Vic Condiotty / The Seattle Times

Husky quarterback Gene Willis (14) eludes tacklers in the 1969 Apple Cup.

Editor, The Times:

Where are the Cougar fans? Why are the Husky fans pushing for the Apple Cup to be played permanently in Seattle? ["Apple Cup at Qwest: It makes dollars and sense," Sports, Steve Kelley column, April 19] This is to their advantage, not ours.

What is the one thing that every die-hard Cougar fan hopes for before every Apple Cup in Pullman? Snow! It won't be happening if it's always played in Seattle. Yes, this past winter we had snow at the most inopportune times, but do you really think Cougar fans could count on snow in Seattle for the Apple Cup?

This plan was thought up by people hoping for better weather and a home-field advantage for the Huskies every year. Gov. Chris Gregoire will probably support it, but remember, she's a Husky. She may be the governor of the state of Washington, but when the Apple Cup comes around, she doesn't root for Washington State.

Yes, they would trade off on which team wore the home colors, but let's be honest: Who would really be the home team every year? Not Washington State.

Money is listed as a primary reason to endorse this deal. The schools would each make more money than they do now, but what about the merchants in Pullman or even Spokane? They rely on the influx of fans for their livelihood. In today's economy, don't we need to think about them, too?

Cougars, remember the times you had in Pullman? Have you shared them with your family and friends? Don't you enjoy going back? If the Apple Cup comes to Seattle permanently, you may not get back to your roots.

To paraphrase the words of WSU President Glenn Terrell when he spoke at a freshman orientation I attended, no matter where you go in life and what you do, "once a Cougar, always a Cougar." Wear that with pride and remember there is no better home away from home than Pullman.

-- Richard Johnson, Everett