A GRIP ON SPORTS * Two words Washington State doesn't want to hear today? Déjà vu. Nope. No one associated with the Cougars wants any call-backs to 2023 this evening in Fresno. Smart.
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* There is only one way to stop it, though. Win. Tackle better. Protect John Mateer better. Play smarter. And then figure out a way to win.
On paper, or your favorite rectangle's screen, it shouldn't be all that hard. The Bulldogs, whose schedule mirrors WSU's over the past couple weeks, are 3-2 and coming off a bad loss, 59-14 to a UNLV team breaking in a new quarterback. Their other loss came in the season opener, 30-10 in the Big House against defending national champion Michigan. Fresno's wins? Over New Mexico's duo, the University of and State, along with the obligatory Big Sky foe, Sacramento State.
In other words, wins against a gantlet of folks with velvet gloves.
The Cougars are also coming off a bad loss, albeit a more-understandable one. Boise State wasn't breaking in anything two weeks ago. Ashton Jeanty, as he has done against everyone, instead broke Wazzu in the 45-24 blue-carpet rout. Doesn't matter, though, if the Broncos are the second-best team on the West Coast - they are - or not. Just by losing after opening the season with four consecutive wins - including one over Big 12-leading Texas Tech and in the first early season Apple Cup - brought on some traumatic memories from last year.
Four wins. Six consecutive losses.
This year is different, right? After all Fresno State isn't Arizona, loss No. 2 in that 2023 streak. And no one on the Cougars' remaining 2024 schedule matches up with Oregon, a top-10 team last season. Then again, Cal and ASU and Stanford were also part of the half-dozen, bowl-killing stretch, so overlooking Fresno (or future foes Hawaii or Utah State or anyone else) is not an option.
Not if Jake Dickert's team wants to write a new narrative. And build toward the reborn Pac-12's future.
* We found a bar downtown last night showing the NLDS game between L.A. and San Diego. Harder than you might of thought. But we persevered and prevailed.
Our diligence was worth it.
Good baseball. Good outcome for the team of our youth.
Then we sat back and watched college football. All the way to the end of Arizona State's hard-earned 27-19 victory over free-falling Utah. It was a game that made us wince more than once.
Mainly every time Cam Rising tried to throw a pass.
The Utes have been playing the role of Didi and Gogo, waiting for their own Godot. He arrived back on the scene - a raucous Sun Devil Stadium - last night from a finger injury, but was immediately banged up anew. It's been Rising's failing the past few years, a body that hasn't cooperated as he's tried to recreate the Joe Namath-like magic he brought to Kyle Whittingham's program a couple years ago.
Last night he looked like Joe Willie alright. The Joe who played for the Rams at the end of his career.
Sixteenth-ranked Utah, with a healthy Rising, wins the game last night. Is probably 6-0, not 4-2. In the Big 12 driver's seat. Then again, similar results were in play last year in the Pac-12. And the year before during bowl season. Didn't happen. Won't happen this season.
The Sun Devils? Kenny Dillingham has them playing at a level they never came close to touching in last year's 3-9 season, his debut. They are 5-1. Every game has been close, even their one-score loss at Texas Tech. But they are finding ways to win.
Last night the plot was simple. Don't mess with success. Just keep giving the ball to their Cam, Skattebo, and let the Sac State transfer bounce around, through and over the Utah defense. The tree trunk with legs finished with 162 yards and two touchdowns, the last of which came from 47 yards out and sealed the win. Add in his 50-yard third-quarter score and he earned star of the game honors. Star of the season honors is more like it.
Gonzaga: Drew Timme is going to spend his season in the same time zone in which he spent his college career. Theo Lawson has this story on Timme being traded to Sacramento's G League affiliate, the Stockton Kings.
Idaho: The biggest of Big Sky football games today? No. 7 Idaho at third-ranked Montana State. It's on ESPN2 at 7:15 p.m. The winner may not be assured of the conference's title - too many games remain - but they will have a helmet ahead. Peter Harriman has what to watch.
Preps: There were quite a few good football games last night. We start with Dave Nichols' coverage of host Gonzaga Prep's 28-0 win over Shadle Park. The victory kept the Bullpups tied with Mead atop the league standings at 6-0. ... University picked up its first win of the season last night and, in the process, kept Ferris winless. The Titans prevailed 30-10. Greg Lee has the story. ... Dave returns with a roundup of the night's other games.
Mariners: Will Seattle have to trade starting pitching to improve its offense? Yes. Luis Castillo will be the bait. A better third or second baseman will be the goal. ... We enjoyed how well the Dodgers played last night. A rich team defeating another rich team. Next up is the richest team, the Mets. Maybe one of the lower-spending squads like, say, the Yankees, will win the American League title and give underdogs everywhere hope.
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* There is no doubt about it. We are a creature of habit. It's a big reason we do this column nearly every day, whether we are in our 40-year-old residence or on the road or somewhere in-between. The habit is a comforting one. Add in a couple cups of caffeine and the endorphins race through our body in the morning, improving everything in our life except our posture. Until later ...