Pullman-Moscow
Airport to close for construction Sept 8-Oct 10, 2019
The
facility will close during football season, runway will be raised
The
Pullman Moscow Regional Airport will close next year from Sept. 8 to Oct. 10 in
the heart of the Cougar football season.
By ANGELICA
RELENTE, Evergreen
August 24,
2018
The
Pullman-Moscow Regional Airport will be closed for construction in the middle
of football season next year from Sept. 8 to Oct. 10.
Football
season typically starts around late August or early September. An average of
4,000 passengers fly out of Pullman every September, according to a report by
The Lewiston Tribune.
The
closure is needed in order for construction workers to complete the
construction project, which will create a larger separation between the taxiway
and runway, said Tony Bean, Pullman-Moscow Regional Airport executive director.
“We’re
trying to give people as much time as possible to prepare,” he said.
There will
also be a new runway raised several feet to avoid issues with the fog and move
its alignment away from Moscow Mountain, according to The Lewiston Tribune. The
construction project would cost about $89 million to $119 million.
Bean said
the Federal Aviation Administration needed two years to plan a procedure when
building a new runway. The hard deadline for the construction is Oct. 10, which
is when the runway must be ready, he said.
“If you
miss that window of opportunity,” Bean said, “it’s not like you can just get
into the next one.”
Runway closures
have occurred for the last two years in order to minimize a long closure for
next year, he said.
Students,
athletes and travelers would have to fly into the Spokane International or
Lewiston-Nez Perce County Regional Airport in the meantime.
::::::::::::::::
FOOTBALL
Cougars
attempt to corral Cowboys in season opener
WSU faces
Wyoming’s tough defense, strong ground game in Laramie
By JACKSON
GARDNER, Evergreen August 31, 2018
The
34-week wait for Cougar football Saturday is officially over. To start the
season WSU will travel to Laramie, Wyoming, where it will face the University
of Wyoming for the seventh time in series history.
The
matchup is the latter half of a home-and-home series with Wyoming that was made
official in 2012. The former half of the series was played in the Cougars’
breakout season in 2015 and resulted in a 31-14 victory for WSU in Pullman.
But this
time around, Wyoming Head Coach Craig Bohl thinks his program is in a better
place than it was in 2015.
“I thought
we were outmanned the last time we were up there,” Bohl said. “I think
Washington State had their way with us, I can remember that. We’re in hopes
that–and I know this—we’re a different program now than what we were then.”
Bohl
certainly isn’t wrong. His defense boasted a nation-leading 38 takeaways in
2017 in addition to holding its opponents to an average of just 174.9 passing
yards a game.
He is also
responsible for producing Wyoming’s first-ever top 10 NFL draftee, Josh Allen,
who was selected seventh overall in the 2018 NFL Draft. It was the first time a
Wyoming product has been selected in the first round since 1976 when the
Cowboys produced two first rounders.
The
staunch Cowboy defense will be confronted by Head Coach Mike Leach’s explosive
Air Raid offense that tallied up to be the nation’s second best passing attack
averaging 366.6 passing yards a game.
If you
think those numbers should be thrown out the window with all the new faces
taking over the Air Raid offense, well, you’re wrong. The Cougs have maintained
a national top five passing attack for every year of Leach’s six-year tenure,
with the exception of his first year in 2012 when they were eighth.
The Cougs
spent the better portion of the spring and fall camp by settling the auditions
for starting gigs. Now with his depth chart set, sort of, Leach has shifted his
focus to the Cowboys.
“They’re a
tough team, they’re experienced, they play together well, very fundamental,”
Leach said. “They value their technique and they do their technique well and
they play hard. I mean just a very basic, fundamental, play-together team, you
know.”
The
tough-nosed defense of the Cowboys was certainly on display last week when they
breezed past New Mexico State University by a score of 29-7 where they limited
the Aggies to a mere 134 total yards of offense.
But even
with a tough defensive opponent, WSU typically doesn’t have problems finding
the endzone on week one, barring a couple exceptions in 2012 and 2015. Even
with the poor performances against Brigham Young University, 2012, and Portland
State University, 2015, accounted for, Leach’s offense still averages about 26
points in their openers.
