Coug
Soccer's Match With Iowa Postponed Due to Weather
8/23/2018
| Women's Soccer from WSU Sports Info
MINNEAPOLIS,
Minn. - Due to inclement weather, the Washington State soccer match against
Iowa, schedule for Friday, has been postponed. The two teams have reserved the
right to reschedule the contest at a later date, but no date or makeup has been
scheduled.
The
neutral site game between the two sides was scheduled to take place at
Elizabeth Lyle Robbie Stadium on the campus of Minnesota. The Cougars will hit
the pitch Sunday, barring poor weather conditions, Sunday to take on Minnesota.
The No. 22
ranked Cougars enter the weekend 2-0-0 on the year after defeating Seattle,
3-1, and Grand Canyon, 1-0, last weekend at home.
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WSU
football player arrested for ‘Baby’ DUI
By RYAN
MOSHER and RACHEL SUN, Evergreen sports editor and news editor
Aug 24,
2018
19-year
old WSU freshman wide receiver Rodrick Fisher was arrested early Friday morning
at 12:25 a.m. for a “Baby” DUI charge with blood alcohol levels measured twice
at .o76 and .078. A “Baby” DUI is when a driver under 21 tests positive for
alcohol.
Fisher was
arrested on the corner of NE B Street & NE California Street near the St.
Thomas More Catholic Student Center after he was pulled over for driving the
wrong way on a one-way street. Fisher received a criminal citation and is
scheduled to appear at the Whitman County Courthouse today at 4 p.m.
Assistant
Director of Athletic Communications Bobby Alworth said Head Coach Mike Leach is
aware of the incident but he could not comment further, citing it as an
internal matter.
This story
will be updated as more information comes in.
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Washington
State receiver, former East Valley star Rodrick Fisher arrested on “baby DUI”
UPDATED:
Fri., Aug. 24, 2018, 3:23 p.m.
By Theo
Lawson
S-R of Spokane
PULLMAN –
Rodrick Fisher, a true freshman wide receiver on the Washington State football
team who came from Spokane’s East Valley High School, was arrested on a “baby
DUI” early Friday morning after registering a blood alcohol level just under
.08, the Whitman County Prosecutors Office confirmed to The Spokesman-Review.
Pullman
Radio News first reported Fisher’s arrest Friday morning.
In line
with team policy, WSU doesn’t comment on criminal allegations and a school
official told The Spokesman-Review Friday the Cougars would be handling the
matter internally. While Fisher’s status with the Cougars remains unclear, a
DUI isn’t one of the three acts that automatically gets a played kicked off
Mike Leach’s football team. Those are: violence against women, illegal drug use
and stealing.
Fisher was
driving the wrong way on a one-way street in Pullman’s College Hill district
when he was pulled over at 12:24 a.m. by Whitman County Deputy Officer Chris
Olin. Fisher, 19, was administered two breathalyzer tests, blowing a blood
alcohol level of .076 on the first and .078 on the second. Minors who blow a
BAC between .02 and .08 are cited for what’s commonly known as a “baby” or
“minor” DUI. Fisher was arrested and subsequently released from the Pullman
Police Department station Friday morning.
He’s
scheduled to appear at 4 p.m. today at the Whitman County Courthouse in Colfax.
An early
enrollee who joined the Cougars in time for spring camp, Fisher had been on a
quick trajectory to earning one of the eight spots in Leach’s wide receiver
rotation, which would’ve meant significant playing time as a rookie. Earlier
this week, Leach said he’d be one of the two “X” outside receivers in the
rotation “if the season started today,” alongside standout sophomore Tay
Martin.
The 6-2,
195-pound speedster caught three passes for 36 yards and scored a touchdown in
the Cougars’ spring game – played in Fisher’s backyard at Joe Albi Stadium in
Spokane. He hauled in four passes for 43 yards, including two touchdowns,
during the team’s most recent scrimmage in Pullman.
The story
of the East Valley football/track and field star has been well-documented.
