Loud singing and music could be heard from the WSU locker room after the Cougars’ 42-10 win over Hawaii. There was a feeling of joy and camaraderie in the stadium, as the Cougs celebrated their bowl eligibility and a 32-point win.

After the game, head coach Jake Dickert made it clear that the Cougs have big goals as a team, implying that there was more to be done to build from their 6-1 start. However, he made it clear that as that as expectations rise, he does not want the team to feel the pressure to win.

“Winning can never be a relief, it’s gotta be a joy,” Dickert said.

It sure feels like the Cougars have embraced that mindset as they head into the later stages of the season. Redshirt freshman linebacker Buddah Al-Uqdah joked in the postgame press conference about his teammates, who have made it a friendly competition to see who can snag the most interceptions. Al-Uqdah was proud to be on the board with his first interception of the season against Hawaii, but made clear it was all fun and games in the locker room.

“Having fun is the biggest thing,” Al-Uqdah said.

Junior lineman Christian Hilborn has been a key distributor of joy, as evidenced by his touchdown celebrations, not for himself, but for his teammates. When asked about his celebrations, Hilborn admitted he “love(s) hitting the griddy.”

It’s moments like that when fans can see the energy and the bonds the teammates share with each other.

Senior edge rusher Syrus Webster got emotional when speaking about how much he enjoys his team after punching their ticket to a bowl game.

“You don’t take these days, these weeks, these months lightly,” Webster said.

The Cougars are not taking the season lightly. They are playing with energy, having fun and giving Wazzu fans something to cheer for. In a year where the Cougs were homeless without a conference, the team has found a home in each other.

While every game presents new challenges for the Cougs, Al-Uqdah echoed Dickert’s mindset about not letting the pressure get to you.

“Can’t be too tight, can’t be too loose either,” Al-Uqdah said. “Just have fun. We’ve been doing this since we were little kids.”