COUGAR NOTES: Cougs hope to avoid post-bye blahs
By DALE GRUMMERT
Lewiston Trib Oct 17, 2018
PULLMAN - Maybe it's coincidence. Maybe it's the caliber of competition. If you ask Mike Leach, it's maybe related to the vagaries of group dynamics.
For whatever reason, the Washington State Cougars haven't fared well recently in games following open dates, a trend they want to quash this week.
In a Pac-12 contest whose buzz has skyrocketed since it was chosen by ESPN for its weekly College GameDay coverage, the Cougars see action for the first time since Oct. 6 when they face Oregon on Saturday (4:30 p.m., FOX) at Martin Stadium. Both teams are 5-1 overall, 2-1 in the Pac-12, and can secure bowl eligibility with a win.
During the Leach coaching tenure, the Cougars are 1-5 in games directly following byes, and three of the five losses were lopsided. The scoring differential for the six games is 246-168.
To be sure, all five of the winning opponents were talented. If you check each team's final record for the season in question, it adds up to 50-18.
Still, it's tempting to see the Cougar numbers as part of a larger trend. Leach went 84-43 in a decade as head coach at Texas Tech, but his post-bye mark record was only 4-5. And it's not just open dates that seem to disagree with his Wazzu teams - it's any extended layoff. In post-bye games, season openers and bowl contests combined, they're 4-13, having upped that mark a notch by beating Wyoming in this year's opener.
"I think it can affect things - I don't know which direction," Leach said recently of open dates. "When our teams have had byes, I've been able to make an argument for both extremes. Sometimes you get out of your rhythm. Other times you're well-rested and it helps. Probably most of the time, it's somewhere in between. It's hard to say.
"I do know that when it comes to a group of people," he said, "I think mentality bounces around a little bit. Groups tend to think together a little bit. I think that's what they call momentum."
If nothing else, the hiatus furnished some healing time for banged-up players such as defensive end Nnamdi Oguayo, who has missed two games with an undisclosed leg injury.
The Cougars' only post-bye victory under Leach came two years ago, and Wazzu fans can take it as a good omen. It was a 51-33 home win over Oregon.
GAMEDAY ARRIVAL - GameDay equipment trucks are expected to arrive at Pullman about noon today, ESPN officials said Tuesday night, and WSU athletic director Pat Chun is asking fans to greet them en masse.
"Let's show them why this will be the best stop in the history of the show!" Chun wrote in a Twitter post Tuesday evening.
Most fans will probably gather near the Cougar Pride statue on Stadium Way, which is where the trucks' 3-mile trek through Pullman will culminate.
Earlier in the day, GameDay announced that its set location Saturday will be across the street from that statue, at the southeast corner of Stadium Way and Ferdinand's Lane. It's the same location the Pac-12 Networks used for "The Pregame" show in Pullman two weeks ago.
The three-hour GameDay program begins at 6 a.m. Saturday.
WOUNDED DUCK - Oregon will be without standout left tackle Penei Sewell, who is out six weeks with an ankle injury sustained in a 30-27 overtime win Saturday over Washington, the Ducks acknowledged Tuesday. He's ranked the sixth-best tackle in the country by Pro Football Focus.
His injury may have contributed to another shift in the odds for this game. The Cougars on Tuesday were back to being 21/2-point favorites, a day after the contest had morphed into a toss-up.
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Football:
Pac-12 picks: Washington State-Oregon will hog the attention this week, but USC-Utah is equally important
UPDATED: Wed., Oct. 17, 2018, 7:09 p.m.
By Theo Lawson of the S-R of Spokane/Inland Empire
While most eyes will be zeroed in on Pullman this Saturday for a crucial duel in the Pac-12 North between No. 12 Oregon and No. 25 Washington State, there’s an appealing game taking place down South, too.
USC-Utah doesn’t have quite the luster of Oregon-WSU – especially given ESPN College GameDay’s cameo – but it could be equally important in determining which teams will meet in late November for the conference championship game.
