WSU
Spokane to establish Institute for Neuroscience named for Steve Gleason, former
WSU football player
Story by Addy Hatch, WSU News, 1/15/2019, with
slight editing
Washington
State University Health Sciences Spokane will join nonprofit Team Gleason and
community partners to target innovative care and cures for brain disease
through the Steve Gleason Institute for Neuroscience.
The
Gleason Institute is expected to open in Spokane in the second half of 2019.
Daryll
DeWald, chancellor of WSU Health Sciences Spokane, announced the project on
Tuesday.
“The
Gleason Institute will have WSU researchers working collaboratively with health
care providers from St. Luke’s Rehabilitation Institute, Providence Health
Care, MultiCare, and patients to bridge the gaps between care and potential
treatments of neurodegenerative diseases,” he said.
This class
of diseases includes Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS), Parkinson’s and other
diseases. Together, these conditions affect millions of Americans and account
for billions of dollars in health care costs each year.
Community
partners include Avista, the Health Sciences & Services Authority of
Spokane County (HSSA), Providence, St. Luke’s, MultiCare, the City of Spokane
and the University District.
Steve
Gleason, a football star at Gonzaga Prep, WSU and in the NFL, was diagnosed
with ALS in 2011. He founded the nonprofit Team Gleason and through his
guidance, Team Gleason is the leader in developing and providing assistive
equipment and technologies for people with ALS. The organization has partnered
with leading tech giants, passed federal legislation, and opened a residence
that is equipped with automation for up to 18 people living with the disease.
Team Gleason continues to push the envelope on what is possible for people with
ALS, neuromuscular injuries, and other degenerative conditions.
The goals
of the Gleason Institute are expected to include:
--The
Clinical Research and Care Unit — focusing on motor and cognitive therapy and
supporting clinical trials of new medications or treatments;
--The
Assistive Technology and Smart Home Center — for patient exposure, training,
and the advancement of augmented reality, virtual reality, brain‑machine interfaces and
prosthetic devices;
--The
Discovery Research Unit — including laboratories and shared facilities for
scientists and support staff.
“I’m
honored that my alma mater, Washington State University, is committed to
helping us further our mission of helping people live productively and
purposefully, despite ALS or other diseases,” Gleason said in a statement.
“I am also
grateful that so many partners have come together to help achieve this
comprehensive vision. It is my goal that the Institute will advance leading
edge technology, while gaining valuable information that will help unravel the
mysteries of ALS, and all brain diseases.”
The
institute will be located initially in a building at 325 E. Sprague Avenue
owned by Avista Development and leased by WSU Health Sciences Spokane. The
location is at the south end of the new University District Gateway Bridge,
expanding WSU’s mission of health education, research and care into what is
expected to become a vibrant South Campus community in coming years.
The Avista
Foundation and HSSA have each contributed substantially toward the initiative.
That initial sponsorship will allow for the hiring of key personnel and
initiation of Institute activities as WSU takes steps to establish the Gleason
Institute within the university structure. Fundraising is under way to expand
operations, complete building renovations and launch research and patient‑care operations.
WSU Health
Sciences expects to bring additional partners into the project as it develops,
ultimately building a world‑class institute that will make profound changes in the care
and diagnosis and ultimately the treatments of brain diseases.
(Posted
with this story is architectural rendering of the front of the Steve Gleason
Institute for Neuroscience, to be located at 325 E. Sprague Avenue.)
:::::::::::::::::
WSU Soccer
to hold annual Winter Soccer Academy
Academy begins
Feb. 11 and runs into March.
Based on
info from WSU Sports Info 1/14/2019
The
Washington State women's soccer team is set to begin the winter session of the
Cougar Soccer Academy with six different dates lined up.
It will
run February 11, 18, 25 and March 4, 11, 18 from 5:30-6:30 p.m. at WSU's Indoor
Practice Facility.
The goal
of Washington State Cougar Soccer Academy is to provide U5–U14 soccer players a
developmental bridge between recreational and select soccer. The Cougar Soccer
Academy curriculum was designed by the WSU soccer coaching staff to equip players
with the necessary tools for development.
With over
30 years of youth soccer experience, academy coaches will challenge academy
players to grow technically and help them set new standards for training and
development as they move to select soccer and beyond. Members of the WSU
collegiate soccer team will be on hand to demonstrate various aspects of the
academy program. Academy members will receive and Cougar Soccer Academy
t-shirt, and will need to bring their own ball.
Cougar
Soccer Academy will last for 1 hour. All players will begin with a 15 minute
technical session followed by 45 minutes of game play and tactical situations.
The cost per player is $90.
There is
still time to join the academy, SIGN UP NOW. Link below:
::::::::::::::::::
Three WSU
online programs ranked among nation’s best
From WSU Academic Outreach & Innovation 1/15/2019
Three
online programs at Washington State University have been ranked among the top
in the nation by U.S. News & World Report.
WSU’s
online MBA program through the Carson College of Business ranked 13th, the
university’s Global Campus ranked 20th for all undergraduate online degree
programs, and the online Master’s in Engineering and Technology Management
program ranked 30th.
“Being
recognized among the country’s top online programs is reflective of the hard
work and initiative of the faculty, staff and students at WSU,” said Dave
Cillay, vice president of WSU Academic Outreach & Innovation. “We take great pride in our continuing effort
to expand the reach of high‑quality, high‑engagement learning opportunities for students
around the world.”
The
magazine’s 2019 rankings of best online educational programs were released 1/15/2019.
:::::::::::
Back on
the Road, Cougs Head to California
From WSU
Sports Info
Women’s
Basketball WASHINGTON STATE (7-9, 2-3) at Cal (10-5, 1-3) | Fri., Jan. 18 |
11:30 a.m.
