COUGARS SET FOR ROAD TRIP TO OREGON STATE
Washington State (4-1, 1-1 Pac-12) travels to Oregon State (1-4, 0-2 Pac-12) for a Saturday night matchup in Corvallis, Ore. Kickoff is set for 6 p.m. on the Pac-12 Networks.

SERIES HISTORY
Washington State leads the all-time series with Oregon State 52-47-3 and have won four straight meetings after posting a 52-23 victory in Pullman last season. OSU leads the all-time series in Corvallis 24-22 but the Cougars have won the last two meetings including a 35-31 comeback victory in 2016. A pair of former WSU quarterbacks are in the Reser Stadium record books, Alex Brink holds the record for passing yards (531, 2005) and Luke Falk set the completions record with 44 in 2014.

COLLEGE GAMEDAY RECORD
Dating back to the middle of the 2003 season, ESPN's College GameDay has had the WSU flag appear throughout the show. The first appearance came Oct. 4, 2003 in Austin, Texas and the streak began two weeks later in Madison, Wisc. (10/18/03). The streak reached 214 after the appearance at last week's Ohio State-Penn State game in State College. Pa. Two flags – Ol' Crimson and Gray – have been flown in the background of the GameDay set by dozens of friends and alumni. The Gray flag was added in 2014 after Whitey was retired in honor of Steve Gleason's "No White Flags." In addition to the flags that fly, there is a traveling flag signed by the holders after each episode. The traveling flag is retired after each season, the first is hanging in WSU's Alumni Center.

ABOUT WASHINGTON STATE
Washington State enters the week 4-1 and 1-1 in Pac-12 play after using a fourth-quarter comeback to post a 28-24 win over Utah in Pullman last weekend. The Cougars own the nation's best passing attack (410.4 ypg) and the ninth ranked defense in the country (277.0 ypg) who have posted three shutouts in the past 18 games. Quarterback Gardner Minshew II paces the country in passing (398.4) and is second in Pac-12 in touchdown passes (14). 

COUGAR QUICK GAME
TEAM
•  WSU owns 20 Pac-12 wins since 2015 (3+seasons), 4th-most in the Pac-12 (Stanford - 23, USC - 23, UW - 21)
•  WSU is the only Pac-12 team with four shutouts in the last six seasons (Stanford and Washington with 2)
•  WSU has won 10 straight home games, the 3rd-longest streak in program history, longest since 1928-33 (19)
•  WSU has rushed for 10 TD through 5 games after rushing for 8 TD all of last season
•  WSU is tied for 2nd in the country with 11 scoring drives of 10+ plays this season (Army leads with 12)

INDIVIDUAL
•  Mike Leach owns 42 wins at WSU, 4th-most in program history
•  Under Leach, WSU has recorded 12 4th-quarter comebacks in his 7 seasons
•  QB Gardner Minshew II entered the week leading country in passing (398.4) and 8th in passing TDs (14)
•  Minshew II has thrown for 398.4 yards/g, 1,992 yards and 14 TD, the 2nd-best numbers under Leach at WSU through the first 5 games of a season, Connor Halliday, 2014 (463.6 yards/g, 2,318 yards and 20 TD)
•  RB James Williams is 2nd in WSU history for catches by a RB with 147, Keith Harrington is 10th with 52 rec
•  Williams has rushed for 5 TD in 2018, tied for 2nd-most in the Pac-12, is tied for 11th in country with 7 total TD
•  WR Tay Martin has 3 career multiple-TD games (at Arizona, vs. Michigan State, San Jose State)
•  KR Travell Harris' 100-yard kick return for a TD against Eastern Washington was WSU's first since 2016
•  LB Peyton Pelluer has played in 46 career games, trails Gabe Marks (WR) and Daniel Ekuale (DL) record of 51

MIKE LEACH AMONG NATION'S BEST
Head coach Mike Leach is in his 17th season as a head coach and owns a 126-82 career record including a 42-39 mark at WSU, now in his seventh season in Pullman, the fourth-most wins by a Cougar head coach. Leach is the first coach in school history to lead WSU to three bowl games in his first five seasons and joined Mike Price as the only Cougar head coaches to take WSU to three straight bowl games. Leach, the 2015 Pac-12 Co-Coach of the Year and a George Munger Coach of the Year semifinalist the past two seasons, has seen the Cougar Air Raid lead the Pac-12 in passing in five of his six seasons, only finishing second behind Cal and Jared Goff in 2013. 