We predict Utes-Trojans and four other games around the conference this weekend.
Stanford at Arizona State
Stanford by 2 1/2: It sounds like Bryce Love will get at least a few carries in Tempe. Probably not as many as Arizona State sophomore Eno Benjamin, though. Three straight losses for Stanford? It’s possible. The pick: Arizona State 31, Stanford 24.
Colorado at Washington
Washington by 16 1/2: This isn’t a difficult one to pick. The Huskies are still angered by a loss to Oregon that kicked them out of the College Football Playoff picture. The Buffaloes could be playing one of the nation’s top defensive secondaries without the Pac-12’s top receiver. The pick: Washington 44, Colorado 21.
California at Oregon State
Cal by 7: Neither of these teams is any good at the quarterback position, but one is significantly better at running back. I’d probably go with the Golden Bears in Berkeley, but will take the Beavers in Corvallis fresh off their bye week. The pick: Oregon State 35, Cal 31.
Oregon at Washington State
WSU by 3: Both defensive secondaries should have their hands full this Saturday in Pullman. WSU’s Gardner Minshew leads the Pac-12 in passing touchdowns, with 19, but Oregon’s Justin Herbert isn’t too far behind, with 17. One or two turnovers could swing this game between the country’s 12th- and 25th-ranked teams. The pick: will be in Saturday’s paper.
USC at Utah
Utah by 6: One of these two is probably emerging as the champion of the Pac-12 South and this game could go a long way in determining that. Both teams are hot – the Trojans have won three straight, the Utes have won two in a row – so I’ll leave it to the home-field advantage. The pick: Utah 28, USC 24.
Arizona at UCLA
UCLA by 8: Khalil Tate, who has nursed an ankle injury most of the season, has finally been shut down by Arizona coach Kevin Sumlin. I imagine the final score of Saturday’s game at the Rose Bowl will be a direct reflection of that. The pick: UCLA 40, Arizona 30.
Theo Lawson’s records
Last week: 2-2 overall, 0-4 against the spread
Overall: 41-12 overall, 21-23 against the spread
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COUG MEN’S BASKETBALL: Robert Franks Named to Julius Erving Watch List
SPRINGFIELD, Mass. - Washington State men’s basketball senior Robert Franks, Jr., has been named to the 20-member 2019 Julius Erving Small Forward of the Year Award Watch List, the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame announced, Wednesday.
Franks is one of five Pac-12 student-athletes named to the list, as he’s joined by Oregon’s Louis King, Oregon State’s Tres Tinkle, UCLA’s Kris Wilkes, and Washington’s Matissse Thybulle.
A native of Vancouver, Wash., Franks led the Cougars and ranked seventh in the Pac-12 with 17.4 points per game (142nd nationally) in 2017-18, and had a WSU second-best and Pac-12 15th-best with 6.6 rebounds per game. Franks’ field goal percentage of .476 (175-for-368) ranked 14th in the Pac-12 and 151st nationally, while he was the fourth-best with a .854 free throw mark, ranking 59th in the nation.
Franks also ranked ninth in the Pac-12 for 3-pointers made, as he set the WSU and tied the Pac-12 single-game record by hitting 10 3-pointers against California, Jan. 13. Franks became the third Cougar to pick up the Pac-12 Most Improved Player of the Year Award, and received All-Pac-12 Honorable Mention at the end of the 2017-2018 season.
The Julius Erving Small Forward Award is named after class of 1993 Hall of Famer and 16-year-old professional basketball player, Julius Erving.
The annual honor in its fifth year recognizes the top small forwards in Division I men’s college basketball. A national committee comprising top college basketball personnel determined the watch list of 20 candidates.
