Air
quality alert issued for the Palouse
Aug 14,
2018 Moscow Pullman Daily News
The
National Weather Service has issued an air quality alert …. see gray areas on map ...
An air
quality alert has been issued for the Palouse and will be in effect until 10
a.m. Wednesday according to the National Weather Service.
Air
quality is currently listed in the “unhealthy for sensitive groups” to
“unhealthy” category and is expected to degrade over the next several days.
Wildfires
in Washington, Idaho, and British Columbia, combined with high air pressure and
only a slight wind have caused there to be very little ventilation in the
region and as a result a thick layer of smoke has settled over the Palouse,
according to the NWS.
Children,
the elderly, and individuals with respiratory illnesses are most at risk of
serious health effects from the haze.
The Idaho
Department of Environmental Quality recommends residents should limit prolonged
exposure and avoid heavy exertion outside.
Some
improvement in ventilation will be possible towards the end of the week.
The DEQ
has also placed a burn ban restriction on all outdoor fires.
::::::::::::::::::::::
WSU still
searching for space for students
WSU
official says 145 upperclassmen are in still in need of a place to live
By Katie Short, Moscow Pullman Daily News Aug
14, 2018
Less than
a week from the first day of classes at Washington State University, 155
sophomores, juniors and seniors on WSU's housing waitlist are still waiting for
on-campus accommodations.
Despite
making room for 82 students, Phil Weiler, WSU Vice President of Marketing and
Communications, said just 10 of those 82 students have opted to move into
on-campus housing.
Weiler
said the other 72 students who were offered housing accommodations have already
found somewhere to reside off-campus.
He said
the university will continue to offer housing accommodations to the students on
the waitlist until all of the spaces are filled and "it is certain that
everyone is situated."
Housing
accommodations have been strained this year because of 4,300 incoming freshmen
- the largest freshman class in WSU history.
Because of
WSU's live-in requirement, which forces freshmen to reside on-campus their
first year at college, residence halls are reserved for incoming freshmen,
then, if there is room, upperclassmen.
Weiler
said it is likely many of the students who registered for the waitlist during
the spring semester found alternative housing long ago but did not take their
name off of the list.
He said
the university will have a better idea of how many students are in need of
rooms Wednesday - WSU's official move-in day - and the housing department will
continue to offer housing to the remaining upperclassmen who are on the
waitlist, noting about 50 percent of university students will make the move to
Pullman on Wednesday.
In order
to house all of the freshmen the university has reopened Waller Hall - a
dormitory that was closed in 2015 - to accommodate incoming freshman men.
To
accommodate freshman women, the university has converted single-student rooms
in Orton Hall to house two students and other rooms in certain residence halls
have been upped from housing two students to three.
About 135
freshmen, primarily women, are expected to be placed in three-student rooms.
Students
who volunteered to be placed in a three-student room and will receive a 25
percent discount on their housing fees.
Other
students will reside in the same room as residence advisers, who in past years
have had their own rooms.
For
upperclassmen still searching for last minute off-campus housing options, there
are few rental agencies in Pullman that have availability.
Duane
Brelsford, president and managing member of Corporate Pointe Developers, said
it is currently filled to 95 percent capacity, about average for the start of
the semester.
Brelsford
said there are still several one-bedroom units available, but he expects those
to be filled within the next couple of days. Corporate Pointe Developers, which
owns DABCO Property Management, also has several two- and three-bedroom units
available, he said.
The Ruckus
apartments, formerly known as Campus Commons, reported it has four-bedroom
units available.
Summit
Realty Property Management has no availability at this time.
::::::::::::::::::::
Paul
Sorensen: How best to acknowledge Tyler Hilinski this fall?
ByPAUL
SORENSEN Cougfan.com
WHEN THE
COUGARS take the field this season, a decal of Tyler Hilinski’s number 3 will
be on the back of every Cougar’s helmet. Many players also will no doubt have
the number Sharpied on their arms, towels and wrist bands. And at home games,
the goose-bump inducing “We Always Find Our Way Back Home” video will be
augmented to include highlights of Tyler’s magical work against Boise State.
Should WSU do more to acknowledge that the guy who should be leading the offense
in 2018 is, tragically, no longer with us?
I raise
the question for two reasons. First, because I’ve actually been thinking about
this for months and would love to hear what you, the people who fuel Cougar
Nation, might think is appropriate (head to the premium forum or football board
to share thoughts). And second, to float an idea by you that struck me in a
powerful way the first time I ever saw it in a game and one that has gained
recent currency, relative to Tyler, on Twitter: the missing man formation.
Here’s how
it would work: On the first offensive series at the first home game (Sept. 8
against San Jose State), 10 of the Cougars’ offensive starters would line up as
normal. But the quarterback position would be left vacant. The Cougars don’t
snap the ball and take a delay of game penalty and San Jose State, on agreement
ahead of time, would decline the penalty. And if my rulebook acumen is lacking,
who cares, talk with the officiating crew ahead of time to figure out how to
make it all work.