FRIENDLY CONFINES OF MARTIN STADIUM
Washington State has claimed 10 straight victories at Martin Stadium, the third-longest home winning streak in program history. Last season, WSU went 7-0 at home, the most home wins in program history and was the first perfect home mark since going 6-0 in 2003.
- Longest home winning streak is 19 games that started in 1928 and ended with a tie in 1933 
- 2nd-longest home winning streak is 14 games from 1904-08
- Longest home unbeaten streak is 33 games that ran 1926-35 (wins and ties)

YOUNG COUGS TAKE THE FIELD 
Through the first five games, WSU has seen 24 players make their debuts and 13 make their first career start. Six players made their first career starts on offense at Wyoming; Easop Winston Jr. (Z), Travell Harris (H), Liam Ryan (LG), Josh Watson (RG), Abraham Lucas (RT), Gardner Minshew II (QB) and four made third first career start on defense; Nick Begg (DT), Taylor Comfort (NT), Dominick Silvels (RUSH), Skyler Thomas (FS). Against Eastern Washington, Max Borghi (RB) made his first career start, Willie Taylor III (RUSH) made his first career start at USC and Will Rodgers III (DT) made his first career start against Utah. 

RECORD BOOK WATCH
A couple Cougars are closing in on putting their names in the Washington State record book.
- Mike Leach owns 42 wins at WSU, 4th-most in WSU history, 3 away from passing Jim Walden for 3rd place
- James Williams owns 147 receptions, 2nd-most by a WSU running back, 17 away from moving into WSU Top-10
- Williams owns 18 career total touchdowns, 3 away from moving into WSU Top-10 for career touchdowns
- Keith Harrington owns 52 career receptions, 10th-most by a WSU running back
- Peyton Pelluer has played in 46 games, Gabe Marks (WR) and Daniel Ekuale (DL) own WSU record with 51 GP
- Pelluer owns 293 career tackles, 12 away from moving into WSU Top-10 for career tackles
- Pelluer owns 28 career TFL, 3 away from moving into WSU Top-10 for career TFL

GARDNER MINSHEW II NOTES (Game-by-Game Page 28) (Ratings Based On PFF College)
Quarterback Gardner Minshew II has produced some impressive numbers in his first season with the Cougars. 
- Entered week 1st in country in passing yards/g (398.4) and total offense/g (406.0), 2nd in passing yards (1,992)
- Entered week 10th in the country TD passes (14), 2nd among Pac-12 QB's with 67.8 completion percentage
- Rated 5th overall QB in the country, best among Pac-12 QB's, 
- Rated 3rd-best deep passer in the country (20+ yards), 2nd in the Pac-12
- Rated the country's 6th-best passer when under pressure, best in the Pac-12
- Only QB in country with three 400-yard games in 2018 (San Jose State, Eastern Washington, Utah)
- In WSU debut, threw for 319 yards and 3 TD, also rushed for another in win at Wyoming
- Had 45 completions against Eastern Washington, most completions by any FBS quarterback this year
- 1st Cougar QB to win first three starts since Steven Birnbaum opened 1998 with 3 straight wins

SPREADING THE BALL AROUND
Washington State saw nine players catch a pass at Wyoming and at USC while 10 caught a pass against San Jose State and Utah, and 12 more had a catch against Eastern Washington. Last season WSU averaged a national-best 9.6 receivers catch a pass per game, according to an unofficial survey from sports information directors, and tied for national lead (New Mexico State) with eight players with 25+ catches. The 2016 season saw 10+ players catch a pass in 11 of the 13 games, highlighted by the 14 against Arizona, the most under Mike Leach at WSU. 

AIR RAID NUMBERS CONTINUE TO ADD UP
Last season, Washington State produced the nation's second-best passing attack (366.8) and opened the season with 30+ points in six straight games for the first time since the 2001 team reached that mark seven times. In 2016, WSU finished third in the country in passing offense (362.5) and set a program single-season records for the most touchdowns scored (67) and points (496). The WSU passing attack led the country in 2015 (389.5) and 2014 (477.7), was fourth in 2013 (368.4) and was eighth in 2012 (330.4).

