Control of sports Times change. No matter how much we want them to stay the same. The way the world was in our youth, as seen through those optimistic tinted glasses, is the way it should be forever. It was never like that. Heck, it’s rarely even close. Ask any college football coach. They will tell you.
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• What a story they have to tell. Think December 1993. Thirty years ago. He traveled to Pullman, where head coach Mike Price had just finished his fifth season. A season that ended with four straight losses and a 5-6 record.
Change was coming, but it wasn’t the change that happens these days. players? They will remain as they are. But Price needed to shake things up a bit. Both coordinators, Ted Williams on offense and Mike Zimmer on defense, moved on — Williams to Arizona and Zimmer to the NFL.
All Prices and new defensive coordinator Bill Duba did make December the blueprint for a new look for the players on that side of the ball. Aggressive look. That’s when Palouse Posse was born.
The defense, which was mostly populated by the previous year, would take the Pac-12 by storm, resulting in an 8-4 record and huge bonuses for defensive linemen Chad Eaton and Don Sassa, linebacker Mark Fields and cornerback Torrey Hunter – all NFL draftees.
Which brings us back to today. And our destination. It changes.
How many of these big stars, who all operated in relative national anonymity in 1993, would have returned to Pullman in 1994, if the changes of today had actually taken place?
Our guess? Maybe one or two. mostly.
That’s what Jake Dickert is dealing with this December. The Cougars finished 5-7. The roster he puts on the field next season, the first in a new non-Pac-12 era (where it has been in the making for more than a decade), will be different. slightly different. The demands placed on Dickert and his staff are so intense that they are draining.
From the perspective of a 10-year-old in 1993, this was not as satisfactory as it was at the time. The 40-year-old Cougar fan now wants Cam Ward back at quarterback. He wants the Pac-12 the way it was. WSU wants to be 8-4 next season.
The past always looks better in the rearview mirror.
But was it?
Not from the players’ point of view. Don’t you think Fields wouldn’t have been able to make a million dollars or so in nothing money if he’d been able to go home to USC? Or did they invest a lot of money to solidify UCLA’s line?
What if they all stayed and the Cougar Collective could lure a quarterback to the school that produced Drew Bledsoe? Do you think Price’s offense wouldn’t have been more productive with Stoney Case transferring from New Mexico in place of Chad Davis?
The newfound dollars, coupled with newfound freedom, put the power in the hands of players. Yes, it is not regulated enough these days, but it is long overdue.
The changes have led to a more financially satisfying college experience for the players, more money for the coaching staff and more stress for everyone. Did they make the game better? The answer to this will likely change from where the respondent sits.
But one thing that is true is that the evolution of sports, and college athletics in general, does not stop. More are coming, either by the courts, state legislators, or schools and the NCAA itself.
College football, college basketball and college athletics will be transformed in 2063 again. Not to the same extent as the past 30 years, certainly, because many decades of pent-up energy had built up, and exploded when it was finally released.
But differences will stand out. When the 10-year-old cries about how all their favorite Cougars (or Huskies or Eagles or Vandals) are leaving, let them know that what happens today won’t be the same in the future.
They won’t care. But it’s still worth a try. This will never change.
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Washington State University: According to John Canzano, Pac-2 schools in Washington State and Oregon State are still trying to answer a whole host of questions about 2024 as 2023 comes to a close. … Cam Ward is making visits. Will he transfer to a Power Four school in need of a quarterback or will he head to the NFL? …Elsewhere in the Pac-12 and the nation, Wilner examines Arizona’s success and future Heisman chances in his latest stock report. …Washington heads to a Final Four tournament that features competition issues for each school. … A junior from Oregon is headed to UCLA. …The transfer-gate era, though brief, had an impact on Oregon State. …He still has a big impact on Colorado and Deion Sanders. …Arizona is using the portal to help next year. … In basketball news, Wilner tells us the Pac-12’s best non-conference weekend in decades just happened. … If you want to watch No. 1 Arizona play No. 3 Purdue this Saturday, you better get on Peacock. Welcome to the future. …After being upset about it at the time. 7 Gonzaga, Are Washington Men Real? … Despite being shorthanded, Oregon had little trouble with Cal Baptist. …Colorado is among the nation’s leaders in offense. …Colorado women strive for consistency. …With Texas coming to Tucson, the Wildcats can look back on the last time they played the Longhorns and won.
Gonzaga: After the Washington loss, we wrote that the Zags needed to build some depth off the front line. Reflecting on the win over Mississippi Valley State, Theo Lawson shares how Jeon Suk Yeo is building confidence. Could the winger be the answer to the depth issue? … The Bulldogs have the depth of talent in the NBA these days, that’s for sure.
dog: Former Eagle star receiver Cooper Kupp is starting to return to form after a series of injuries. …Elsewhere in the Big Sky, there are family ties between Montana State and North Dakota State. …A Montana State player is returning home to finish his career. … In basketball news, the Northern Colorado men lost 101-99 in double overtime last night. …Road tests await at Weber State. …The Montana women are heading out on the road without some key players. …Weber State has won three straight games.
Preparations: Dave Nichols provides a recap of Tuesday’s events around GSL.
Sailors: We don’t have much to change here from yesterday. Transparency is not a word we would assign to M ownership. But Ryan Devish feels the time has come. Will the group change? Our guess is no. His story was published today in SR.
Mythical sea monster: After eight straight losses, somehow Seattle, which entered the game with the worst shooting percentage in the NHL, won 4-0 at home over the Carolina Panthers. An anomaly or a sign of things to come?
Seahawks: Maybe it’s time to reevaluate DK Metcalf. …What must Seattle do to win on Monday and get back into the playoff mix? … Ten years ago this week, the Hawks faced the 49ers. It was better then.
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• We are heading soon. On the road to family business. No, not like Tony Soprano – despite our last name. Like most everyone. We may have a day or two over the next few weeks when compiling this column will no longer be an option. We’ll let you know in advance, as always. till later…
In the world of college athletics, the landscape is constantly changing. From the ever-evolving rules and regulations to the increasing focus on marketing and profitability, it can often feel like the romanticized past of sports is slipping away. However, it’s important to acknowledge that this idealized past wasn’t always better for everyone involved. As we navigate the complexities of modern college athletics, it’s crucial to take control and make informed decisions that prioritize the well-being and success of athletes, coaches, and the entire athletic community. By staying proactive and adaptable, we can work towards creating a future of college sports that is both thrilling and equitable for all.