Football Washington State Athletics

Notes and Quotes

  • WSU's loss to Idaho was its first since 1965, when the Vandals beat the Cougars 17-13. "This is the worst of worst times for Cougar football right now," head coach Mike Price said. "Right now we're at an all time low. We have never been this low. We are at rock bottom. There's only one way to go and that's up and eventually we will get there." The Cougars tied the school record for consecutive losses Saturday with their 11th straight.

  • The game was played in Martin Stadium, but technically, the Cougars were the road team. But that was just reason why it was a big win for Idaho. "I think you can definitely put it in the milestone category," Idaho head coach Chris Tormey said. "We needed a breakthrough win. We needed to beat a Pac-10 team, and we were able to get that done today."

  • WSU head coach Mike Price echoed the impact of the game. "It was not a fluke," Price said. "They beat us fair and square...They just out-coached us and outplayed us and won the game. We're just going to have to face up to it and face up to it right away.

  • Deon Burnett made his first collegiate start a memorable one, but his 91 yards on 18 carries - as well as his second touchdown of the season - proved all for not. "I would trade my performance for a win any day," Burnett said. "If I rushed for 400 yards, and we still lost, I would rather replace it with a victory."

  • Everything was looking up for WSU, until Mao Tosi squeezed his 298-pound frame through the Cougars' offensive line untouched. Suddenly, it was quarterback Steve Birnbaum looking up, facing the sky after a vicious fumble-causing hit by Tosi. "I wasn't out old, I just got run pretty good," Birnbaum said. "I don't really remember much about the play." The Vandals, down 14-0 until Tosi's hit forced a fumble and a touchdown that brought them to life, will never forget it the sack however. "I don't' think there's any question that Mao Tosi's hit and Chris Nofoaiga's touchdown got us on the board and got momentum our way," Idaho coach Chris Tormey said. "We just needed that spark, that big play."

  • The Cougars who watched their starting quarterback leveled on the field won't forget it either. But another play stuck out in their minds as the turning point. "I felt the momentum shift in the game when we should have had that touchdown in the third quarter and the ball was dropped (by Nian Taylor in the endzone)," backup quarterback Jason Gesser said. "If that ball is caught, we go up 21 points and it's a whole new game." Just like the hit that sent him to the sideline, Birnbaum was a little foggy about Taylor's drop. "I don't really remember the play, but we need to make those big plays," Birnbaum said. It was a momentum changer. Everyone needs to take account for their own actions. When my number is called for the deep throw, I need to make plays. Those receivers need to come up with catches."

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