COUGAR WIDE RECEIVER NOTES (Ratings Based On PFF College)
- Tay Martin entered the week 2nd in Pac-12 in receptions (32), tied for 4th in TD catches (4)
- Martin leads all Pac-12 receivers in snaps played (352)
- Easop Winston Jr. entered week tied for 2nd in Pac-12 in TD catches (5) and 10th in receiving yards (327)
- Winston Jr. has recorded 100-yard games in last two games (at USC, Utah), 3rd-most among Pac-12 WR
- Winston Jr.'s 89-yard TD catch against Utah is tied for 5th-longest TD catch in the country this season, tied for the longest in the Pac-12 in 2018 and longest by a Coug since Vince Mayle's 90-yarder against California in 2014
- Dezmon Patmon entered week 9th in Pac-12 in receiving yards (347), had 1st career 100-yard game last week
- Jamire Calvin leads the team with 6 3rd-down catches that have resulted in a 1st down
- Kyle Sweet owns 18 catches in 2018, 13 of those have resulted in a 1st down
- Travell Harris is rated the 3rd-best blocking WR in the Pac-12

ALL-PURPOSE, ALL THE TIME
The Cougar running backs serve all-purpose roles for the Air Raid. In each of the last two seasons, the Cougar backs have combined to record 1,000 yards rushing and 1,000 yards receiving. Last season, James Williams led the Cougars with 71 receptions, also the most by any FBS running back in the country. In week one at Wyoming, the backs combined for 18 receptions, 101 rushing yards and four total touchdowns. Against Eastern Washington, the backs combined for 10 receptions and four rushing touchdowns including three from James Williams, the first Cougar with three rushing touchdowns since 2012. 

COUGAR RUNNING BACK NOTES 
- WSU has rushed for 10 TD in 2018, tied for 4th in the Pac-12, rushed for 8 TD last season
- James Williams entered the week tied for 3rd in the Pac-12 with 7 total TD
- Williams is rated as top pass-catching RB in the country by PFF College, leads all RB nationally with 28 catches
- Williams has played the 13th-most snaps of any RB in the country
- Williams has forced the most missed tackles by a receiving RB in the country (10)
- Williams owns 5 career games with 10+ catches, 4 came last season and 1 this season at Wyoming (10)
- Max Borghi is tied for 10th in the Pac-12 with 4 total TD, 5th in the country in catches by a RB (18)
- Borghi has forced the 9th-most missed tackles by a receiving RB in the country (5)
- Borghi had an impressive collegiate debut at Wyoming, scoring 2 TD, one receiving and one rushing

NEW-LOOK OFFENSIVE LINE
The Cougar offensive line features a couple new faces in 2018. Gone is four-year starting right tackle Cole Madison, drafted in the fifth round by the Green Bay Packers, two-time All-American left guard Cody O'Connell graduated as well as right guard B.J. Salmonson who played in 44 games. Two-year starter and 2017 All-Pac-12 HM left tackle Andre Dillard returns for his redshirt-senior season along with junior center Fred Mauigoa who started all 13 games last season and was named to the Rimington Trophy Watch List prior to the 2018 season. Redshirt-sophomores Liam Ryan and Josh Watson started at left guard and right guard, respectively, the first five games. Redshirt-freshman Abraham Lucas made his collegiate debut at Wyoming and has started all five games at right tackle. 

OFFENSIVE LINE NOTES (Ratings based on PFF College)
- WSU has produced the nation's second-best passing attack
- WSU offensive line is rated the 6th-best pass-blocking line in the country, tied with Arizona
- WSU has allowed just five sacks this season on 284 pass attempts
- WSU has blocked for 10 rushing touchdowns, tied for the 4th-most in the Pac-12
- Andre Dillard (LT) is rated 5th-best OT in the country
- Dillard is rated top pass-blocking OT in the country and top screen-blocking OT in the country
- Abraham Lucas (RT) is rated 6th-best OT in the Pac-12 and 4th-best pass-blocking OT in the country
- Liam Ryan (LG) is rated 13th-best pass-blocking OG in the country and top screen-blocking OG in the country