Live Stats | WSUCougars.com
Watch | Cal Live Stream
Listen | WSU IMG Radio Network
OPENING
FIVE
> The
Cougars hit the road for the Bay Area with their first game coming at Cal. The
Golden Bears have been a thorn in WSU's side winning six of the last eight,
almost all of which coming down to the final few possessions.
> WSU
got back in the win column Sunday with a convincing 74-48 win over Colorado.
The 48 points were the lowest point total given up in Pac-12 play since a 67-46
win over Arizona on Jan. 8, 2016.
>
Borislava Hristova, a Cheryl Miller Watch List nominee, enters the week scoring
21.9 ppg, 2nd in the Pac-12 and 8th in the nation. She has gone for
double-figures in all 16 games this season.
> For
just the 6th season in program history the Cougars put a pair of 1,000 point
scorers on the court together in Borislava Hristova (1,453) and Alexys Swedlund
(1,027).
> The
Cougars are 29th in the nation in shooting (5th in the Pac-12), at 45.2%.
Behind the arc, WSU hits at a 35.9% clip, also 37th in the nation. The 45.2% is
the best percentage in program history nearly 10 points higher than the current
record of 44.5%
GAME
INFORMATION - VS CAL
The
Cougars hit the road for the Bay Area with their first game coming at Cal. The
Golden Bears have been a thorn in WSU's side winning six of the last eight,
almost all of which coming down to the final few possessions. Last year, Cal
swept the series, winning 66-60 in Berkeley and 67-54 in Pullman. Cal would use
a 7-0 run in the final minute to beat the Cougars last season at Haas Pavilion
where they hold a 28-5 all-time record.
Cal enters
the game having dropped its last two games at the Arizona schools and are just
1-3 in conference play with a win over USC on Jan. 6. All-American Kristine
Aniqwe leads the way with 21.8 points and 14.5 rebounds per game.
In last
season's matchup at Haas, Borislava Hristova scored 25 points while Anigwe
posted 30 points and 17 rebounds. Anigwe would post 30 and 12 in Pullman in the
rematch while Hristova missed the game due to injury.
LAST TIME
OUT
The
Cougars split their homestand last week falling to Utah, 72-68, before running
away with a win over Colorado, 74-48. Against the Utes, WSU rallied from 21
down only to fall in the final minute. Sunday, WSU shook off a slow start with
a big second half that included a 29 point fourth quarter to cruise to a win.
The 48 points given up to Colorado was the lowest for WSU in a Pac-12 game
since a 67-46 win over Arizona on Jan. 8, 2016. Borislava Hristova led the way
with 23 points an 10 rebounds while Chanelle Molina posted 18 points, 5
rebounds, 6 assists, and four steals.
HRISTOVA
AT IT AGAIN
One of the
best scorers in the nation, redshirt-junior Borislava Hristova is at it again
leading the Cougars with a 21.9 points per game average. Hristova ranks second
in the Pac-12 and 8th in the nation in scoring.
Hristova
has gone for double-figures in all 16 games on the year while eclipsing 20
points nine times and 30 points three times. Her 16 game double-digit streak is
a career long streak while ranking as the seventh longest streak in program
history.
The
Cougars single-season scoring record is 685 points on a 23.6 ppg by Jenni Ruff
(1995-96). Hristova has scored 351 total points on the year. The top-10 starts
at 483 points. Her 21.9 ppg ranks 3rd in single-season history.
:::::::::::::::
WSU cheer
squad, Crimson Girls will compete at nationals
Cougars
travel to Orlando, Florida for sixth consecutive year
By DYLAN
GREENE, Evergreen January 15, 2019
WSU Cheer
and the Crimson Girls will compete at nationals for the sixth-straight year
this Friday through Sunday at ESPN’s Wide World of Sports in Orlando, Florida.
Both teams
will take part in the Universal Cheerleaders Association (UCA) and Universal
Dancers Association (UDA) College Cheerleading and Dance Team National
Championships.
The
Crimson Girls and cheer squad will present a national showcase performance 7
p.m. Tuesday at Bohler Gym. Admission to the event is free.
The cheer
squad and Crimson Girls will each participate in two categories. The Crimson
Girls will first battle alongside 13 other universities in the Division IA
Dance Game Day finals Friday while cheer competes in the Division IA Game Day
semifinals against 17 other schools.
The
competition will continue Saturday as the Crimson Girls participate in the
Division IA Jazz semifinals and the cheer squad partakes in the Cheer Division
IA semifinals.
::::::::
Evergreen
WSU ‘Athlete of the Week:’ Shir Levy
WSU Women’s
Basketball freshman forward out of Nessa Ziona, Israel, started in every game
due to strong defensive performance
By SHAWN
P. O'CONNOR, Evergreen January 15, 2019
Normally,
the Evergreen Athlete of the Week is a player coming off a huge statistical
game, a player who just set a record, or a player who made a game-winning play.
This week is a little different.
Shir Levy,
freshman forward on WSU women’s basketball team, might not pop off the stat
sheet, but her defensive presence has kept her in the starting lineup.
Levy is a
mainstay in the Cougar starting lineup, starting every game so far this season.
Despite averaging only 3.4 points, 2.2 rebounds and 1.1 assists per game, Levy
is an active defender capable of defending all the way to the three-point line.
As a
below-average shooter from the floor, Levy has been lethal from beyond the arc
and from the free-throw, shooting 40.7 percent and 100 percent respectively in
limited opportunities.