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COUG VOLLEBALL
WASHINGTON STATE (13-5, 4-4 PAC-12)
vs. No. 14 USC (14-5, 6-2 PAC-12) Fri., Oct. 19 8p.m.
vs. No. 20 UCLA (10-5, 5-3 PAC-12) Sun., Oct. 21 Noon
> Watch (vs. USC) | Pac-12 Network
> Watch (vs. UCLA) | Pac-12 Networks (Washington)
> Live Statistics | WSUCougars.com
> Tickets | WSUCougars.com
QUICK NOTES
>> Washington State looks to get back on track in Pac-12 play after falling to both No. 2 Stanford, and California on the road last week. The Cougars will welcome No. 14 USC, Friday, and No. 20 UCLA, Sunday in two big Pac-12 showdowns.
>> WSU currently ranks third overall in the Pac-12 in opponent hitting percentage at .193, along with ranking third in blocks per set with 2.60 overall. The Cougs are also fourth in the conference in hitting percentage at .252 as a team.
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::COUG FANS WAVE FLAGS, CHEER! Escorted by emergency vehicles, ESPN GameDay convoy arrives in Pullman for WSU football game::
Soon after 2 o’clock Pacific Daylight Time in the afternoon chimed on Wed., Oct. 10, 2018, ESPN GameDay convoy - bus and trucks - arrived in Pullman.
After being in Ann Arbor, Mich., for the Sat., Oct. 13, for the Wisconsin at Michigan game, the convoy left that Michigan city for Pullman.
GameDay is in Pullman to advance and cover the Oregon at WSU football game starting 4:30 p.m. Sat., Oct. 20, in Martin Stadium.
Posted with this text is a screen grab from Facebook Live thanks to Pullman Radio News and news director Evan Ellis. Cougar spirited fans, many with flags, cheered the convoy as it drove down Pullman’s Main Street.
After driving through Colfax, the convoy, escorted by police and firefighting vehicles drove down Davis Way into Pullman, took a left and then -- and this is unusual -- another left onto Main Street.
Unusual? Yes, because Main Street traffic is one-way in the opposite direction.
But, having ESPN GameDay in Pullman is anything but usual. So, the convoy drove down Main from Grand, and then on the Pullman Road, including across the Cougar overpass bridge, and took another left and drove up Stadium Way to its GameDay set-up spot at the corner of Stadium Way & Ferdinand’s Lane.
Go, Cougs!
ESPN GAMEDAY IN 2018
--April 26: 2018 NFL Draft pre-show in Arlington, Texas
--Sept 1: #14 Michigan at #12 Notre Dame in South Bend, Indiana, Notre Dame 24–17
--Sept 8: #2 Clemson at Texas A&M in College Station, Texas, Clemson 28–26
--Sept 15: #4 Ohio State vs. #15 TCU in Arlington, Texas (show was hosted from TCU's campus in Fort Worth, Texas), Ohio State 40–28
--Sept 22: #7 Stanford at #20 Oregon in Eugene, Oregon, Stanford 38–31 OT
--Sept 29: #4 Ohio State at #9 Penn State in University Park, Pennsylvania, Ohio State 27–26
--Oct 6: #19 Texas vs. #7 Oklahoma in Dallas, Texas, Texas 48–45
--Oct 13: #15 Wisconsin at #12 Michigan in Ann Arbor, Michigan, Michigan 38–13
--Oct 20: #12 Oregon at #25 Washington State in Pullman, Washington
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Coug Football (of course!)
ESPN College GameDay notes: City of Pullman issues emergency declaration to deal with crowd
UPDATED: Wed., Oct. 17, 2018, 6 p.m.
Spokesman-Review
By Theo Lawson
PULLMAN – Tens of thousands of people are expected to be in Pullman Saturday for ESPN College GameDay’s first-ever visit to Washington State, and the subsequent Pac-12 North battle between the 12th-ranked Oregon Ducks and 25th-ranked WSU Cougars.
To deal with the congestion, Pullman City Council has approved an “emergency declaration” that will allow Pullman Transit buses to transport Washington State fans and College GameDay attendees through campus on Saturday.
According to Pullman Radio News, the emergency declaration was brought forth to the Pullman City Council, and approved, Tuesday evening. The news outlet is reporting that WSU requested additional buses from the city after the school was unable to locate private bus services.