COUGAR DEFENSE NOTES
The Speed D has produced some low numbers in the first five games, and that's a good thing. 
- at Wyoming, WSU allowed just 206 yards of total offense, tallied 8 TFL including 3 sacks and 1 INT
- San Jose State, WSU posted their 3rd shutout in the last two seasons,  held SJSU to 109 yards of total offense
- Eastern Washington, WSU limited the nation's top FCS passing attack to just 14 completions, had 3 INT
- at USC, WSU allowed just 33 rushing yards after the game's opening drive
- Utah, WSU allowed just 12 completions and 118 passing yards, tallied 7 TFL including 2 sacks

WSU Speed D entered the week:
- 7th in the country in pass defense (154.4), 1st in the Pac-12
- 9th in the country in total defense (277.0), 2nd in the Pac-12
- tied for 21st in the country in sacks (14), tied for 3rd in the Pac-12
- 34th in the country in rush defense (122.6), 3rd in the Pac-12

SPEED D STRIKES AGAIN
The Washington State defense added another impressive game to its file with a shutout of San Jose State week two. It was the third shutout in the last two seasons (2017 - Montana State, Colorado) and fourth under Mike Leach (2013 - Idaho). The Speed D limited SJSU to just 109 yards of total offense, the fourth-fewest yards allowed in program history and fewest allowed since 1994, holding Oregon to 97 yards in a 21-7 Cougar win. WSU also held SJSU to nine rushing yards, tallied eight tackles-for-loss including five sacks and picked off one pass. 

COUGAR DEFENSIVE PLAYER NOTES (Ratings based on PFF College)
- Peyton Pelluer (LB), tied for 8th in Pac-12 in tackles (39), posted two straight double-digit tackle games, had 12 at USC and 13 against Utah
- Pelluer has recorded the 2nd-most QB hurries among all Pac-12 linebackers
- Nick Begg (DT) is rated the 9th-best pass-rushing DT in the Pac-12
- Logan Tago (DE), tied for 9th in Pac-12 in tackles-for-loss (4.5), had 1.5 at USC and 2 against Utah
- Tago and Nnamdi Oguayo (DE) are tied for 4th as the best DE in the Pac-12
- Will Rodgers III (DT) is rated 6th-best DT in the Pac-12 against the run
- Dominick Silvels (RUSH), tied for 7th in Pac-12 in sacks (2.5)
- Willie Taylor III (RUSH) is rated 3rd-best OLB in the Pac-12, tied for 4th-best pass rusher
- Darrien Molton (CB), tied for 5th in Pac-12 in pass breakups (6), rated 5th-best overall CB in the Pac-12

NEW FACES MAKE MARK FOR SPECIAL TEAMS
The Cougar special teams have seen some new faces produce in the first four games. Kicker Blake Mazza owns five field goal makes including a long of 50 at USC, tied for the longest by any Pac-12 kicker in 2018. New punter Oscar Draguicevich III has already produced six punts of 50+ and put five inside the 20 while averaging 47.9 yards per punt, good for fourth in the country. Kyle Sweet has averaged 7.2 yards-per-punt return and produced a 26-yard return against San Jose State and an 18-yarder against Eastern Washington.
WSU special teams entered the week:
- 3rd in the country in net punting (44.9), punter Oscar Draguicevich III is 4th in the country in punting (47.9)
- 1st in the Pac-12 in punt coverage, allowing 1.7 yards-per-return
- 8th in the country in kickoff return, averaging 29.6 yards-per-return, Travell Harris is 9th in the country (29.6)
- Kicker Blake Mazza leads all Pac-12 kickers in points (39)

COUGAR WEEKLY TEAM AWARDS
Following a win, the Cougars will name award winners for select groups:

BONE AWARD - given to the offensive lineman of the week
at WYO - Liam Ryan (LG), graded out the best, WSU had 57 pass attempts, 2 rushing TD, zero sacks allowed
SJSU - Andre Dillard (LT), graded out the best, 54 pass attempts, zero sacks allowed
EWU - Fred Mauigoa (C), graded out the best, 65 pass attempts, 524 passing yards, 4 rushing TD
at USC - None
UTAH - Abraham Lucas (RT), graded out the best, 3 passing TD against nation's top passing defense

DEFENSIVE PLAYER OF THE WEEK - selected by coaches as top defensive performer
at WYO - Marcus Strong (CB), tallied two tackles, one pass breakup, interception was lone WSU takeaway
SJSU - Jalen Thomson (S), tallied 4 tackles, one for loss, had one pass breakup, shutout
EWU - Jahad Woods (LB), tallied 5 tackles, INT, shared a sack, 1 PBU
at USC - None
UTAH - Peyton Pelluer (LB), game-high 13 tackles, 1.5 TFL including 1 sack late in the fourth quarter