Before
making the trek to Pullman, Levy was a star in the European Championships with
her native Israel team. As a member of the U-18 national team, she helped guide
Israel to a third-place finish at the European Championships in the B Division,
earning her country a promotion to the top division in European women’s
basketball. Levy also competed in international play with Israel’s U-20 squad.
Levy also
competed on Israel’s 3-on-3 team, placing third in the 2015 European Championships.
This international experience greatly influenced her decision to play for WSU,
Shir told WSU Athletic Communications in a June interview.
“Since I
am familiar with European basketball, I looked for a place with international
players,” Levy said. “That’s why WSU fits me the best.”
Before
starting her college basketball career at WSU, Levy completed two years of
service in the Israeli army. Military service is required for all Israeli
citizens upon turning 18, with a few exceptions for religious, medical and
ethnic considerations. At WSU, Levy plans on graduating with a degree in
psychology.
Shir Levy
has found a spot in the WSU starting lineup. Despite inconsistencies in her
offensive game, her defensive game is more than strong enough to keep her
there.
Levy’s
international experience, along with her freshman standing, makes her a very
intriguing piece for the future of the WSU women’s basketball program. Through
her defensive prowess Shir Levy earns her spot as the Evergreen Athlete of the
Week.
:::::::::::::::
Mike
Leach, Michael Baumgartner tease football and war leadership course at
Washington State University
By Kip
Hill Spokane S-R Jan. 15, 2019, 1:13 a.m.
Mike Leach
added his name to some Washington State University students’ courseload wish
lists this weekend, though it’s uncertain whether his class on guerrilla
warfare and football strategy will be offered on the Palouse this spring.
The head
Cougars football coach, fresh off a season where the program won the most games
in its history, shared what appears to be a fully formed syllabus for the class
on Twitter on Sunday evening. First hinted on social media by Leach in
November, the course also would be taught by Michael Baumgartner, the former
state senator and current Spokane County treasurer whose professional
background includes work with the State Department on counterinsurgency efforts
in the Middle East.
“The
subjects will dovetail together,” said Baumgartner, confirming he’d worked with
Leach on the materials shared over the weekend. “Mike is a pretty fascinating
character. I’m not used to having second billing on things like this, but I
think it’ll work well.”
WSU
officials couldn’t confirm the status of the course in response to multiple
inquiries made Monday. The spring semester started at the Pullman campus last
week.
Leach
shared the syllabus from his personal Twitter account, where the coach has made
waves before. In June, Leach tweeted a video of selectively edited quotes
featuring President Barack Obama, a tweet he later deleted amid outcry. The
university estimated the incident cost them $1.6 million in future donations.
Leach, who
did not respond to a text for comment Monday, noted that the course was
“unconfirmed right now.” But the tweet had been “liked” more than 5,000 times
as of Monday afternoon and several users were asking where they could sign up.
Baumgartner,
who’s taught economics at Harvard University and lectured on counterinsurgency
efforts in Iraq and Afghanistan at the Paris Institute of Political Studies
last year, said the pair had been discussing ideas for the course during a trip
to Cambodia last May. The former state senator met Leach through a mutual acquaintance
at Texas Tech University, Ferhat Guven, who edited a book with the coach in
2011 called “Sports for Dorks” that attempted to bring fresh academic
perspectives to football.
The WSU
course would include academic study of the military strategies employed by
commanders facing long odds against overwhelming adversaries, Baumgartner said,
a situation Leach has faced on the football field coaching against programs
full of blue-chip recruits.
“He’s not
USC, or Alabama,” Baumgartner said. “The whole theory of the ‘air raid’ is how
do you use space and speed to overcome conventional strength?”
Discussing
football in military terms is nothing new. Baumgartner said the class,
envisioned as a five-week course running from the end of March until late
April, would instead focus on the application of Leach’s “air raid” spread
offense that uses multiple receivers and unconventional formations to wear down
traditional defenses. The required reading for the course includes modern
accounts of counterinsurgency tactics, as well as Leach’s book, co-written with
author Buddy Levy, on the life and tactics of Geronimo, the Native American
leader who led raids against larger Mexican and American forces who forced the
Apaches off their lands.
The
syllabus includes breaking down game film with Leach, and a final assignment
would require students to come up with recommendations for U.S. policy in
Yemen, as well as designing three football plays for the Cougars contest with
Houston next fall.
Baumgartner
said there are still details to be worked out, including adding a current
Washington State University student to serve as a teaching assistant for the
course. He doesn’t know if WSU will offer course credit for the class, but said
both he and Leach are interested in students who want to learn.
“Our hope
would be to expose the subject matter to a broader audience, that would both be
educational and a lot of fun,” Baumgartner said.
::::::::::::::
Pac-12
football review: Grading the head coaches (plenty of good in 2018, but loads of
bad, too)
WSU’s Mike
Leach and Utah’s Kyle Whittingham get high marks; USC’s Clay Helton does not
By JON
WILNERPAc-12 Hotline, San Jose Mercury News, 1/14/2019
Here’s our
last (planned) review of the 2018 season. Once the NFL Draft deadline passes
(today), we’ll pivot to a multi-part, multi-week outlook for 2019.
In a
column published last month, I self-assigned grades of D or lower on one-third
of my preseason predictions.
The
coaches got off easy by comparison.
Grades are
based on performance vs. Hotline expectations, which take into account
personnel, schedule, injuries and whatever team-specific developments apply.
Head
coaches are held responsible for the work of their coordinators and assistants.