The
Cougars’ trip to Laramie will be somewhat of a homecoming for Leach who grew up
in the state. Leach grew up in the small town of Cody, Wyoming, 355 miles
Northwest of Laramie, and went to Cody High School before he would leave and
attend college at BYU.
To sweeten
the deal a little more for Leach, a win against Wyoming would bring his overall
win-loss record — which currently sits at a dead-even .500 (38-38) — back into
the black at 39-38.
Kickoff is
set for 12:30 p.m. Saturday at Jonah Field at War Memorial Stadium The game
will be televised on the CBS Sports Network and as always can be heard from the
WSU IMG Radio Network.
::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
WSU wins
tough battle in Nebraska
Cougars
fight back from halftime deficit to take down Cornhuskers
By DANI
PARAMO, Evergreen
Aug 31,
2018
No. 18 WSU
improved to 4-0 on the season after taking down the University of Nebraska on
Friday in a comeback victory. The Cougs fell behind early as the Cornhuskers
capitalized on a penalty kick, but the hosts would have their unbeaten streak
snapped when WSU struck twice in the second half to win the game.
“I am
super proud of this team. Nebraska is a great opponent with a unique style,”
WSU Head Coach Todd Shulenberger said after the game. “Our team had a plan and
credit to our girls for following through.”
The Cougs
faced pressure in the opening minutes from the Cornhuskers which eventually led
to the opening goal of the match. A late challenge in the box resulted in a
penalty kick decision and Nebraska senior forward Savanah Uveges converted
calmly from the spot.
The game’s
opening goal came in the 22nd minute, ending WSU’s shutout streak of 281
minutes. It was also the first goal the Cougars conceded since the season
opener against Seattle University.
Despite
conceding early on, the Cougs defense stayed strong under the hosts’ constant
pressure. WSU redshirt senior goalkeeper Ella Dederick came up with acrobatic
saves multiple times in the first half to keep her team in the game.
The second
half soon began, and the Cougs got back in the game about 10 minutes in. After
a spell of possession, sophomore forward Elyse Bennett found the ball 25 yards
from goal and released a strike that sailed past Nebraska junior goalkeeper
Aubrei Corder.
WSU struck
again 10 minutes later with the game winner from the foot of redshirt junior
midfielder Alysha Overland. The visitors forced a turnover that sophomore
midfielder Brianna Alger picked up near the Nebraska penalty area and her
slotted pass found Overland open in space between three Cornhusker defenders.
Overland
shot right under the goalie and sealed the victory for the Cougs. The goal was
her first of the season and was the cherry on top of a great comeback as she
was sidelined by a knee injury all of last season.
WSU was
outshot 14-9 and out-possessed by the hosts for the duration of the match, but
Dederick’s season-high six saves combined with the Cougs relentless pressure
allowed the visitors to stay undefeated on the season.
The Cougs
will be back on the field 7 p.m. Thursday against rival University of Idaho at
the Lower Soccer Field in the first of three home games.
……………
Volleyball
upsets No. 17 Panthers in first of two games
17 total
blocks propel Cougars past Northern Iowa
By RYAN
MOSHER, Evergreen
August 31,
2018
WSU
volleyball took down No. 17 University of Northern Iowa on Friday in four sets
at the McLeod Center in Cedar Falls, Iowa.
The
Cougars (3-0) started the first set just how they had left off their last
match, on a run that helped them pull away from their opponent. The Cougars
started the first set with a 6-0 lead and stayed ahead in a set that came down
to the wire.
Needing
just two points to win the first set, WSU gave up five straight points to the
Panthers (2-3), cutting its lead down to two points. After a big rally win and
a kill by senior outside hitter Taylor Mims, the Cougs won the set 25-23.
The second
set started out similarly as WSU got out to an early 4-0 lead. However, this
lead would not hold, and the second set became a back and forth battle.
Northern
Iowa took the lead and made a strong push late to take the second set from WSU
by a final score of 25-19. The big difference was that Cougars came up with
just two blocks in the second set.
Senior
middle blocker Claire Martin started off the third set with seven blocks
herself. This was not enough to contain the Panthers though as they forced Head
Coach Jen Greeny to call a timeout down 13-10.