SPECIAL TEAMS PLAYER OF THE WEEK - selected by coach Matt Brock as the top special teams contributor
at WYO - Dillon Sherman (LB), contributed on all special teams, graded out best on play assignments
SJSU - Kyle Sweet (PR), averaged 12.2 yards-per-punt return including long of 26
EWU - Travell Harris (KR), 100-yard kickoff return for TD, also made a tackle on kickoff coverage
at USC - None
UTAH - Oscar Draguicevich III (P), 5 punts, 48.0 avg, 2 punts inside the 20, long of 59

HARRIS, MINSHEW II NAMED PAC-12 PLAYERS OF THE WEEK
Kick returner Travell Harris and quarterback Gardner Minshew II each earned Pac-12 Conference Player of the Week accolades after the win over Eastern Washington. Harris was named the Special Teams Player of the Week and Minshew was named the Offensive Player of the Week. Harris, a redshirt-freshman, had a 100-yard kickoff return for a touchdown in the win over Eastern Washington. The Tampa, Fla. native averaged 41.5 yards-per-return and also recorded a tackle on kickoff coverage. Harris recorded WSU's first kick return for a touchdown since Robert Taylor had a 100-yard kickoff return for a touchdown at Arizona State in 2016. Minshew II, a senior graduate transfer from East Carolina, completed 45-of-57 passes for 470 yards and two touchdowns in the 59-24 victory over Eastern Washington. 

PELLUER NAMED CAMPBELL TROPHY SEMIFINALIST
Linebacker Peyton Pelluer was named a semifinalist for the 2018 William V. Campbell Trophy, The National Football Foundation & College Hall of Fame announced last week. Pelluer is one of 179 semifinalists for the award that recognizes the absolute best football scholar-athlete in the nation. Pelluer earned his bachelor's degree in history in 2017 and is currently pursuing a master's degree in teaching. The Sammamish, Wash. native is a five-time member of the WSU President's Honor Roll, a two-time CoSIDA All-Academic District VIII First Team and a four-time Pac-12 Conference All-Academic selection, once to the first team and twice to the second team.
The NFF will announce 12-14 finalists Oct. 31, and each of them will receive an $18,000 postgraduate scholarship as a member of the 60th NFF National Scholar-Athlete Class. The finalists will travel to New York City for the 61st NFF Annual Awards Dinner on Dec. 4, where their accomplishments will be highlighted in front of one of the most powerful audiences in all of sports. Live during the event, one member of the class will be declared as the winner of the 29th William V. Campbell Trophy® and have his postgraduate scholarship increased to $25,000. Nominated by their schools, which are limited to one nominee each, candidates for the awards must be a senior or graduate student in their final year of playing eligibility, have a GPA of at least 3.2 on a 4.0 scale, have outstanding football ability as a first team player or significant contributor and have demonstrated strong leadership and citizenship. The class is selected each year by the NFF Awards Committee, which is comprised of a nationally recognized group of media, College Football Hall of Famers and athletics administrators.Named in honor of the late Bill Campbell, former chairman of Intuit, former player and head coach at Columbia University and the 2004 recipient of the NFF's Gold Medal, the Campbell Trophy® 

THOMPSON NAMED TO BEDNARIK AWARD WATCH LIST
Junior safety Jalen Thompson was named to the 2018 Bednarik Award Watch List, presented annually to the College Defensive Player of the Year. Thompson was one of nine Pac-12 Conference players named to watch list. Thompson was an All-Pac-12 second-team selection last season after leading the Cougars with 73 tackles and tied for fourth in the Pac-12 with four interceptions. 

MAUIGOA NAMED TO RIMINGTON TROPHY WATCH LIST, POLYNESIAN PLAYER OF THE YEAR WATCH LIST
Junior center Frederick Mauigoa was named to a pair of watch lists over prior to the season, the Rimington Trophy Fall Watch List, presented annually to the most outstanding center in Division I College Football and the Polynesian Player of the Year. Mauigoa was one of 58 centers named to the Rimington Trophy list and is one of 10 from the Pac-12. Riley Sorenson was named to the same watch list prior to the 2016 season. Mauigoa started all 13 games at center last season, anchoring the line that blocked for the nation's second-best passing attack.

