Sports Weekend 2017 – The Daily Evergreen

Proud past of Pelluer

JOHN SPELLMAN, Evergreen reporter

November 2, 2018

WSU is a university filled with great tradition and family legacies. However, perhaps no one has closer family ties to the Cougar tradition than sixth-year linebacker Peyton Pelluer. Pelluer is the anchor for the Cougar defense who has helped carry WSU to No. 8 in the College Football Playoff rankings....

Luvu prepares for final game at Martin Stadium

JACKSON GARDNER, Evergreen reporter

November 3, 2017

Cougar seniors will play their last game at Martin Stadium on Saturday, and senior linebacker Franki Luvu’s family will be there to witness all his hard work paying off. Over half his family has yet to watch him play a college game live. Luvu hails from Tafuna, American Samoa, so getting his ...

Cougar football looks to rebound after loss to Arizona

SAM HEIKELL, Evergreen reporter

November 3, 2017

No. 25 WSU football (7-2, 4-2) will look to bounce back from its second road loss of the season when the team takes the field against No. 18 Stanford (6-2, 5-1) on Saturday. The Cardinal are coming off a 15-14 win over Oregon State University on Oct. 26. The Cougars beat Stanford 42-16 in last...

Leach balances football with being a dad

DYLAN GREENE, Evergreen asst. sports editor

November 3, 2017

Mike Leach’s life isn’t all about football; he’s a dad, too. Leach has three daughters and one son: Kim, Kiersten, Janeen and Cody. He said it’s harder during the football season to squeeze in time to perform his other job of being a father. “Honestly, you don’t carve out near as much ...

ZZU CRU motivates student-athletes from stands

JACKSON GARDNER, Evergreen reporter

November 3, 2017

Whenever Cougar Athletics is looking for fan support, they are there. Whenever there are Twitter trolls attempting to use the Cougars’ name in vain, they are there. And wherever Andy Grammer’s song “Back Home” plays, they are there. The ZZU CRU serves as the hype builders for universi...

Alexys Swedlund ready for spotlight this season

TYLER SHUEY, Evergreen reporter

November 3, 2017

Alexys Swedlund has tried to excel in pretty much every aspect of her life, due in large part to her determination in whatever she pursues. “Make each day your masterpiece,” the junior guard said in reference to former University of California, Los Angeles, basketball Head Coach John Wooden. ...

A brief pause for uncertainties of WSU football

BRADEN JOHNSON, Evergreen columnist

November 3, 2017

The jovial nature of players, coaches and members of the Athletic Department this week made No. 25 WSU, not 23rd-ranked Arizona, resemble the team coming off a three-score win. Head Coach Mike Leach, donning a red Cougars sweatshirt and Nike dri-fit sweatpants, cracked jokes with the small crowd ...

Cougar basketball seals exhibition win with 95 points

RYAN MOSHER, Evergreen reporter

November 2, 2017

WSU defeated The Master’s University by a score of 95-57 Wednesday night in Beasley Coliseum. The Cougs won the tip-off and shortly after, WSU senior guard Calia Hailey kicked off the scoring with a 2-point shot. The Mustangs would tie the score at 2-2 and again at 4-4, but after that, WSU held the ...

Three donors contribute $500,000 to honor Jack Thompson

RYAN MOSHER, Evergreen reporter

October 31, 2017

Contributions totaling $500,000 from three donors purchased the naming rights to the Gray W Legends Lounge in the Cougar Football Complex on Monday. University officials announced the lounge would include the name of former Cougar football player Jack Thompson. Glenn Osterhout, Greg Rankich and one...

Grinch brings different mentality to WSU defense

DYLAN GREENE, Evergreen asst. sports editor

October 31, 2017

Speed D originated when Alex Grinch took over as defensive coordinator three years ago. Now the term is part of WSU defense’s identity. Grinch said he never meant for the term to gain as much attention as it has. “It was intended to be an in-house thing,” he said. “It was not designed to...

Swim hosts first Cougar Alumni exhibition

RYAN MOSHER, Evergreen reporter

October 20, 2017

WSU swimming (2-1, 0-1) is back at Gibb Pool this weekend as alumni return to celebrate the 40th season of Cougar swimming. Many alumni will compete with and against current team members. This exhibition meet follows a highly competitive match against No. 24 Arizona last weekend. WSU lost, though the...

Pippins wants to bring back Apple Cup

JACOB MOORE, Evergreen sports editor

October 20, 2017

Of all the Cougar football games senior cornerback Marcellus Pippins has played in, one sticks out more than others — the 2014 Apple Cup. It was the first Apple Cup he played in, and his third collegiate game overall. University of Washington beat WSU in the 2014 rivalry game, then again in 2015...