Regardless
how you get there, the poignant and powerful message is clear: Tyler, we miss
you, we love you, and we will preserve your incredible spirit and friendship by
working to illuminate the stigma associated with mental illness.
In 2016, I
remember Nebraska coming out with a missing man formation the first time they
had to punt in their home opener. They lined up with 10 men in what effectively
was a national moment of silence for Sam Foltz, their punter who had been
killed in a car accident that summer along with Michigan State’s Mike Sadler. I
found this to be one of the most touching and classy acts I’ve ever seen in
college football.
As a
former Cougar player, I also can tell you if I was in uniform witnessing a
missing man formation — and drinking in the subsequent eruption of applause and
cheers from the stands — I would be ready to run through a brick wall for the
next 60 minutes. This would be the ultimate celebration of life and the
ultimate celebration of what it means to be a Cougar. The energy in Martin
Stadium would be electric.
Since
Tyler died of suicide on Jan. 16, the Cougar Nation’s outpouring of love for
him and his amazing family has been nothing less than heartwarming. In big
ways, like Drew Bledsoe’s launch of the 3 bottle to support the Hilinski’s Hope
Foundation, and small ones, like the crimson 3 icons you see all throughout
Twitter, it’s pretty clear Tyler will not be forgotten. But there’s also a
broader message: Tyler’s death is directing a powerful, overdue light on mental
health issues among young people generally and student-athletes in particular.
By opening
the Sept. 8 game in the missing man formation, Washington State would be using
its large platform to raise mental health awareness. It effectively would be a
public service announcement — no doubt picked up by everyone from ESPN’s
SportsCenter to the Bellingham Herald — and a fitting tribute to a guy whose
genuine friendship meant so much to so many on the team and across campus.
I know
there are some WSU partisans who, for lack of a better term, want to “move on”
from Tyler and there are others who think remembering him somehow “glorifies”
suicide. For me, moving on means following the lead of Hilinski’s Hope and
using the sorrow around Tyler to supercharge mental health awareness. As for
the glorification piece, that’s just plain nonsense and those in that camp
would do well to educate themselves.
The
Hilinski family will be in Pullman on Sept. 8 to raise the Cougar flag before
kickoff. That will be a touching moment for all of Cougar Nation and following
up minutes later with the missing man formation would, in my estimation, be a
national moment for reflection on mental health and the importance of getting
it out from the shadows. So that’s my opinion. What's yours? Head to the CF.C message
forums and share your thoughts. I’d love to hear them and I think our fellow
Cougs would too.
………………
WSU
FOOTBALL
The
dangerous dozen: 12 players on Washington State’s schedule that could make life
challenging
UPDATED:
Mon., Aug. 13, 2018, 7:20 p.m.
By Theo
Lawson Spokane S-R
Washington
State won’t skate through the 2018 football season without seeing a Heisman
Trophy contender, and it’s possible the Cougars could face as many as three of
them before week 12. Oregon quarterback Justin Herbert, Stanford running back
Bryce Love and Arizona quarterback Khalil Tate are a few of the biggest names
on WSU’s schedule, but they aren’t the only ones.
We take a
look at those three and nine other players – one from each team on the 2018
slate – that could make life challenging for WSU this year.
Wyoming –
Andrew Wingard, safety: The long-haired, hard-hitting defensive back will be a
daunting challenge for whichever WSU quarterback is taking the snaps in the
season opener. Wingard needs only 100 tackles as a senior to become the
Cowboys’ career leader and that doesn’t seem unreachable for someone who’s
averaged 122 per season at Wyoming. A preseason All-American candidate, Wingard
is also the Mountain West’s Preseason Defensive Player of the Year.
San Jose
State – Tyler Nevens, running back: San Jose State’s passing game is still a
work in progress, so the Spartans probably need big numbers on the ground from
their primary tailback if they hope to keep pace with the WSU Air Raid in week
two. In 2017, Nevens was the second freshman in school history to lead SJSU in
rushing yards – he finished the year with 670 – and he did that on 4.1 yards
per carry. Granted, his TD count (one in 2017) will have to improve drastically
for SJSU to gain any ground in the MWC – or to make a run at the Cougars.
Eastern
Washington – Gage Gubrud, quarterback: First, a disclaimer: Gubrud had arguably
the best wide receiver in FCS history by his side the last time the Eagles came
to Pullman. Nonetheless, the EWU quarterback was making the first start of his
career when he passed for 477 yards, on an efficient 34-of-40, for five
touchdowns in a 45-42 upset of the Cougars. That’s not to mention the damage he
did on the ground: 14 carries, 101 rushing yards and another touchdown. He’s
collected plenty of accolades since then and enters his senior season as one of
the top playmakers in the FCS.