SIX FORMER WALK-ONS EARN SCHOLARSHIPS
This past summer, the Cougars awarded scholarships to six former walk-ons. (stats prior to 2018) 
Brandon Arconado (WR, RS-Jr.)    11 GP, 4 REC, 1 TD, Pac-12 All-Academic 2nd Team
Tristan Brock (LB, RS-Jr.)    24 GP, Played special teams, 2x Pac-12 All-Academic HM
Kyle Celli (LS, RS-Sr.)    13 starts in 2017, Pac-12 All-Academic HM
Taylor Comfort (DL, RS-Sr.)    13 GP, mostly on special teams, graduated this past summer - Criminal Justice
Dillon Sherman (LB, RS-So.    13 GP, 23 tackles, 1 sack, 1 fumble recovery
Trey Tinsley (QB, RS-Jr.)    13 GP, holder on FG all 2017 season, Pac-12 All-Academic HM

17 COUGS EARN DEGREES
All 17 members of the 2018 senior class will earn their degree by Summer, 2019. Six players already own bachelor's degrees (Nick Begg, Taylor Comfort, Andre Dillard, Robert Lewis, Gardner Minshew II, Peyton Pelluer) with two, Minshew II and Pelluer pursuing master's degrees. Five more players will complete their degree this fall, four more will finish in the spring and two more will finish next summer. All 19 members of last year's 2017 senior class will have earned their degree by the end of the current fall, 2018 semester.

WELCOME BACK LEWIS, PELLUER
The Cougars welcome back a couple of major contributors for a sixth season. Senior linebacker Peyton Pelluer (254 career tackles) and senior wide receiver Robert Lewis (117 career receptions) were both granted a sixth-year by the NCAA during the offseason. Lewis missed all of 2017 after suffering a knee injury prior to the season and Pelluer played in the first three games before a foot injury ended his 2017 campaign. Both have earned their bachelor's degrees with Lewis working towards another political science major and Pelluer working on his second year pursing a master's in teaching.

POLYNESIAN PIPELINE
The Washington State roster has seen an influx in Polynesian players since Mike Leach and his coaching staff arrived in 2012. The 2018 roster has 10 players who are of Polynesian decent including five from Hawaii, two from American Samoa and one from Australia. 

LIKE FATHER, LIKE SON
Last season, four Cougars shared a unique bond with their dads and/or grandpa who also had worn the crimson a gray. The 2018 roster features  three Cougs who's dad's also played at WSU. Left tackle Andre Dillard's dad, Mitch was an offensive lineman and tight end for the Cougars in the late 1980's; linebacker Peyton Pelluer's dad, Scott also played linebacker for the Cougs, matching Peyton's No. 47 from 1977-80; Peyton's grandpa, Arnie played end for WSU in the mid 1950's and his great grandpa, Carl Gustafson, played flanker in the 1920's; and  quarterback John Bledsoe's dad, Drew Bledsoe played at WSU from 1990-92, was the No. 1 overall pick by the New England Patriots in the 1993 NFL Draft and played 14 seasons.

WSU ADDS PAIR FROM "LAST CHANCE U" 
Washington State signed a pair of players from Independence Community College who was featured on the latest season of "Last Chance U" on Netflix. Junior wideout Calvin Jackson Jr. played two seasons at ICC, leading the team with four touchdown catches last season before signing with the Cougars in February whole sophomore safety Chad Davis Jr. played just one season, recording 15 tackles and three pass breakups at ICC before signing with WSU this past spring.

COACHING STAFF CHANGES
The 2018 Cougar coaching staff features four new faces and three familiar faces who moved to different roles. Former Minnesota head coach Tracy Claeys arrives to serve as the defensive coordinator, Matt Brock arrives from Bowling Green to serve as the Special Teams coach and outside linebackers coach, Darcel McBrath assumes a full-time assistant position working with the cornerbacks after spending last season as a defensive quality control, Eric Mele worked the previous two and half seasons as the Cougars special teams coach but as moved to coach the Cougar running backs in 2018, Kendrick Shaver arrives from Utah State to coach the safeties, former Western Kentucky assistant head coach and quarterbacks coach Steve Spurrier Jr. arrived to coach the Cougar outside receivers and Tyson Brown returns as the head strength and conditioning coach after a brief stint at Elon College. Brown had served as an assistant strength and conditioning coach for the Cougars the previous four seasons.