=Washington
State
Record:
11-2/7-2
Coach:
Mike Leach
Grade: A
Comment:
Leach was named coach of the year in the conference and nationally (by the
American Football Coaches Association), and it’s tough to argue with that
honor. He made so many smart decisions in the offseason, expertly assimilated
Gardner Minshew, was on the wrong end of an inexcusable officiating call (at
USC) and still had the Cougars on the outskirts of the playoff chase. In the
Hotline’s view, he was one game (the Apple Cup) from an A+ performance.
=Utah
Record:
9-5/6-3
Coach:
Kyle Whittingham
Grade: A
Comment:
One of Whittingham’s finest seasons (and there have been many good ones). The
Utes won the South despite late-season injuries to their quarterback and
tailback and a difficult cross-division schedule. We’re not sure what happened
in the second half of the Holiday Bowl, but it doesn’t detract from the overall
effort. Whittingham remains one of the best coaches in the conference, and one
of the most under-appreciated.
=Arizona
State
Record:
7-6/5-4
Coach:
Herm Edwards
Grade: B
Comment:
We previously detailed several of Edwards’ best moves since his controversial
arrival but will mention two matters here: The in-season decision to double
down on the running game — ASU’s offensive line was one of the best-coached
units in the conference, by the way — and the Sun Devils’ consistent avoidance
of self-inflicted wounds. They did a better job of not beating themselves than
anyone in the Pac-12, and it’s amazing where that can lead.
=Oregon
State
Record:
2-10/1-8
Coach:
Jonathan Smith
Grade: B-
Comment:
The grades are all relative, and Smith began the season with a lesser roster
than any his peers — and it wasn’t close. Add the injuries, and two wins was
about the best the Beavers could have expected. (How one of those victories
came about, however, was wholly unexpected.) We were impressed with the
start-to-finish fight and with Smith’s aggressiveness on the playcalling front.
If there is such a thing as an encouraging 2-10 season, this was it.
=Stanford
Record:
9-4/6-3
Coach:
David Shaw
Grade: C+
Comment:
The Cardinal dearly missed offensive coordinator/line coach Mike Bloomgren. But
on a more nuanced level, Stanford had too many slow starts, too many
predictable, dead-on-arrival plays that created long-yardage situations, and
probably should have turned the passing game loose weeks earlier than it did.
Whether by design or not, the Cardinal is losing the traits that made it
different. Not sure that’s a good thing in the long run.
=Washington
Record:
10-4/7-2
Coach:
Chris Petersen
Grade: C+
Comment:
The Huskies cost themselves at least two victories with coaching decisions
(Oregon and Cal), and one could argue the play-calling against Auburn didn’t
meet the moment, either. We’re not sure what happened with Jake Browning — why
he made so many questionable decisions under pressure — but clearly, there was
something not quite right in that area. Chris Petersen is an elite coach who
had, by his standards, a subpar season.
=Cal
Record:
7-6/4-5
Grade: C
Comment:
Justin Wilcox gets high marks for Cal’s defense — no unit in the conference, on
either side of the ball, was better coached — and low marks for Cal’s offense.
One could argue that mismanagement of the quarterback position cost the Bears
at least one victory (Arizona) and possibly a second (Washington State). The
offensive offense in the Cheez-It Bowl was a fitting end. If Wilcox doesn’t
rectify the situation, the Bears’ promising trajectory will flatline.
=Oregon
Record:
9-4/5-4
Coach:
Mario Cristobal
Grade: C
Comment:
Significant downgrades for the costly decision against Stanford and for the
Ducks not being ready to play in two other games (Washington State and
Arizona). Otherwise, Cristobal performed fairly well in his first season. We
like the shift toward a physical approach, but the Ducks need more creativity
in their playcalling. They failed (by a significant margin) to maximize their
talent, especially at quarterback.
=UCLA
Record:
3-9/3-6
Coach Chip
Kelly
Grade: C-
Comment:
Yes, the personnel was lacking in some areas, and yes, the finish was solid and
the long-haul outlook remans bright under Chip Kelly. But September was rougher
than it should have been — it wasn’t that the Bruins lost to Cincinnati, Fresno
State and Colorado so much as how they lost. Once Kelly realized what he had,
appropriate tactical shifts were taken. But should he have come to the
realization sooner?
=Colorado
Record:
5-7/2-7
Coach Mike
MacIntyre (dismissed in November)
Grade: C-
Comment:
It’s not as simple as giving MacIntyre an A for his 5-0 start and an F for his
0-6 finish, but it’s close. So start with averaging those to a C, then add
injuries to Laviska Shenault and Evan Worthington — the two players CU could
least afford to lose, aside from Steven Montez — and the coaching grade creeps
up to a C+ … then factor in the unforgivable, unfathomable meltdown against
Oregon State, and the overall drops to a C-
=Arizona
Record:
5-7/4-5
Coach
Kevin Sumlin
Grade: D
Comment:
Our calculation includes Khalil Tate’s ankle injury, which undoubtedly limited
Arizona’s potential. But that said, the Wildcats weren’t ready for the opener,
should have rested Tate after the injury, didn’t take advantage of the
favorable schedule and didn’t maximize Tate’s skills when he was at/close to
full speed. Oh, and we can’t disregard the collapse in the finale. The bookends
to 2018 (BYU and ASU) were poor, if not awful.
=USC
Record:
5-7/4-5
Coach:
Clay Helton
Grade: F
Comment:
An easy call, thanks to Helton’s own boss, who noted the deficiencies in every
aspect of the program while announcing the coach’s return for 2019. With all
that talent, the Trojans had one victory over a team that ended the season with
a winning record. Oh, and they lost to every rival (Notre Dame, UCLA, Stanford)
and to every California school. The grade is F only because nothing lower
exists.