ESPN College GameDay producer Chris “The Bear” Fallica has told Pullman Radio News this is the first time the show has caused an emergency declaration. GameDay has been broadcasting on college campuses since 1993.
Celebrity picker could be a Saturday surprise
Drew Bledsoe? Ryan Leaf? Klay Thompson? Dolph Lundgren?
It could be one of two legendary Cougar quarterbacks, a three-time NBA champion of the Golden State Warriors, the actor known for his role in Rocky IV or another notable WSU alum sitting alongside Kirk Herbstreit and Lee Corso on the College GameDay set Saturday morning.
And the ESPN program could keep its celebrity guest-picker under wraps until the show launches at 6 a.m. across the street from Martin Stadium, on the corner of Stadium Way and Ferdinand’s Lane.
According to ESPN Communications Manager Derek Volner, who works directly with GameDay, “it varies from week to week” whether the show will unveil its guest picker days ahead of time, or surprise fans during the live broadcast.
Regarding Saturday’s visit to Pullman, Volner said crew members still “haven’t decided how to handle it.”
WSU fans had been lobbying for an appearance from Steve Gleason, the former Cougar and New Orleans Saints linebacker who was diagnosed with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis in 2011 and has since pioneered an effort to help others who have the disease.
But Gleason wrote on Twitter earlier this week he’d decline an invitation to be the guest picker. The following day, the Spokane native and Gonzaga Prep graduate announced his wife Michel Rae Varisco had given birth to the couple’s second child, a daughter, Gray Varisco Gleason.
From his Twitter account, Gleason casted his vote for Leaf.
The ex-WSU quarterback and former No. 1 NFL draft pick has made a full recovery from his drug addicition and spends his days speaking at different venues throughout the country about his steps to recovery and struggles with mental health. Leaf is also the host of a Pac-12 radio show and has been a color commentator for the Pac-12 Networks on two WSU football television broadcasts.
“He’s returned from hell, overcoming life’s adversity, by helping others enduring his previous situation @RyanDLeaf is the right choice,” Gleason wrote.
Presidential residence offers up rooms
Few beds, couches and spare futons will go unused this week, as thousands of WSU fans from around the country flock to Pullman for Saturday’s festivities.
And there won’t be any empty bedrooms inside the home of school president Kirk Schulz, either.
Schulz and wife Noel have offered up space inside the presidential mansion to guests this weekend in order to free up hotel rooms for members of the ESPN College GameDay crew, which announced Saturday evening it would be coming to Pullman for the first time in school history.
Noel Schulz told The Spokesman-Review Wednesday six people had accepted offers to stay in the mansion’s four spare bedrooms, including two WSU Board of Regent members and their spouses, one other member and a chancellor from another campus.
The president’s residence is located on the Washington State campus, near Greek Row.
A warm welcome
An orange ESPN College GameDay bus and a line of trucks carrying production gear could hardly go 20 miles on Highway 195 without seeing a crimson flag as they traveled through Spokane and into the Palouse Wednesday afternoon.
More than a dozen flag-bearing fans, including a few state patrol officers, showed up at the Cheney-Spokane overpass to get a first glimpse of the GameDay convoy as it passed through shortly after 11 a.m.
A larger contingent of fans, and an electronic message board that read “Welcome ESPN,” greeted the crew in Colfax.
Finally, after reportedly being stuck behind a combine harvester, the GameDay RV made its grand entrance into Pullman. A few-hundred fans and students poured into the heart of the WSU campus and crowded the bus as it rolled through the portion of Stadium Way that will serve as the home base for Saturday’s live show.
In a Twitter message, athletic director Pat Chun urged “all students to show up to GameDay.” Chun believes WSU, the 70th school to host the popular road show, could set an attendance record Saturday morning.
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WSU football
Ralph Walter: First stop, ESPN College GameDay – then a ‘remote’ shot at the national title
UPDATED: Tue., Oct. 16, 2018, 10:37 p.m.
