Bishop, California. She said her family traces its lineage back to some of the earliest English settlers in the U.S., and they were farmers. She can trace back 13 generations of her family, with every generation having at least one farming family.
She plans to spend the Fall 2018 semester studying abroad in Ireland, to learn about agriculture first-hand in another country.
“I have a lot of Irish heritage, ancestors who came over during the potato famines,” Doonan said. “So that’s how I picked the destination. But I really want to gain global agriculture experience that I can bring back to American production.”
That desire to expand perspectives will only help as she takes on the goal of improving health for society.
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