Normally, playing in the ninth bowl game in the past 12 seasons is cause for major celebration among Cougar football fans—especially considering the Cougs had only played in ten bowl games total in their history prior to 2013 (yes I know there are more bowl games nowadays).
But today’s matchup against no. 21 Syracuse doesn’t exactly have the same feeling as, say, the Holiday Bowl in 2003 against Texas. The sport has changed so much since the Cougs knocked off the Longhorns 21 years ago, and not all for the better, if you ask me.
But that’s all out of our control, as is the mass exodus from the WSU roster. Here’s Greg Woods of The Spokesman-Review recapping what’s gone down since the Cougs dropped the season finale against Wyoming:
In the transfer portal are 28 Cougars, including the players who guided the team’s 8-4 regular season: quarterback John Mateer, running back Wayshawn Parker, offensive lineman Fa’alili Fa’amoe, defensive tackles David Gusta and Ansel Din-Mbuh, cornerback Ethan O’Connor, linebacker Buddah Al-Uqdah, even punter Nick Haberer. Still others have committed to other programs, including Arizona-bound wideout Kris Hutson and Arizona State signee Adrian Wilson.
The Cougars will also operate without an offensive coordinator and defensive coordinator, following OC Ben Arbuckle’s exit for Oklahoma and DC Jeff Schmedding’s dismissal. The absences also include a running backs coach (Mark Atuaia decamped for Utah) and a quarterbacks coach (John Kuceyeski took a job at Oklahoma).
Wide receivers coach Nick Edwards is slated to call offensive plays in Friday’s game, Dickert indicated before he left, but it’s unclear who will do so on defense. Dickert had tabbed himself to call the defense against the Orange (9-3).
Also in Woods’ article is the fact that acting coach Pete Kaligis said players who went to the portal after Dec. 18 are still eligible to play for WSU in the Holiday Bowl, per a vote by the team. Who suits up and who doesn’t among those players is still to be seen.
So it’s not going to be your usual WSU lineup tonight, sadly. But as I wrote last week, I’ll still be tuning in because WSU football is a drug I can’t kick. There are worse habits, I guess.
It’s a Friday evening after a big holiday and before another one—the perfect time to cozy up to the couch and see this duct-taped team compete one last time. The ball’s in your hands, Zevi Eckhaus. The play calling is up to you, Nick Edwards. The defense is in the hands of….well, we don’t really know.
It’s the Cougs and Orange (naming teams after colors is lame). Talk about it here.
When
5 p.m. PT, a perfect Friday night kickoff.
Where
Snapdragon Stadium, and apparently the grass has improved since the last time WSU played there when it resembled Coronado beach.
How to Watch
Tune in to Fox, one of the few bowl games not on ESPN. The great Gus Johnson and Joel Klatt are on the call.
The Line
Syracuse, -18. Sheesh.