COUGARS HOST SAN JOSE STATE FOR HOME-OPENER
Washington State (1-0, 0-0 Pac-12) opens its 2018 home slate with a matchup against San Jose State University (0-1, 0-0 Mountain West) Saturday night at Martin Stadium. Kickoff is set for 8 p.m. on the Pac-12 Network.

SERIES HISTORY
Washington State leads the all-time series with the Spartans 7-4-1 and will meet SJSU for the first time since 1996, a 52-16 Cougar win in Pullman behind four touchdown passes from Ryan Leaf. San Jose State won the previous meeting, 20-13 in 1986, also played in Pullman.  

LAST WEEK
Washington State improved to 71-59-5 in season-openers with a 41-19 road win at Wyoming last Saturday. It was WSU's first time claiming a season-opener on the road since 2004 at New Mexico, snapping a seven-game skid.  The Cougars tailed 19-13 late in the third quarter before scoring 28 unanswered points to earn the road victory. Quarterback Gardner Minshew II threw for 319 yards and three touchdowns in his Cougar debut and the running backs, James Williams and freshman Max Borghi, each scored two touchdowns. The WSU defense held Wyoming to just 206 yards of total offense while recording eight tackles-for-loss including three sacks and an interception. Kicker Blake Mazza also connected from 24 and 41 yards in his Cougar debut.

COLLEGE GAMEDAY RECORD
Dating back to the beginning of the 2004 season, ESPN's College GameDay has had the WSU flag appear throughout the show. The streak reached 209 after the appearance at week's Michigan-Notre Dame game in South Bend. 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." WSU recognized the GameDay flag wavers in a pregame ceremony prior to the Montana State game in 2010. 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 of which is hanging in WSU's Alumni Center.

WSU CONTINUES WORK PROMOTING MENTAL HEALTH AWARENESS
Following the tragic suicide of Washington State University student-athlete Tyler Hilinski last January, the university embarked on a number of activities to raise awareness of suicide prevention on campus. WSU's goal is to properly pay tribute to Tyler's memory while destigmatizing mental health concerns and delivering a strong message of hope and healing. As part of this commitment, four new initiatives were launched on campus last semester. These included:
    • A second formal mental health screening for all members of the football team following the death of Tyler, along with meetings with all varsity athletes to help identify individuals who might be at risk for mental health issues. 
    • Adding a full-time clinical psychologist to the Athletic Department health and wellness area.
    • Providing free access to Mental Health First Aid, a proactive intervention training, for the entire WSU student body,
    • Active engagement with the JED Foundation to identify any changes that might be needed in the care of our students. 
In addition to the immediate steps the university undertook during the last academic year, WSU students embraced the cause as well. The Associated Students of Washington State University (ASWSU) launched the Cougar Health Fund, a student-driven endowment that sponsors mental health awareness and related initiatives on the WSU Pullman campus. In the spring, ASWSU hosted the Cougar Courage 5K run to help raise money for the endowment. By the end of April, the group had already raised $50,000.

WSU COMMITTED TO ADDITIONAL STEPS FOR 2018-19 
These include:
    • Inviting the Hilinski family to raise the Cougar flag at the September 8, 2018 home opener against San Jose State University to start the 2018 football season. (The National Alliance on Mental Illness has designated September as Suicide Prevention Awareness Month and September 10 is recognized as World Suicide Prevention Day).
    • The football team will remember Tyler by displaying a decal on the back of their game day helmets this year and will maintain Tyler's locker as a "Locker of Hope" throughout the 2018 season.
    • The university is adding a highlight from Tyler's playing career to the "Way Back Home" video, which will be shown at every home game throughout the 2018 football season. A public service announcement addressing mental health awareness and suicide prevention will also be played at home football games this year.
    • A Hilinski's Hope Foundation flag will be displayed inside the stadium for the 2018 season.
    •  Plans are underway for a new multi-day event, Game Day for Mental Health, in April 2019 to coincide with the Crimson and Gray Spring Football Game on April 20. The Athletics Department will be returning the spring football game to Martin Stadium this year and, in coordination with Student Affairs, will create a series of activities around the preseason scrimmage.
    • WSU will host a series of lectures during the 2018-2019 academic year that will be focused in the mental health arena. These lectures will be open to the entire university community, and began earlier this month with former WSU student-athlete Collin Henderson, as well as Dr. Derek Greenfield discussing inclusive excellence and positive change.
    • The university will develop a permanent Walk of Hope on the Pullman campus. This memorial will offer messages of hope and provide resource information for those in need of mental health support.
    • WSU Athletics will release a public service announcement to kickoff Suicide Prevention Awareness Month, featuring student-athletes from all WSU athletic programs.
    • WSU Athletics, in partnership with Hilinski's Hope, is also joining with national experts in developing an innovative peer-to-peer mental health awareness program, beginning this September.