By Ralph Walter, Spokane S-R sports editor
I was at a wedding reception filled with Washington State University alums Saturday night when news broke that ESPN’s College GameDay was finally coming to Pullman.
In an instant, the room went from I Do’s to Go Cougs. The only thing that could have revved up that party more would have been Lee Corso going all YMCA on the dance floor.
The buzz started shortly after 8:30 that night when ESPN’s Kirk Herbstreit popped up in a Twitter video with a short message that concluded: “There’s only one place for College GameDay to go. Oregon at Washington State. We will see you in Pullman.”
As news spread that ESPN was Palouse-bound, phone screens lit up the darkened hall and folks began game-planning for Saturday’s prime-time showdown against the 12th-ranked Ducks.
It was even more fun following the flood of comments on Twitter. There was much speculation over who would be the guest picker (Steve Gleason seemed an almost unanimous No. 1), but mostly it was just Cougar fans rejoicing that they’d finally made it.
And who could blame them? Despite the best efforts of loyal Cougs – after all, the WSU flag, Ol’ Crimson, had famously been flown behind the ESPN College GameDay crew for 216 straight shows – for 15 years, there had been nothing to show for it.
Until now.
Finally, WSU diehards wrote, the Cougs had arrived. Wazzu had reached the pinnacle.
At the wedding, waiting in the beer line, I thought, why stop there? What if GameDay is just the first stop in a long, joyous ride? And on basic cable, no less!
Imagine Saturday’s clash with Oregon turns into a Wazzu rout and suddenly the Cougs vault into the Top 15. Gardner Minshew, the Mississippi Mustache, tosses six touchdown passes. He then follows up a week later with five more TD passes in a convincing win at Stanford. Suddenly, Minshew’s a legit Heisman candidate and the 7-1 Cougars make their move into the Top 10.
Victories at home over Cal and Arizona, sandwiched around a tough road win at Colorado, push Wazzu to 10-1, and suddenly the Cougs are in the College Football Playoff conversation. With the Apple Cup looming, ESPN GameDay announces its return to Pullman for a rare Friday edition.
Behind the mobile Minshew – by now known nationally as Stache Gordon – the Cougs throttle Washington by three touchdowns and finish the regular season 11-1. A revenge win over USC follows the next week in the Pac-12 Championship game, lifting WSU to a No. 4 ranking in the polls – and a Dec. 29 Orange Bowl clash against top-ranked Alabama.
In the ensuing weeks, Cougs are everywhere. Minshew, now the Heisman favorite, guest judges on the Netflix show, “Whisker Wars,” where he serenades a losing contestant with “Let it Grow,” sung to the tune of the hit “Frozen” song (yeah, that’s now in your head).
Coach Mike Leach appears on Travel Channel’s “Ghost Adventures,” offering a tour through Key West’s Ernest Hemingway Home and Museum, just 3 1/2 hours from Miami, where his Cougs are preparing for a Crimson-vs.-Crimson CFP semifinal.
The storylines are epic against Alabama: Among them, recently named Heisman-winner Minshew, who had orally committed to the Crimson Tide before accepting WSU’s offer, and linebacker Peyton Pelluer, who was also pursued by ’Bama this past off-season.
The best storyline, however, turns out to be safety Hunter Dale, who decides to punk the Tide faithful by shaving his head and having Bear Bryant’s plaid fedora tattooed on his dome during a special episode of “Ink Master,” which airs just days before the Cougs’ improbable 31-28 victory.
The win sets up a National Title Championship finale against Ohio State on Jan. 7. The game is a defensive gem, with Logan Tago’s sack of Buckeyes’ QB Dwayne Haskins in the closing seconds securing the Cougars’ 17-14 victory.
At the end of the game, cameras catch WSU defensive coordinator Tracy Claeys and former D-coordinator Alex Grinch, now at OSU, arguing at midfield over who deserves credit for the dominant Cougar defensive line. “Bravo!” Grinch says, patting himself on the back. “Whose line is it, anyway?” Claeys asks as the two are separated.
