Apple Cup heroes and goats

I have never felt more heartfelt dejection than having to endure the Cougs last-second loss to the Huskies in 1975 when Warren Moon's tipped pass fell into Spider Gaines hands for the winning touchdown. WSU had pummeled UW all day and that Apple Cup loss led to the resignation of "Smilin Irishman" Jim Sweeney. I will never forget that guy, I loved him as Cougar Coach and I will never forgive the "Gods of Football" that allowed Washington to win that particular game. The 1975 Apple Cup gave me a sour taste for setting foot inside Husky Stadium from that day on.

When I saw a headline last Monday declaring "Linehan Wears Horns" after the Rams lost to the Seahawks partly due to a misguided 4th down attempt, I couldn't help but think of Jim Sweeney. Why in the name of Joe Pisarcik would you even try to throw the ball with your team up 27-14 with less than 3 minutes left, and the ball in your opponent's red zone? Well, I'm sure Coach Sweeney thinks that Al Burleson is still running somewhere, after Burleson's 93 yard interception return ignited the most improbable Apple Cup finish of all time in 1975. The ultimate "Couged It" stamp was placed on the game when Warren Moon's desperation heave somehow found the outstretched arms of Spider Gaines on the rebound, but it was Sweeney who had put his finger in the dike. I can still remember listening to the end of that game in my dad's basement, enthralled by the wonderment of Pete Gross' shrill voice as all heck broke loose. Unbelievable!

I still hate the moment that Corey Williams caught a perfectly placed pass from Cody Pickett right past Erik Coleman in the 2003 game.

Walking out of Husky Stadium that day was harder than walking out of Martin Stadium after the 30T loss the year before.

The bottom of the bottom had to be 1975. Even though it was the usual gray, cool day in Seattle, I had somehow in my excitment run out of the house without my coat, BUT since we were stomping the Dawgs it really didn't matter, I wasn't cold at all. Then came "the pass" and the "other pass" before you knew it, it I was shivering uncontrollably. We went to dinner in the U-District with our Coug friends, not a word was said. We lost the game, our pride and more importantly, our coach. Thank you Jim Sweeney, you were the best!!! How the times have changed!!! Now the Dawgs have to beat us to MAKE their season!!! GO COUGS!!!!

I hated Ryan Leaf for that 1997 game in Seattle. That stupid flag that was in the stands and the celebration on our field. Oh how good it felt to win the next six in a row.

Two words... Trandon Harvey. His touchdown last year symbolized a great deal about WSU football. Little known player, sticks with it and takes advantage of an opportunity. Year after year the UW gets the high profile recruits and WSU continues to recruit athletes and make them players. I am much more confortable rooting for a team full of players who are developing to become someone rather than people who already feel they have "arrived". Trandon Harvey's touchdown last year symbolized all that is good about going to WSU!

One of my favorite Apple Cup memories is from the 2000 Apple Cup. I have been a die hard Dawg fan since birth, I knew better than to show my true colors while sitting in the WSU student section for the game. Lucky for me it was about 8 degrees outside so I was able to wear a purple Husky t-shirt under all my jackets. The whole first half while watching the Dawgs beat up on the Cougs I was only able to yell "go team" in fear of getting pummeled by the rowdy Cougs student section. At halftime, with the game surely in hand I started to tell the Cougs around me "better luck next year", then I unveiled my purple Husky shirt! I'll never forget the looks on those dejected Cougar faces as I ran out of the student section with my purple Husky shirt blazing!

After I transferred to WSU in 2003 I never really understood why the Cougs hate the Huskies so much until that Corey Williams guy caught that pass to beat us. I guess we got some retribution with no-name Trandon Harvey last year, but I became a Coug that day in 2003 because I finally understood why we hate that team and I can't help but smile thinking somewhere there is UW junior who wonders if they will ever beat the Cougs while he is a student there.