ABOUT WASHINGTON STATE
Washington State returned 40 letterwinners from a 2017 team that went 9-4 for the second time in the last three seasons and made their third straight bowl appearance (2015 Sun Bowl, 2016 Holiday Bowl, 2017 Holiday Bowl) for the first time since 2001-03 (2001 Sun Bowl, 2003 Rose Bowl, 2003 Holiday Bowl). WSU returned four starters from an offense that produced the nation's second-rated passing attack and six starters from the country's No. 16-rated defense that forced 28 turnovers, ninth-most in the country last year. 

COUGAR QUICK GAME
TEAM
•  WSU saw 18 players make their debut and 10 players make their first career start
•  WSU notched its first road season-opening win since 2004, snapping 7-game skid when opening on the road
•  WSU made its 4th appearance in the Holiday Bowl, tying the Rose Bowl for most appearances in program history
•  WSU owns 19 Pac-12 wins in the last three seasons, tied for the 3rd-most in the Pac-12 (Stanford - 21, USC - 21)
•  WSU led the Pac-12 in passing for the fifth time under head coach Mike Leach 
•  WSU running backs recorded their 2nd straight season with 1,000 rushing yards and 1,000 receiving yards
•  WSU WR (Bell, Calvin, Martin) led all Pac-12 freshmen WR groups with 104 receptions and 12 rec TD
•  WSU is the only Pac-12 team with three shutouts in the last five seasons (Stanford and Washington with 2)

INDIVIDUAL
•  Mike Leach owns 38 wins at WSU, 4th-most in program history
•  Under Leach, WSU has recorded 11 fourth-quarter comebacks in his six seasons
•  Kyle Sweet, Peyton Pelluer were game captains last week, snapping Jamal Morrow's 35-game streak as capt.
•  RB James Williams led all FBS running backs with 71 receptions in 2017, good for 3rd among all Pac-12 players
•  Williams caught 10 passes in the win at Wyoming, enters week 2 second in the Pac-12 in receptions

MIKE LEACH AMONG NATION'S BEST
Head coach Mike Leach is in his 17th season as a head coach with a 123-81 career record including a 39-38 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. In the last three seasons, the Cougars are tied with Washington for the third-most conference wins (19) in the Pac-12, trailing only Stanford and USC each with 21. 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. 

COUGAR CONNECTION - SAN JOSE STATE
Washington State freshman defensive back Patrick Nunn is familiar with the personal at San Jose State, his  older brother Leki is a freshman wide receiver for the Spartans. Nunn's older cousin, Kyle Nunn was a 1,000-yard wide receiver at SJSU from 2010-13.

IMPRESSIVE DEBUTS
A couple newcomers produced some impressive numbers in last Saturday's season-opener at Wyoming. Graduate transfer quarterback Gardner Minshew II went 38-of-57 for 319 yards and three touchdowns; freshman running back Max Borghi scored two touchdowns, one rushing and one receiving; wide receiver Easop Winston Jr. caught three passes including a seven-yard touchdown; punter Oscar Draguicevich III averaged over 51 yards-per-kick on three punts including one for 60 yards; kicker Blake Mazza connected on both field goal attempts form 24 and 41 yards while hitting all five extra points; RUSH linebacker Willie Taylor III forced a fumble on a sack; RUSH starting linebacker Dominick Silvels made a pair of tackles-for-loss including a sack in his first career start; strong safety Skyler Thomas led the team with nine tackles in his first career start.

YOUNG COUGS TAKE THE FIELD 
WSU saw 18 players make their debuts and 10 make their first career start. Six players made their first career starts on offense; 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). Last season, 28 players made their debuts including 19 freshmen. 

PRO FOOTBALL FOCUS NOTES
Each week ProFootballFocus.com will produce stats and ranking by position. Below are few notable Cougars and where they rank after the win at Wyoming.
Gardner Minshew II - ranked fifth in the country in PFF QB Rating
James Williams - ranked third in the Pac-12 in elusive rushing
Nick Begg - tied for third in the Pac-12 in defensive tackle pass rushing, rating pressure on the QB per snap
Willie Taylor II - ranked third in the Pac-12 in outside linebacker pass rushing, rating pressure on the QB per snap
Dominick Silvels - led the Pac-12 in outside linebacker run stop pct., rating pct. of stops on run plays