USC –
Cameron Smith, linebacker: As always, the Trojans give us plenty of options
here, but we’ll go with Smith, an inside linebacker who finished his junior
season on a variety of All-American teams and led USC in tackles for the second
consecutive year. Smith and Porter Gustin form one of the most potent
linebacker tandems in the country, although the Cougars missed out on seeing
Gustin in 2017 because of an injury. There was a chance they wouldn’t have to
see Smith this year, but the linebacker elected to return for his senior
season, which only further solidified USC as a favorite in the competitive
Pac-12 South.
Utah –
Julian Blackmon, corner: Utah was the Pac-12’s only bowl winner last postseason
and Blackmon was the Most Valuable Player of that game – the Heart of Dallas
Bowl against West Virginia – with two interceptions. He had twice that many on
the season to lead the Utes and also posted a team-high 10 pass breakups.
What’s also notable is that Blackmon’s standout sophomore season came after a
quiet freshman campaign that saw him appear in just four games and make only
two tackles. If he can make similar strides between his sophomore and junior
season, he’ll be in the running for All-Pac-12 First Team honors by the time
the year’s over.
Oregon
State – David Morris, safety: A 1-11 season didn’t elicit many fond memories
for the Beavers, but Morris, the only returning All-Pac-12 performer for OSU,
was responsible for a few of them. In 2017, as a true freshman who only started
in eight games, Morris still managed to finish second on the team in tackles
with 75. He chipped in another four tackles-for-loss and had one interception.
OSU was picked to finish last in the Pac-12 North, but between Morris and
junior Jalen Moore, the rebuilding Beavers could actually have one of the
Pac-12’s top safety duos.
Oregon –
Justin Herbert, quarterback: The Cougars played stifling defense against the
Ducks in a 33-10 last year, but they were also fortunate UO’s sophomore
gunslinger was watching from the sideline with a broken collarbone. Herbert,
who’s grown a full head of hair since he last appeared for the Ducks, has
become the face of this Oregon program and NFL scouts are gushing about his arm
talent, which could place him in the Heisman Trophy mix come December, or even
make him the top QB selected in the 2019 Draft.
Stanford –
Bryce Love, running back: Yeah, who else? Love rushed for at least 100 yards in
11 of the 12 games he played last season and don’t think Stanford’s high-motor
tailback won’t remember the one in which he failed to eclipse the century mark:
Nov. 4 at WSU when the Cougars held him to just 69 yards on 16 carries. Love’s
decision to return to Palo Alto for his season sent shockwaves around the
country and he’s a favorite to win the 2018 Heisman Trophy by many accounts.
Cal –
Jordan Kunaszyk, linebacker: A shivering memory of the 2017 season for Cougars
fans came on a Friday night in October against Kunaszyk’s Golden Bears. The
now-senior inside linebacker was Cal’s top tackler, with 11 takedowns, and he
recorded 2.5 tackles-for-loss, one sack, one forced fumble and one interception
in a 37-3 rout of the eighth-ranked Cougars. You could argue no individual
player had a better game against WSU last season and even though he missed
three games in 2017, Kunaszyk still led the Bears with 74 tackles.
Colorado –
Drew Lewis, linebacker: The Sammamish, Washington, native was reportedly one of
the best Buffaloes in the weight room this offseason, posting the team’s
heaviest power clean, and maybe more surprisingly, the second-fastest 10-yard
sprint. That combo of power and speed helped him lead Colorado with 119 tackles
last season and the former Washington Husky rounded out his stat line with two
sacks for 20 yards and four pass breakups. He and fellow LB Rick Gamboa should
be a formidable duo for WSU when the Cougars visit Boulder in November.
Arizona –
Khalil Tate, quarterback: At least 30-40 Wildcats would’ve appeared on this
list before Tate last year. Now he joins Love and Herbert as Pac-12 Hesiman
hopefuls after a breakout season that saw him amass 3,002 all-purpose yards and
contribute 26 touchdowns while starting in only nine games for Arizona. Tate
gave the Wildcats a jolt midway through the 2017 season and if he can replicate
the numbers from his sophomore season, UA will once again be in the hunt for a
Pac-12 South title.
Washington
– Myles Gaskin, running back: Just like USC, you can pick your poison here. The
Huskies return 11 players who earned all-conference honors in 2018, but none
should be more identifiable to the Cougars than Gaskin, whose presence has
loomed large in each of the last three Apple Cups. Gaskin’s career numbers
against the Cougars? In three games he’s had 72 carries, rushed for 380 yards
and scored seven touchdowns. With 4,055 career rushing yards, he needs just 51
more for the UW record and he’ll be pushing 5,000 – or well past it – by the
time the Huskies visit the Cougars.
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