COUGAR FOOTBALL BROADCAST TEAM
Hall of fame announcer Bob Robertson is in his 52nd season calling Cougar football games, and according to a nation-wide survey of sports information directors, is the longest tenured radio announcer in the country. Robertson began calling WSU games in 1964 and with the exception of a three-year period in 1969-71, has been calling Cougar games ever since. Robertson now hosts the Cougars pre, halftime and postgame shows, while also providing analysis during the games. Matt Chazanow is in his fourth season as the play-by-play voice for Cougar football, men's basketball and baseball broadcasts. Joining Chazanow and Robertson in the booth for his first season will be former Cougar quarterback Alex Brink who is the only WSU quarterback to win three Apple Cups and was later a seventh-round draft pick by the Houston Texans. Returning for her seventh season as the sideline reporter is Jessamyn McIntyre, an executive producer for 710 ESPN Seattle.  

PATRICK CHUN NAMED DIRECTOR OF ATHLETICS
Washington State University President Kirk Schulz selected Patrick Chun as the WSU Director of Athletics, it was announced Jan. 22, 2018. Chun is the 14th individul to lead Cougar athletics in school history and began his duties Feb. 5. "This is a game-changing day for our athletics program," said WSU President Kirk Schulz. "We were focused on finding a leader with the right blend of experience, vision, and passion to lead Cougar athletics to the next level of success. In Pat, we're confident we found that person. His achievements in fundraising, boosting the academic success rate of student athletes, and building strong relationships with the community—on- and off-campus—are exemplary." Chun, 43, is the first Asian-American athletic director to lead a Power 5 school and continues President Schulz' drive to diversify his senior leadership team. He has spent the past five and a half years leading Florida Atlantic University athletics and the previous 15 years at Ohio State University in a multitude of roles from 1997 through 2012, culminating as the executive associate athletics director. 

JASON HANSON NAMED TO CoSIDA ACADEMIC ALL-AMERICA HALL OF FAME
Jason Hanson was inducted into the CoSIDA Academic All-America Hall of Fame this past summer. Hanson became the first student-athlete in school history to receive this honor, entering the hall of fame along with Tennessee football player Peyton Manning, Florida International baseball player Mike Lowell and San Jose State basketball and track and field athlete Dr. Harry Edwards. Hanson, a pre-med major, was a three-time Academic All-American during his four years in Pullman (1988-91) and concluded his senior season by being named a National Football Foundation Scholar-Athlete, one of only five in WSU history to receive the honor. The Spokane, Wash. native, Hanson was an All-American kicker and punter for the Cougars, earning Freshman All-America honors as a kicker in 1988 and later became WSU's first unanimous first team All-American as a sophomore in 1989. As a junior, he was named All-Pac-10 as both a punter and kicker and earned All-American honors as a punter that season. As a senior in 1991, he was named an All-American at both punter and kicker. Hanson finished his WSU career with 19 field goals of 50+ yards including a Pac-10 record 62-yarder, the longest without use of a tee in NCAA Division I history. He was drafted by the Detroit Lions in the second round of the 1992 NFL draft and played 21 seasons with the Lions, earning Pro Bowl honors twice, second team All-Pro honors in 1997 and was a first team All-Pro selection in 1993. Upon his retirement, Hanson held the NFL record for career 50-yard kicks (52) and was inducted into the WSU Athletics Hall of Fame in 2001 and the Lions Ring of Honor in 2013.

STEVE GLEASON RECRUIT SUITE IN COUGAR FOOTBALL COMPLEX
In fall, 2016, WSU announced the naming of the Steve Gleason Recruit Suite, inside the Cougar Football Complex. Gleason, the Washington State Athletic Hall of Famer who played football and baseball in a Cougar uniform from 1995-99, was on hand as the room all future Cougar football players will walk through was named in his honor. The opportunity arrived courtesy of Cougar alumnus Glenn Osterhout's naming donation of $250,000. With his pledge, Osterhout, a 1983 graduate who is a certified financial planner in Bellevue, was presented the opportunity to name the recruiting room inside the Cougar Football Complex.