The Cougs’ national title victory fuels speculation that Leach will leave for the many coaching openings across the country, including Florida State’s, about an hour’s flight from Leach’s home in Key West. Coincidentally, he’s simultaneously having his house remodeled on HGTV’s “Love It or List It.” (At the conclusion of the show, Leach peers into the camera: “We’re going to …” he says with a wink, “LIST it.”) With that, he decides to sell his Florida home, move full time to Pullman and re-up with Wazzu for five more years.
Right around the time I was casting Minshew in a Burt Reynolds biopic, I finally found myself at the front of the wedding reception beer line.
I looked around at the jubilant WSU fans.
Of course, they didn’t need my fancy flights of imagination to celebrate. For 15 long years they had proudly flown their flag and now it had paid off. Let Alabama have its dynasty. For this week, at least, the eyes of college football were going to be on Pullman. And that was enough.
“Another Bud Light,” I said, “and go Cougs.”
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3rd Annual COUGS in SPACE Day at WSU on Oct 17-18, 2018
Astronaut and Coug alum John Fabian, ME ’62, and employers from space industry giants
Blue Origin, NASA, Raytheon Company, and Lockheed Martin Space Systems
visit Washington State University to talk about careers in the space industry.
Wednesday, October 17
4:30-5:30 p.m., Goertzen Hall 21
Opening by Astronaut and WSU alum John Fabian
Keynote Address by Dean Kassmann, Senior Director Advanced Technology, Blue Origin
5:45-6:15 p.m., ETRL 101
NASA Ames Overview with Matt Sorgenfrei, Control Systems Engineer, NASA Ames Research Center
6:15-6:45 p.m., ETRL 101
Raytheon Information Session with John Schlaerth, Sr. Principal System Engineer, Raytheon
6:45-7:15 p.m., ETRL 101
Lockheed Martin Information Session with Casey Evans, Systems Integration and Test Engineer, Lockheed Martin Space Systems
Thursday, October 18, 8-10 a.m., Lighty 160
On-Campus Mock Interviews and Resume Reviews with Blue Origin, NASA Ames, and Raytheon.
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Pullman one of the safest cities in Washington according to FBI
(Source: Pullman Radio News 1017/2018)
Pullman is one of the safest cities in Washington according to new numbers from the FBI. The 2017 FBI Crime in the U.S. report shows that Pullman is the 13th safest city in the state based on the violent crime rate.
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Soccer Hits the Road for the Final Time in the Regular Season/Will play at Arizona State and Arizona
from WSU Sports Info 10/17/2018
#22 WASHINGTON STATE (10-3-0, 3-3-0 Pac-12)
at Arizona State (6-5-1, 1-3-1 Pac-12) | Thr., Oct. 18 | 11 a.m.
Watch Live | ASU Live Stream
Live Statistics | WSUCougars.com
at Arizona (8-4-2, 1-3-2 Pac-12) | Sun., Oct. 21 | Noon
Watch Live | Arizona Live Stream
Live Statistics | WSUCougars.com
> Washington State looks to snap a three-game skid after winning a program-record 10-straight matches to begin the season.
> The 10 wins matches last season's win total and are four off of WSU's program record of 14 set in 2015.
> WSU enters the week ranked #22 in the coaches poll having been ranked for a record 10-straight weeks.
> The Cougars are unbeaten in their last five against ASU and have won three-straight. WSU has dominated play in Tempe winning five-straight on the road with an 8-3 goal advantage.
> WSU looks to snap a four-match losing streak to Arizona having been outscored 8-1 in the four games. Prior the Cougs had won 9-straight against the Wildcats.
> Cougs RPI sits at 30 in NCAA RPI.
> Maddy Haro is first the nation in assists (11) and second in assists/game (0.85). Her 11 assists on the year is tied for the most in WSU single-season history. Haro has assisted or scored half of the Cougars goals this season.
> Morgan Weaver enters the weekend No. 6 all-time in career goals scored with 22 goals. She is tied for fourth in the Pac-12 in scoring with 7 goals.