#
WSU
Spokane to establish Institute for Neuroscience named for Steve Gleason, former
WSU football player
Story by Addy Hatch, WSU News, 1/15/2019, with
slight editing
Washington
State University Health Sciences Spokane will join nonprofit Team Gleason and
community partners to target innovative care and cures for brain disease
through the Steve Gleason Institute for Neuroscience.
The
Gleason Institute is expected to open in Spokane in the second half of 2019.
Daryll
DeWald, chancellor of WSU Health Sciences Spokane, announced the project on
Tuesday.
“The
Gleason Institute will have WSU researchers working collaboratively with health
care providers from St. Luke’s Rehabilitation Institute, Providence Health
Care, MultiCare, and patients to bridge the gaps between care and potential
treatments of neurodegenerative diseases,” he said.
This class
of diseases includes Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS), Parkinson’s and other
diseases. Together, these conditions affect millions of Americans and account
for billions of dollars in health care costs each year.
Community
partners include Avista, the Health Sciences & Services Authority of
Spokane County (HSSA), Providence, St. Luke’s, MultiCare, the City of Spokane
and the University District.
Steve
Gleason, a football star at Gonzaga Prep, WSU and in the NFL, was diagnosed
with ALS in 2011. He founded the nonprofit Team Gleason and through his
guidance, Team Gleason is the leader in developing and providing assistive
equipment and technologies for people with ALS. The organization has partnered
with leading tech giants, passed federal legislation, and opened a residence
that is equipped with automation for up to 18 people living with the disease.
Team Gleason continues to push the envelope on what is possible for people with
ALS, neuromuscular injuries, and other degenerative conditions.
The goals
of the Gleason Institute are expected to include:
--The
Clinical Research and Care Unit — focusing on motor and cognitive therapy and
supporting clinical trials of new medications or treatments;
--The
Assistive Technology and Smart Home Center — for patient exposure, training,
and the advancement of augmented reality, virtual reality, brain‑machine interfaces and
prosthetic devices;
--The
Discovery Research Unit — including laboratories and shared facilities for
scientists and support staff.
“I’m
honored that my alma mater, Washington State University, is committed to
helping us further our mission of helping people live productively and
purposefully, despite ALS or other diseases,” Gleason said in a statement.
“I am also
grateful that so many partners have come together to help achieve this
comprehensive vision. It is my goal that the Institute will advance leading
edge technology, while gaining valuable information that will help unravel the
mysteries of ALS, and all brain diseases.”
The
institute will be located initially in a building at 325 E. Sprague Avenue
owned by Avista Development and leased by WSU Health Sciences Spokane. The
location is at the south end of the new University District Gateway Bridge,
expanding WSU’s mission of health education, research and care into what is
expected to become a vibrant South Campus community in coming years.
The Avista
Foundation and HSSA have each contributed substantially toward the initiative.
That initial sponsorship will allow for the hiring of key personnel and
initiation of Institute activities as WSU takes steps to establish the Gleason
Institute within the university structure. Fundraising is under way to expand
operations, complete building renovations and launch research and patient‑care operations.
WSU Health
Sciences expects to bring additional partners into the project as it develops,
ultimately building a world‑class institute that will make profound changes in the care
and diagnosis and ultimately the treatments of brain diseases.
:::::::::::::::::
WSU Soccer
to hold annual Winter Soccer Academy
Academy begins
Feb. 11 and runs into March.
Based on
info from WSU Sports Info 1/14/2019
The
Washington State women's soccer team is set to begin the winter session of the
Cougar Soccer Academy with six different dates lined up.
It will
run February 11, 18, 25 and March 4, 11, 18 from 5:30-6:30 p.m. at WSU's Indoor
Practice Facility.
The goal
of Washington State Cougar Soccer Academy is to provide U5–U14 soccer players a
developmental bridge between recreational and select soccer. The Cougar Soccer
Academy curriculum was designed by the WSU soccer coaching staff to equip players
with the necessary tools for development.
With over
30 years of youth soccer experience, academy coaches will challenge academy
players to grow technically and help them set new standards for training and
development as they move to select soccer and beyond. Members of the WSU
collegiate soccer team will be on hand to demonstrate various aspects of the
academy program. Academy members will receive and Cougar Soccer Academy
t-shirt, and will need to bring their own ball.
Cougar
Soccer Academy will last for 1 hour. All players will begin with a 15 minute
technical session followed by 45 minutes of game play and tactical situations.
The cost per player is $90.
There is
still time to join the academy, SIGN UP NOW. Link below:
https://www.totalcamps.com/WSUWOMENSSOCCERCAMPS/camps/winter_indoor_cougar_academy/_dGK/registration/options?camps:transition=reset
::::::::::::::::::
Three WSU
online programs ranked among nation’s best
From WSU Academic Outreach & Innovation 1/15/2019
Three
online programs at Washington State University have been ranked among the top
in the nation by U.S. News & World Report.
WSU’s
online MBA program through the Carson College of Business ranked 13th, the
university’s Global Campus ranked 20th for all undergraduate online degree
programs, and the online Master’s in Engineering and Technology Management
program ranked 30th.
“Being
recognized among the country’s top online programs is reflective of the hard
work and initiative of the faculty, staff and students at WSU,” said Dave
Cillay, vice president of WSU Academic Outreach & Innovation. “We take great pride in our continuing effort
to expand the reach of high‑quality, high‑engagement learning opportunities for students
around the world.”
The
magazine’s 2019 rankings of best online educational programs were released 1/15/2019.