Fisher had spent years of his teenage life bouncing around from home to home –
and was homeless at times – before being permanently adopted by EV football
coach Adam Fisher and changing his last name from Jackson to Fisher.
The WSU
receiver told reporters last week arriving on campus early had been
advantageous.
“I
definitely wouldn’t have been as confifent in my routes and stuff,” Fisher
said. “So I couldn’t imagine how far I’d be behind, honestly, so it’s been a
huge learning curve coming down here early.”
Wide
receiver happens to be the deepest position group at WSU, so the Cougars
shouldn’t see a significant dropoff if Fisher has to miss any time. Four-star
freshman Drue Jackson has spent time at the “X” receiver position, and junior
college transfer Calvin Jackson Jr. was getting reps at both outside spots –
the “X” and the “Z” – during preseason camp.
:::::::::::
Wasps
swarm the Palouse as summer ends
Researcher
says mild winters, warm springs contribute to large populations
By
Katie Short, Moscow Pullman Daily News
Aug 24,
2018
They are
the menace of every family picnic, backyard barbecue and child playing in a
kiddie pool: Wasps, more than in years past, seem to be flying in force this
year on the Palouse.
Richard
Zack, Washington State University professor of entomology, said the past
several cold winters and warm springs have contributed to this summer's swarm
of stinging insects.
Mild
winters, or a winter with heavy snowfall combined with warm springs without
prolonged rain or cold snaps, make for the perfect conditions, Zack said,
adding that is exactly what led to the increase in wasp populations this
summer.
Zack said
when the weather starts to get cold, "wintering queens" will leave
their nest and find a safe place to burrow - typically in fallen leaves - until
spring arrives.
Zack said
in the early spring the wasp nests are small, but as the summer progresses and
their nests continue to grow, so do their numbers.
"In
August, the nests are at their maximum size, so the most wasps will be out now.
Your chances of interacting with them are as high as they will be," he
said.
The hot,
dry weather has also left the black and yellow bullies desperate for any water
they can find.
"They
take the water back to the nest and regurgitate it to create a type of air
conditioning," Zack said.
He said in
addition to their constant search for water, wasps are also actively searching
for sugars to boost their energy.
During the
early summer months, wasps prey on caterpillars and flies, Zack said, but by
August, wasps gravitate towards sugars and feed primarily on the rotting fruit
that has fallen from trees.
No soda
can is safe, Zack said.
He said it
is important for Palouse residents to be aware of the increased numbers this
summer in order to avoid being stung.
According
to the Washington State Department of Health, wasps can sting repeatedly and
will often do so if they feel threatened or are protecting their nest.
Zack
advised that anyone with a bee or wasp allergy be especially vigilant until the
summer nights start to get a little bit colder and the colonies begin to die
off.
He said
the most common wasps in Whitman and Latah counties are paper wasps and yellow
jackets. Both search for safe and protected areas when deciding where to build
their nests, he said.
Wasps
almost never re-use their old nest, according to the WSDOH website.
As Palouse
residents finish their summer projects, Zack said, everyone should be diligent
and look for nests before reaching in to clean gutters or trim bushes, as those
are prime nest locations.
Paper
wasps make the smaller nests that typically only grow to be about the size of a
silver dollar and their nests don't have a covering, Zack said. Yellow jackets,
on the other hand, can make nests the size of a baseball, softball or even a
basketball in some situations and are known for their outside covering.
Zack said
while bee traps are a popular way to try and eliminate the swarms, there are so
many wasps on the Palouse this year that even when the traps are full it hardly
makes an impact on their population.
He said if
people choose to hang to the traps, they should pick a place away from where
they would like to spend time outside.
::::::::::::
WSU
football
Picking
the Cougars: Projections for all 12 of Washington State’s 2018 football games
UPDATED:
Thu., Aug. 23, 2018, 10:10 p.m.