Coming out
of the timeout, the Cougars used an 8-0 run to their advantage and took the
third set by a score of 25-21.
The
Cougars used a hot start in the fourth set to get out to a 12-6 lead which
helped WSU handle a 5-0 run by the Panthers.
Feeling
that the victory was near, the Cougs ended any hope Northern Iowa had winning
the final set 25-19. 17 total blocks helped WSU win the match, its third
straight road victory to start the season.
WSU will
look to ride the momentum of this victory into the second match against
Northern Iowa 9:30 a.m. Saturday at the McLeod Center.
…………………
Cougars football
season preview podcasts
The
Tribune's Dale Grummert discusses prospects for Washington State …
:::::::::::::::::::::;
>
WSU
FOOTBALL
Two minute
drill: Keys to victory for Washington State against Wyoming
UPDATED:
Sat., Sept. 1, 2018, 12:19 a.m.
By Theo
Lawson S-R of Spokane
Nonconference
football
At War
Memorial Stadium, Laramie
➤ Saturday, Sept. 1:
Washington State (0-0) at Wyoming (0-0), 12:30 p.m. PT TV: CBSSN Online:
https://www.cbssports.com/cbssports
Don’t take
your eyes off…
Gardner
Minshew. In an alternate world, the East Carolina graduate transfer is enrolled
at Alabama, sitting behind Tua Tagovailoa and Jalen Hurts on the quarterback
depth chart as an insurance policy for the top-ranked Crimson Tide. But credit
to Minshew for realizing his value. He may not collect as much hardware at
Washington State, but the opportunity to play for Mike Leach, a coach he’s
admired since his teenage years, and run the Air Raid offense, a system he’s
studied since junior high, was way too good to pass up. Replacing Luke Falk
isn’t an easy task, and Minshew, as a fifth-year senior, is only a short-term
solution. But it’s overtly clear he’s the right solution for the Cougars this
season.
When WSU
has the ball…
Giving the
Cougar playmakers chances to, well, make plays could be more important than
anything else. That begins with the offensive line, which is blending in three
new starters this season and could have a tough time holding off Wyoming’s
fierce pass-rush, which Leach believes is the strength of the Cowboys defense.
Minshew plays with an urgency Falk could have used at points last season and
his quick decision-making could be a factor in this game if he’s not getting
the protection he needs. Either way, with the talent the Cougars boast at wide
receiver and running back, it’ll be key to put the ball in play and avoid the
pass rush at all costs.
When
Wyoming has the ball…
The
Cowboys wouldn’t mind another explosive day from Nico Evans, who gained 190
yards on 24 carries with two touchdowns in last week’s win at New Mexico State.
How does that contrast with what the Los Angeles native did his first three
seasons in Laramie? He nearly doubled his career production in one game. As a
freshman, sophomore and junior, Evans recorded 36 rushing attempts and picked
up 108 yards without getting into the end zone. But he’s evidently found a new
gear as a senior and used it to account for more than half of Wyoming’s 312
rushing yards last week.
Did you
know?
The
Cougars’ dismal track record in season openers under Mike Leach is
well-documented. They’re 1-6 in such games and were winless until last year’s
28-0 rout of Montana State at Martin Stadium. Another drought would come to an
end if WSU can knock off Wyoming. The Cougars have lost their last five true
road openers, to Auburn (2013 and 2006), BYU (2012), Oklahoma State (2010) and
Wisconsin (2007). The margin of defeat in those games was 25.8 ppg. But maybe
it bodes well for the Cougars that their last win in a road opener came against
the Mountain West Conference. They opened the 2005 season by beating New Mexico
21-17.
::::::::::
7
questions for Bob Robertson as he enters his 52nd WSU season
ByBRIAN
STULTZ Cougfan.com
COLOR
ANALYSTS may come and go, as the seven-year stretch from Jim Walden to Shawn
McWashington to Jason Gesser and now to Alex Brink attests, but legendary Bob
Robertson remains a soothing, steadfast staple for Washington State football
fans.