:::::::::::
Back on
the Road, Cougs Head to California
From WSU
Sports Info
Women’s
Basketball WASHINGTON STATE (7-9, 2-3) at Cal (10-5, 1-3) | Fri., Jan. 18 |
11:30 a.m.
Live Stats | WSUCougars.com
Watch | Cal Live Stream
Listen | WSU IMG Radio Network
OPENING
FIVE
> The
Cougars hit the road for the Bay Area with their first game coming at Cal. The
Golden Bears have been a thorn in WSU's side winning six of the last eight,
almost all of which coming down to the final few possessions.
> WSU
got back in the win column Sunday with a convincing 74-48 win over Colorado.
The 48 points were the lowest point total given up in Pac-12 play since a 67-46
win over Arizona on Jan. 8, 2016.
>
Borislava Hristova, a Cheryl Miller Watch List nominee, enters the week scoring
21.9 ppg, 2nd in the Pac-12 and 8th in the nation. She has gone for
double-figures in all 16 games this season.
> For
just the 6th season in program history the Cougars put a pair of 1,000 point
scorers on the court together in Borislava Hristova (1,453) and Alexys Swedlund
(1,027).
> The
Cougars are 29th in the nation in shooting (5th in the Pac-12), at 45.2%.
Behind the arc, WSU hits at a 35.9% clip, also 37th in the nation. The 45.2% is
the best percentage in program history nearly 10 points higher than the current
record of 44.5%
GAME
INFORMATION - VS CAL
The
Cougars hit the road for the Bay Area with their first game coming at Cal. The
Golden Bears have been a thorn in WSU's side winning six of the last eight,
almost all of which coming down to the final few possessions. Last year, Cal
swept the series, winning 66-60 in Berkeley and 67-54 in Pullman. Cal would use
a 7-0 run in the final minute to beat the Cougars last season at Haas Pavilion
where they hold a 28-5 all-time record.
Cal enters
the game having dropped its last two games at the Arizona schools and are just
1-3 in conference play with a win over USC on Jan. 6. All-American Kristine
Aniqwe leads the way with 21.8 points and 14.5 rebounds per game.
In last
season's matchup at Haas, Borislava Hristova scored 25 points while Anigwe
posted 30 points and 17 rebounds. Anigwe would post 30 and 12 in Pullman in the
rematch while Hristova missed the game due to injury.
LAST TIME
OUT
The
Cougars split their homestand last week falling to Utah, 72-68, before running
away with a win over Colorado, 74-48. Against the Utes, WSU rallied from 21
down only to fall in the final minute. Sunday, WSU shook off a slow start with
a big second half that included a 29 point fourth quarter to cruise to a win.
The 48 points given up to Colorado was the lowest for WSU in a Pac-12 game
since a 67-46 win over Arizona on Jan. 8, 2016. Borislava Hristova led the way
with 23 points an 10 rebounds while Chanelle Molina posted 18 points, 5
rebounds, 6 assists, and four steals.
HRISTOVA
AT IT AGAIN
One of the
best scorers in the nation, redshirt-junior Borislava Hristova is at it again
leading the Cougars with a 21.9 points per game average. Hristova ranks second
in the Pac-12 and 8th in the nation in scoring.
Hristova
has gone for double-figures in all 16 games on the year while eclipsing 20
points nine times and 30 points three times. Her 16 game double-digit streak is
a career long streak while ranking as the seventh longest streak in program
history.
The
Cougars single-season scoring record is 685 points on a 23.6 ppg by Jenni Ruff
(1995-96). Hristova has scored 351 total points on the year. The top-10 starts
at 483 points. Her 21.9 ppg ranks 3rd in single-season history.
:::::::::::::::
WSU cheer
squad, Crimson Girls will compete at nationals
Cougars
travel to Orlando, Florida for sixth consecutive year
By DYLAN
GREENE, Evergreen January 15, 2019
WSU Cheer
and the Crimson Girls will compete at nationals for the sixth-straight year
this Friday through Sunday at ESPN’s Wide World of Sports in Orlando, Florida.
Both teams
will take part in the Universal Cheerleaders Association (UCA) and Universal
Dancers Association (UDA) College Cheerleading and Dance Team National
Championships.
The
Crimson Girls and cheer squad will present a national showcase performance 7
p.m. Tuesday at Bohler Gym. Admission to the event is free.
The cheer
squad and Crimson Girls will each participate in two categories. The Crimson
Girls will first battle alongside 13 other universities in the Division IA
Dance Game Day finals Friday while cheer competes in the Division IA Game Day
semifinals against 17 other schools.
The
competition will continue Saturday as the Crimson Girls participate in the
Division IA Jazz semifinals and the cheer squad partakes in the Cheer Division
IA semifinals.
::::::::
Evergreen
WSU ‘Athlete of the Week:’ Shir Levy
WSU Women’s
Basketball freshman forward out of Nessa Ziona, Israel, started in every game
due to strong defensive performance
By SHAWN
P. O'CONNOR, Evergreen January 15, 2019
Normally,
the Evergreen Athlete of the Week is a player coming off a huge statistical
game, a player who just set a record, or a player who made a game-winning play.
This week is a little different.
Shir Levy,
freshman forward on WSU women’s basketball team, might not pop off the stat
sheet, but her defensive presence has kept her in the starting lineup.
Levy is a
mainstay in the Cougar starting lineup, starting every game so far this season.
Despite averaging only 3.4 points, 2.2 rebounds and 1.1 assists per game, Levy
is an active defender capable of defending all the way to the three-point line.
As a
below-average shooter from the floor, Levy has been lethal from beyond the arc
and from the free-throw, shooting 40.7 percent and 100 percent respectively in
limited opportunities.