> 10 different Cougars have scored the team's 26 goals on the year with six different game-winning scorers.
> WSU is 4th in the Pac-12 and 45th in the nation in scoring (2.00 gpg) entering the game.
> Defensively, WSU is 7th in the Pac-12 and 98th in the nation in goals against average at 0.99.
HARO'S HELPERS
A year after posting a career-best seven assists, senior Maddy Haro has been even better in her final season as the senior has posted 11 assists in 13 games. Her 11 assists is tied for first in single-season history, one short of claiming the all-time record to herself
For Haro, her 11 helpers ranks first in the nation while her 0.85 assists/game ranks second in the country. She has assisted or scored half of the Cougars 26 goals on the year.
Additionally, Haro has posted two separate streaks of three-straight games with an assist tying for the longest streak in WSU history. She is two assists from becoming just the third player in WSU history to record 20 career assists.
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Click on link to WSU Athletics ….
https://wsucougars.com/news/2018/…/16/college%20gameday.aspx
...College GameDay Information at WSU.
(As more info available, the information posted will be updated. Check back often for more details.)
What’s posted below is slightly edited. Go to the URL directly above for the easier to read, everything is there information.
SCHEDULE
WEDNESDAY, Oct. 17
1 p.m. – College GameDay Home Depot Bus "Roll In" (Cougar Pride Statue).
SATURDAY, Oct. 20
All Night Friday and All Day Saturday – Compton Union Building (CUB) is open.
4 a.m. – The College GameDay Pit opens.
4 a.m. – Food service begins at CUB (See below for more information).
6 a.m. – College GameDay begins.
6 a.m.-8:30 p.m. – Kickoff Event at M.G. Carey Senior Ballroom with seating and viewing.
9 a.m. – College GameDay Ends.
9 a.m.-4:30 p.m. – Lewis Alumni Centre Open (Giveways for WSUAA members).
1:30 p.m. – Hollingbery Fieldhouse Food Fair begins/Cougville opens (Rogers Field).
2 p.m. – 150 Minute Club (student plaza).
2:20 p.m. – Cougar Prowl Walk (Hollingbery Fieldhouse).
2:30 p.m. – Martin Stadium gates open.
3:30 p.m. – Beasley Coliseum opens to those without tickets for the game.
3:30 p.m. – The Spark opens for those without tickets to watch the game.
4:30 p.m. – Kickoff.
MAP (COMING SOON!)
WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW
ESPN COLLEGE GAMEDAY INFORMATION:
IS THERE A COST/WHO CAN ATTEND COLLEGE GAMEDAY?
There is NO ADMISSION COST to the College GameDay area ("footprint") and the event is open to the general public.
It is an entirely alcohol-free event.
Saturday morning a limited number of fans, assessed by ESPN (500 people) will be allowed within the Pit.
There will be live crowd shots and camera crews through the entire "footprint" throughout the morning.
WHERE WILL GAMEDAY BE SET UP?
ESPN College GameDay will be se tup at the corner of Stadium Way and Ferdinand's Lane, across from the Cougar Pride statue.
WHEN CAN YOU START LINING UP FOR THE PIT?
While we are excited to host this event, camping and the use of tents are not allowed.
Portable chairs, sleeping bags and blankets are permitted for those who plan to wait overnight.
Any and all alcoholic beverages are prohibited.
The Pit will open at 4 a.m. before the 6 a.m. broadcast begins, 500 people will be admitted.
Security will have a presence in the area to monitor activities.
RULES FOR THE PIT:
Fans entering the Pit will be checked by a security wand and other possible security measures.
No bags, backpacks or purses permitted in the Pit.
No offensive, vulgar, inappropriate or solicitation signage will be allowed (i.e., no political, religious or .com, .org or .net signage).
No pens, pencils, markers or dry erase boards.
Alcohol is strictly prohibited.
No food or drinks.
Throwing of objects is prohibited.
WHERE CAN WE PARK?
CAF parking permit holders will be able to park in their respective lots anytime Saturday morning.