Washington
State wide receiver Kyle Sweet makes a catch in the end zone during a practice
in Pullman in mid-August. Sweet and the Cougars face a tough climb to repeat
last season’s nine-win season. (Ted Warren / AP)
By The
Spokane-Spokesman Review’s Theo Lawson
No shocker
here: Washington State football players didn’t take kindly to the preseason
Pac-12 predictions unveiled last month.
The
Cougars, nine-game winners in 2017 who were in Pac-12 North title contention
until the Apple Cup, were selected to finish fifth by league media members who
reckon WSU won’t be able to replicate last year without key cast members like
Luke Falk, Hercules Mata’afa and Alex Grinch.
“We’re
playing against the odds,” inside receiver Kyle Sweet said. “And I think a lot
of us are coming together because we’re not picked to do very much this year.
So a lot of us are using that as motivation and have a chip on our shoulder to
get better.”
If the
Cougars meet their own expectations, it’ll be a fourth bowl game in four years.
If the prognosticators have it right, WSU’s postseason streak will end at
three.
What’s in
store for the 2018 Cougars? We take a look at how each of the 12 regular-season
games could pan out, with score predictions and commentary.
Washington
State at Wyoming (Sept. 1) – With franchise quarterbacks Luke Falk and Josh
Allen, this game could have been an offensive marathon last season. Home-field
advantage and a game the week before work in the Cowboys’ favor, but Falk’s
successor is more experienced than Allen’s and the Cougars are better at the
skill positions. That should be enough for 1-0 – but just barely. Cougars 28,
Cowboys 27 (1-0).
San Jose
State at Washington State (Sept. 8) – Memories of Tyler Hilinski will be strewn
throughout Martin Stadium during the home opener, which should provide an extra
charge before late-night kickoff in Pullman. Oh, and the Spartans grade out as
the worst team on WSU’s schedule. A Cammon Cooper sighting by the fourth
quarter? Cougars 49, Spartans 10 (2-0).
Eastern
Washington at Washington State (Sept. 15) – Last year’s opener against Montana
State showed us the Cougars may have finally conquered their FCS demons. But
this will be the litmus test. EWU’s run game could pose a bigger threat to the
Cougars than the passing game – and the Cougars are better suited to stop the
pass than the run – but the Eagles also conceded 33.3 points per game and may
have a tough time outscoring the hosts. Cougars 45, Eagles 38 (3-0).
Washington
State at USC (Sept. 21) – Even if the Trojans don’t have a solution at QB by
the fourth week of the season, they still have running back Stephen Carr and
five All-Pac-12 returnees on defense. Talent wasn’t enough to get the Trojans
past the Cougars last year. It should be this year. Trojans 31, Cougars 17
(3-1, 0-1).
Utah at
Washington State (Sept. 29) – Second-year starting quarterback Tyler Huntley
will grab most of the media attention this season if he can replicate or
improve his numbers from last season. But the Cougars might be more concerned
with the Utes’ defensive front – which is big and Polynesian-flavored usual –
not to mention their talented defensive secondary. Utes 28, Cougars 21 (3-2,
0-2).
Washington
State at Oregon State (Oct. 6) – The Beavers are rebuilding and rebranding
their program in year No. 1 under Jonathan Smith. That’s no six-week job and
even with Ryan Nall in the backfield last year, OSU had trouble keeping up with
the Air Raid offense, scoring just 23 points – 14 of which came from the
powerful senior tailback. So, no Nall, no chance – at least not this early on
in the Smith era. Cougars 38, Beavers 21 (4-2, 1-2).
Oregon at
Washington State (Oct. 20) – Tracy Claeys’ defense will see at least three
Heisman candidates the second half of the season and Oregon’s junior
quarterback, Justin Herbert, will be the first. I suspect it’ll be a sweet
homecoming for Jim Mastro and Joe Salave’a, and the Ducks will snatch a win
from the Cougars for the first time since Marcus Mariota was under center.
Ducks 37, Cougars 34 (4-3, 1-3).