"BobRob,"
at age 89, will be in the WSU broadcast booth on Saturday just as he has been
for 52 of the last 55 autumns. And the Cougars' opener at Wyoming, he told
Cougfan.com this week, offers up what he considers an ideal backdrop for
college football: an afternoon kickoff.
"I
like Saturday afternoon games," Robertson, a WSU Hall of Fame member, said
in a phone conversation from his home in Tacoma. "I’ll be honest with you,
I’m not in favor of all of these late-night games. When the weather is good, I
want to get out in the sunshine and let the fans enjoy the game. You really
have the true feeling of college football in the afternoon."
Of course
after all these years, Robertson, who calls himself a sort of "side-bar
guy" to play-by-play man Matt Chazanow and Brink, the incoming new
analyst, isn't going to say no to any kickoff. "I wouldn’t pass it up at
any time of the day," he says of a game and the profession he loves.
He started
calling Cougar games in 1964 and except for a stint from 1969-71 with the
Huskies, he's been the iconic voice of Washington State football ever since.
Saturday's game in Laramie will make his 52nd season in crimson. He expects the
contest to be hard fought.
"I
imagine that they (Wyoming) are going to be pretty good," Robertson said.
"I didn’t get to see it but apparently all of the question marks Wyoming
had were answered. They have a good freshman quarterback in Tyler Vander Waal,
but it is still too early to be really right on top of it. We have to worry
about it being (the Cougars) first game."
Here are
highlights from the rest of our chat with The Voice of the Cougs:
On
expectations for the season:
I’m hoping
they can continue to score often and the offensive line will block for the new
quarterback, whomever he may be and the interior middle of the defense will
hold up well. It’s hard to say because of the new quarterback but I’m sure they
didn’t leave the cupboard bare.
On the
transition from Jason Gesser to Alex Brink as color analyst:
I hope
that it is going to go well. We will start finding out here very soon. I’m
flying out there [to Laramie on Friday] and going to get ready to go and then
at 12:30 (Pacific time) on Saturday we will kick it off and see how it goes.
More on
his favorite time for games:
You really
have the true feeling of college football in the afternoon. It’s not the same
feeling as the professional game. It’s a whole different thing. I just enjoy it
more in the afternoon sunshine.
On the
road game against Wyoming:
I imagine
that they are going to be pretty good. I didn’t get to see it but apparently
all of the question marks Wyoming had were answered. They have a good freshman
quarterback in Tyler Vander Waal, but it is still too early to be really right
on top of it. We have to worry about it being (the Cougars) first game.
On early
schedule:
When we
get back, we have to start preparing for two games at home and then a trip to
Southern California. There's a lot going on, a lot of wheels spinning to try
and get this off to a good start.
On his
memories over the years:
I guess
it’s been (a span of) 55 years with the Cougars. There are a lot of memories in
there and happily most of them are good.
On his
favorite college football stadium:
Obviously
it is Martin Stadium in Pullman. That is my home field and I really do enjoy
going there. That means I am close to home and have a chance to be on the
winning side. We are getting new stadiums every year. Everytime you look up
there is a new one and you are sitting there saying, “Where did that come
from?” I’m going to stick with my home and Martin Stadium.
Notable
Notes:
CF.C
columnist Jed Collins will be joining Derek Deis and the pre-game radio broadcast
team for half of the Cougars' games this season. Collins played for Washington
State from 2004-07 before going onto a long career in the NFL.
In a 2009
interview with CF.C, Robertson was unequivocal when asked what he considers the
greatest game he's called in his WSU career: the 1998 Rose Bowl. "We
didn't win it, but we still have 2 seconds left to play, so maybe one of these
days we'll be able to finish it," he said."It was just a great thrill
to be part of it because it meant so much to everybody.
Not just
players, but people who had suffered through not getting to that Rose Bowl game
and watching other teams go. Finally, we were there. We were the center of
attention at the Rose Bowl game in Pasadena." We also caught up with Bob
for an entertaining 2015 interview: Painting a word picture with WSU's
incomparable Bob Robertson.
This past
Sunday, Robertson was honored by the Tacoma Rainiers with the naming of the Bob
Robertson Broadcast Booth at Cheney Stadium. Bob has been a fixture calling
Tacoma baseball games for decades ...
#