Limited General Parking passes remain and can be purchased
Fans are encouraged to take the Park and Ride or walk to campus.
Park and Ride 3 (located at Terre View & Hwy 270 with dropoff on Stadium Way at the Bustad bus stop) will run beginning at 5 a.m...this is a special route for ESPN GameDay and normal park and ride service will resume at approximately 1:30 p.m.
All other Park and Ride locations will begin service at 1:30 p.m. for the game.
WHAT TRAFFIC AREAS WILL BE CLOSED?
Wednesday, Oct. 17:
Ferdinand's Lane from Stadium Way to North Fairway Lane through Saturday.
Thursday, Oct. 18:
Stadium Way from Wilson Road to North Fairway from 1-4 p.m.
Friday, Oct. 19:
Stadium Way from Wilson Road to North Fairway from 9:30 a.m.-approximately midnight.
Saturday, Oct. 20:
Stadium Way from Grimes Way to Cougar Way from midnight-after the football game.
TRAVEL INFORMATION
Construction on Washington SR 26 to and from Pullman near Othello.
Detour alternative routes include Eastbound traffic staying on I-90 to just beyond Ritzville and turning south on SR 261 down to SR 26.
Westbound traffic on SR 26 from Pullman would turn north at Washtucna onto SR 261 up to I-90.
WILL FOOD AND/OR DRINKS BE SERVED ANYWHERE?
FRIDAY:
Compton Union (CUB): opens at 6:30 a.m. and will not close until midnight Sunday. (food, coffee, restrooms, ATM's, general seating)
All food service operating within their normal hours, http://cub.wsu.edu/vendor-hours/.
Einstein Bros Bagels, Coffee, and The Market at Global Scholars Hall: opens at 7 a.m. - 1 a.m. Sunday (food, coffee, restrooms, general seating)
SATURDAY:
Compton Union (CUB): open until midnight (food, coffee, restrooms, ATM's, general seating)
Bookie Café: 4 a.m.-6 a.m.; 8 a.m.-close
Carlita's Mexican Grille: 5 a.m.-close
Reunion Coffee: 5 a.m.-close
Panda Express: 9:30 a.m. – 9 p.m.
Pizza Pipeline: 1:30-4:30 p.m.
Subway: 6 a.m. – Midnight
Kickoff Event in the M.G. Carey Senior Ballroom with food and bar service: 11 a.m.-4:30 p.m.
Kickoff Event in the M.G. Carey Senior Ballroom with seating and viewing: 6 a.m.-end-of-game.
Einstein Bros Bagels, Coffee, and The Market at Global Scholars Hall: Midnight and will close at 1 a.m. Sunday Morning (food, coffee, restrooms, general seating).
Freshens in the Chinook Student Center (formerly the Bookie Building): 9 a.m. – 4:30 p.m. (food, coffee, restrooms, general seating).
Starbucks in the SPARK Building: 7:30 a.m. – 4:30 p.m. (snacks, coffee, restrooms, general seating).
WHAT TIME IS THE FOOTBALL GAME?
Kickoff between Washington State and Oregon at Martin Stadium is set for 4:30 p.m.
Gates open to Martin Stadium at 2 p.m. for the Premium Seating Entrance and 2:30 p.m. for all other seating.
WAYS TO WATCH THE GAME
Tickets for Saturday's game are SOLD OUT.
Those without tickets have two options for watching on campus:
Beasley Coliseum: Doors open at 3:30 p.m. and admission is free.
Concessions will not be open, but fans will be allowed to bring in their own food and beverage (no alcoholic beverages allowed).
The Spark: Doors open at 3:30 p.m. and admission is free.
Starbucks will be open and the game will play on the big screen in the lounge.
The game will be televised on FOX.
WEATHER FOR SATURDAY
Saturday is supposed to be a beautiful fall day on the Palouse, sunny and a high of 69 degrees.
Before the sun comes up and after it goes down, it will be chilly, so dress accordingly for College GameDay and the second half.
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