Before
making the trek to Pullman, Levy was a star in the European Championships with
her native Israel team. As a member of the U-18 national team, she helped guide
Israel to a third-place finish at the European Championships in the B Division,
earning her country a promotion to the top division in European women’s
basketball. Levy also competed in international play with Israel’s U-20 squad.
Levy also
competed on Israel’s 3-on-3 team, placing third in the 2015 European Championships.
This international experience greatly influenced her decision to play for WSU,
Shir told WSU Athletic Communications in a June interview.
“Since I
am familiar with European basketball, I looked for a place with international
players,” Levy said. “That’s why WSU fits me the best.”
Before
starting her college basketball career at WSU, Levy completed two years of
service in the Israeli army. Military service is required for all Israeli
citizens upon turning 18, with a few exceptions for religious, medical and
ethnic considerations. At WSU, Levy plans on graduating with a degree in
psychology.
Shir Levy
has found a spot in the WSU starting lineup. Despite inconsistencies in her
offensive game, her defensive game is more than strong enough to keep her
there.
Levy’s
international experience, along with her freshman standing, makes her a very
intriguing piece for the future of the WSU women’s basketball program. Through
her defensive prowess Shir Levy earns her spot as the Evergreen Athlete of the
Week.
:::::::::::::::
Mike
Leach, Michael Baumgartner tease football and war leadership course at
Washington State University
By Kip
Hill Spokane S-R Jan. 15, 2019, 1:13 a.m.
Mike Leach
added his name to some Washington State University students’ courseload wish
lists this weekend, though it’s uncertain whether his class on guerrilla
warfare and football strategy will be offered on the Palouse this spring.
The head
Cougars football coach, fresh off a season where the program won the most games
in its history, shared what appears to be a fully formed syllabus for the class
on Twitter on Sunday evening. First hinted on social media by Leach in
November, the course also would be taught by Michael Baumgartner, the former
state senator and current Spokane County treasurer whose professional
background includes work with the State Department on counterinsurgency efforts
in the Middle East.
“The
subjects will dovetail together,” said Baumgartner, confirming he’d worked with
Leach on the materials shared over the weekend. “Mike is a pretty fascinating
character. I’m not used to having second billing on things like this, but I
think it’ll work well.”
WSU
officials couldn’t confirm the status of the course in response to multiple
inquiries made Monday. The spring semester started at the Pullman campus last
week.
Leach
shared the syllabus from his personal Twitter account, where the coach has made
waves before. In June, Leach tweeted a video of selectively edited quotes
featuring President Barack Obama, a tweet he later deleted amid outcry. The
university estimated the incident cost them $1.6 million in future donations.
Leach, who
did not respond to a text for comment Monday, noted that the course was
“unconfirmed right now.” But the tweet had been “liked” more than 5,000 times
as of Monday afternoon and several users were asking where they could sign up.
Baumgartner,
who’s taught economics at Harvard University and lectured on counterinsurgency
efforts in Iraq and Afghanistan at the Paris Institute of Political Studies
last year, said the pair had been discussing ideas for the course during a trip
to Cambodia last May. The former state senator met Leach through a mutual acquaintance
at Texas Tech University, Ferhat Guven, who edited a book with the coach in
2011 called “Sports for Dorks” that attempted to bring fresh academic
perspectives to football.
The WSU
course would include academic study of the military strategies employed by
commanders facing long odds against overwhelming adversaries, Baumgartner said,
a situation Leach has faced on the football field coaching against programs
full of blue-chip recruits.
“He’s not
USC, or Alabama,” Baumgartner said. “The whole theory of the ‘air raid’ is how
do you use space and speed to overcome conventional strength?”
Discussing
football in military terms is nothing new. Baumgartner said the class,
envisioned as a five-week course running from the end of March until late
April, would instead focus on the application of Leach’s “air raid” spread
offense that uses multiple receivers and unconventional formations to wear down
traditional defenses. The required reading for the course includes modern
accounts of counterinsurgency tactics, as well as Leach’s book, co-written with
author Buddy Levy, on the life and tactics of Geronimo, the Native American
leader who led raids against larger Mexican and American forces who forced the
Apaches off their lands.
The
syllabus includes breaking down game film with Leach, and a final assignment
would require students to come up with recommendations for U.S. policy in
Yemen, as well as designing three football plays for the Cougars contest with
Houston next fall.
Baumgartner
said there are still details to be worked out, including adding a current
Washington State University student to serve as a teaching assistant for the
course. He doesn’t know if WSU will offer course credit for the class, but said
both he and Leach are interested in students who want to learn.
“Our hope
would be to expose the subject matter to a broader audience, that would both be
educational and a lot of fun,” Baumgartner said.
::::::::::::::
Pac-12
football review: Grading the head coaches (plenty of good in 2018, but loads of
bad, too)
WSU’s Mike
Leach and Utah’s Kyle Whittingham get high marks; USC’s Clay Helton does not
By JON
WILNERPAc-12 Hotline, San Jose Mercury News, 1/14/2019
Here’s our
last (planned) review of the 2018 season. Once the NFL Draft deadline passes
(today), we’ll pivot to a multi-part, multi-week outlook for 2019.
In a
column published last month, I self-assigned grades of D or lower on one-third
of my preseason predictions.
The
coaches got off easy by comparison.
Grades are
based on performance vs. Hotline expectations, which take into account
personnel, schedule, injuries and whatever team-specific developments apply.
Head
coaches are held responsible for the work of their coordinators and assistants.