Washington
State at Stanford (Oct. 27) – As different as Oregon and Stanford are
cosmetically and strategically, both are in a similar position this year as
preseason Top 25 teams powered by Heisman candidates looking to re-establish
status in the Pac-12 North. WSU’s defensive line built a wall strong enough to
withstand Bryce Love last season. Hard to imagine it happens twice in two
years. Cardinal 34, Cougars 17 (4-4, 1-4).
Cal at
Washington State (Nov. 3) – With eight games played and four left, the Cougars
and Golden Bears may both be in the realm of bowl eligibility at this point –
and the game at Martin Stadium will be a biggie given the remaining schedule
for both teams. WSU finishes at Colorado, home vs. Arizona and home vs.
Washington. Cal has USC on the road, Stanford home and Colorado home. Alex
Grinch never could stop Beau Baldwin’s offense – perhaps Claeys can? Cougars
28, Golden Bears 20 (5-4, 2-4).
Washington
State at Colorado (Nov. 17) – It won’t be their last chance to attain bowl
eligibility, but the road contest in Boulder will be the Cougars’ best.
Colorado was better than the 28-0 shutout it suffered in Pullman last season,
and then-sophomore quarterback Steven Montez was better than his passing
numbers (4 of 13) indicated. But the Buffaloes have a big hole in the backfield
without Phillip Lindsay and their defense crumbled in Pac-12 play last season,
conceding more than 34 ppg. The Cougars steal a big win in the Centennial State
to reach the magic number. Cougars 33, Buffaloes 27 (6-4, 3-4).
Arizona at
Washington State (Nov. 17) – One-time WSU graduate assistant Kevin Sumlin
returns to the Palouse with explosive junior quarterback Khalil Tate, who
accelerated through the Cougars’ “Speed D” last year with 146 rushing yards –
not to mention the 275 he accumulated in the air. If his tank isn’t empty by
the middle of November, Tate will dazzle again and ensure the Cougars finish
Pac-12 play with a losing record. Wildcats 49, Cougars 28 (6-5, 3-5).
Washington
at Washington State (Nov. 23) – Anyone really care for the commentary here?
Huskies 45, Cougars 3 (6-6, 3-6).
:::::::::
WSU
football
Alex Brink
to replace Jason Gesser as radio analyst on Washington State football
broadcasts
UPDATED:
Thu., Aug. 23, 2018, 9:16 p.m.
By Theo
Lawson of the S-R of Spokane/Inland Empire
PULLMAN –
The Washington State IMG Sports Network is calling an audible in the radio
booth this fall.
Former WSU
quarterback Alex Brink will take over as the network’s radio analyst for home
and away football broadcasts, The Spokesman-Review learned Thursday. Brink will
replace fellow Cougar record-holder Jason Gesser, who’d held the position the
last four years.
WSU
spokesperson Bill Stevens confirmed the news Thursday evening.
The change
allows Gesser to allocate more time to his primary role at the school, as an
Assistant Athletic Director for the Cougar Athletic Fund. He was elevated to
that position last August after serving three years as the CAF’s Director of
Development/Major Gifts. New Athletic Director Pat Chun has cited Gesser as one
of the critical figures to the department’s fundraising efforts, which have
become more aggressive since Chun was hired in January.
Brink will
join fourth-year play-by-play announcer Matt Chazanow in the booth on Sept. 1
when the Cougars open the 2018 football season at Wyoming. The only WSU QB with
three Apple Cup wins, Brink has joined the WSU IMG Sports Network for annual
signing day radio broadcasts over the years and occasionally on Cougar road
show segments. The Oregon native has also appeared on TV and radio broadcasts
in the Portland area and continues to mentor young quarterbacks as part of the
Elite 11 quarterback competition.
Brink
played for the Cougars from 2004-07 and is still top three at WSU in career
pass attempts (1,451), completions (848), passing yards (10,913) and touchdowns.
During the 2007 season, Brink passed Gesser to become the school’s all-time
leader in passing yards, before Connor Halliday and Luke Falk eventually
eclipsed the record.
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