=Washington
State
Record:
11-2/7-2
Coach:
Mike Leach
Grade: A
Comment:
Leach was named coach of the year in the conference and nationally (by the
American Football Coaches Association), and it’s tough to argue with that
honor. He made so many smart decisions in the offseason, expertly assimilated
Gardner Minshew, was on the wrong end of an inexcusable officiating call (at
USC) and still had the Cougars on the outskirts of the playoff chase. In the
Hotline’s view, he was one game (the Apple Cup) from an A+ performance.
=Utah
Record:
9-5/6-3
Coach:
Kyle Whittingham
Grade: A
Comment:
One of Whittingham’s finest seasons (and there have been many good ones). The
Utes won the South despite late-season injuries to their quarterback and
tailback and a difficult cross-division schedule. We’re not sure what happened
in the second half of the Holiday Bowl, but it doesn’t detract from the overall
effort. Whittingham remains one of the best coaches in the conference, and one
of the most under-appreciated.
=Arizona
State
Record:
7-6/5-4
Coach:
Herm Edwards
Grade: B
Comment:
We previously detailed several of Edwards’ best moves since his controversial
arrival but will mention two matters here: The in-season decision to double
down on the running game — ASU’s offensive line was one of the best-coached
units in the conference, by the way — and the Sun Devils’ consistent avoidance
of self-inflicted wounds. They did a better job of not beating themselves than
anyone in the Pac-12, and it’s amazing where that can lead.
=Oregon
State
Record:
2-10/1-8
Coach:
Jonathan Smith
Grade: B-
Comment:
The grades are all relative, and Smith began the season with a lesser roster
than any his peers — and it wasn’t close. Add the injuries, and two wins was
about the best the Beavers could have expected. (How one of those victories
came about, however, was wholly unexpected.) We were impressed with the
start-to-finish fight and with Smith’s aggressiveness on the playcalling front.
If there is such a thing as an encouraging 2-10 season, this was it.
=Stanford
Record:
9-4/6-3
Coach:
David Shaw
Grade: C+
Comment:
The Cardinal dearly missed offensive coordinator/line coach Mike Bloomgren. But
on a more nuanced level, Stanford had too many slow starts, too many
predictable, dead-on-arrival plays that created long-yardage situations, and
probably should have turned the passing game loose weeks earlier than it did.
Whether by design or not, the Cardinal is losing the traits that made it
different. Not sure that’s a good thing in the long run.
=Washington
Record:
10-4/7-2
Coach:
Chris Petersen
Grade: C+
Comment:
The Huskies cost themselves at least two victories with coaching decisions
(Oregon and Cal), and one could argue the play-calling against Auburn didn’t
meet the moment, either. We’re not sure what happened with Jake Browning — why
he made so many questionable decisions under pressure — but clearly, there was
something not quite right in that area. Chris Petersen is an elite coach who
had, by his standards, a subpar season.
=Cal
Record:
7-6/4-5
Grade: C
Comment:
Justin Wilcox gets high marks for Cal’s defense — no unit in the conference, on
either side of the ball, was better coached — and low marks for Cal’s offense.
One could argue that mismanagement of the quarterback position cost the Bears
at least one victory (Arizona) and possibly a second (Washington State). The
offensive offense in the Cheez-It Bowl was a fitting end. If Wilcox doesn’t
rectify the situation, the Bears’ promising trajectory will flatline.
=Oregon
Record:
9-4/5-4
Coach:
Mario Cristobal
Grade: C
Comment:
Significant downgrades for the costly decision against Stanford and for the
Ducks not being ready to play in two other games (Washington State and
Arizona). Otherwise, Cristobal performed fairly well in his first season. We
like the shift toward a physical approach, but the Ducks need more creativity
in their playcalling. They failed (by a significant margin) to maximize their
talent, especially at quarterback.
=UCLA
Record:
3-9/3-6
Coach Chip
Kelly
Grade: C-
Comment:
Yes, the personnel was lacking in some areas, and yes, the finish was solid and
the long-haul outlook remans bright under Chip Kelly. But September was rougher
than it should have been — it wasn’t that the Bruins lost to Cincinnati, Fresno
State and Colorado so much as how they lost. Once Kelly realized what he had,
appropriate tactical shifts were taken. But should he have come to the
realization sooner?
=Colorado
Record:
5-7/2-7
Coach Mike
MacIntyre (dismissed in November)
Grade: C-
Comment:
It’s not as simple as giving MacIntyre an A for his 5-0 start and an F for his
0-6 finish, but it’s close. So start with averaging those to a C, then add
injuries to Laviska Shenault and Evan Worthington — the two players CU could
least afford to lose, aside from Steven Montez — and the coaching grade creeps
up to a C+ … then factor in the unforgivable, unfathomable meltdown against
Oregon State, and the overall drops to a C-
=Arizona
Record:
5-7/4-5
Coach
Kevin Sumlin
Grade: D
Comment:
Our calculation includes Khalil Tate’s ankle injury, which undoubtedly limited
Arizona’s potential. But that said, the Wildcats weren’t ready for the opener,
should have rested Tate after the injury, didn’t take advantage of the
favorable schedule and didn’t maximize Tate’s skills when he was at/close to
full speed. Oh, and we can’t disregard the collapse in the finale. The bookends
to 2018 (BYU and ASU) were poor, if not awful.
=USC
Record:
5-7/4-5
Coach:
Clay Helton
Grade: F
Comment:
An easy call, thanks to Helton’s own boss, who noted the deficiencies in every
aspect of the program while announcing the coach’s return for 2019. With all
that talent, the Trojans had one victory over a team that ended the season with
a winning record. Oh, and they lost to every rival (Notre Dame, UCLA, Stanford)
and to every California school. The grade is F only because nothing lower
exists.
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