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 Wyoming, Liam Ryan (LG), graded out the best, WSU had 57 pass attempts, 2 rushing TD, zero sacks allowed

DEFENSIVE PLAYER OF THE WEEK - selected by coaches as top defensive performer
at Wyoming, Marcus Strong (CB), tallied two tackles, one pass breakup, interpception was lone WSU takeaway

SPECIAL TEAMS PLAYER OF THE WEEK - selected by coach Matt Brock as top special teams contributor
at Wyoming, Dillon Sherman (LB), contributed on all special teams, graded out best on play assignments

SPREADING THE BALL AROUND
Washington State saw nine players catch a pass in the season-opener at Wyoming. Last season saw WSU average a national-best 9.6 receivers catch a pass per game, according to an unofficial survey from sports information directors. 10 players caught a pass (Montana State, Boise State, Oregon State), 13 (Nevada), 9 (USC), 8 (at Oregon), 10 (at Cal, Colorado), 11 (at Arizona), 9 (Stanford, at Utah) and 8 (at Washington, vs. Michigan State). In 2015, WSU was the only team in the country with 10 players with 20+ receptions and was the only Power-5 Conference team with two players owning double-digit touchdown receptions. 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. Also in 2016, the Cougars were the only team in the country with five players owning 40+ catches last year. Last season, WSU had eight players with 25+ catches, tied for the most in the country (New Mexico State).

AIR RAID NUMBERS ADD UP
Last season, Washington State produced the nation's second-best passing attack (366.8), tied for seventh with 37 passing touchdowns and was No. 23 in the country with 303 first downs. The Cougars 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 eighth in 2012 (330.4).

DEFENSE CONTINUED TO MAKE STRIDES
The Cougar defense turned into a force in 2017, producing the No. 16 ranked defense (323.3) in the country, and ranked eighth nationally with 103 tackles-for-loss and ninth with 28 takeaways. The Speed D was the nation's ninth-rated passing defense (170.9) and posted a pair of shutouts (Montana State, Colorado) for the first time since 1981. The 28 turnovers led the Pac-12, the 13 fumble recoveries also led the Pac-12 and were 10th-most in the nation while the 15 interceptions were fourth in the conference. In the past three seasons, the Cougars went 19-4 when forcing multiple turnovers in a game. WSU opened 2018 with eight tackles-for-loss including three sacks and one interception.

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 is 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. The junior from Downey, Calif. started all 13 games, tied for the conference lead with three fumble recoveries and was also named to the Associated Press All-Pac-12 First Team. As a freshman in 2016, Thompson was named to the True Freshman All-America Team by ESPN.com.

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. 
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.

ALL-PURPOSE, ALL THE TIME
The Cougar running backs serve all-purpose roles for the Air Raid. Last season, James Williams led the Cougars with 71 receptions, also the most by any FBS running back in the country. The redshirt-junior tallied 482 receiving yards with three touchdown catches and also rushed for 395 yards and a touchdown. Redshirt-senior Keith Harrington owns 48 career receptions, three receiving touchdowns and two rushing scores. Last season, the backs combined for 14 total TD, 1,096 rushing yards (5.1 ypc), 1,073 receiving yards (146 rec) and 2,362 all-purpose yards, posting their second straight 1,000-1,000 season in rushing and receiving yards. In week one, the Cougar backs combined for 18 receptions, 101 rushing yards and four total touchdowns.

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. Redshirt-freshman Abraham Lucas made his collegiate debut and started at right tackle. 

OFFENSIVE LINE STANDS TALL
The Cougar Air Raid offense continues to put up big numbers and offensive line continues to put up big numbers on the weight scale. The size of the front five had gone up each season since coach Leach arrived in 2012 but this year'offensive line to averages 306 lbs, down from 322.6 last season. One "big" difference is that the 2018 line will be one the tallest lines coach Leach has had at WSU, averaging nearly 6-5. Andre Dillard and Liam Ryan each stand 6-5 and Fred Mauigoa is 6-3 while Josh Watson checks in at 6-4 and Abraham Lucas stands 6-7. In 2016, the offensive line averaged over 322 lbs, the 2015 line averaged 310, the 2014 line 309.4, the 2013 line 288.2 and 2012 line 288.6.

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.

COUGARS ADD TRACY CLAEYS AS DEFENSIVE COORDINATOR
Tracy Claeys was named WSU's defensive coordinator in early January, replacing Alex Grinch who left for Ohio State after three seasons with Cougars. Claeys, 49, most recently served as the head coach at the University of Minnesota, where he posted an 11-8 record with back-to-back bowl victories after taking over the program Nov. 11, 2015 when he succeeded Jerry Kill, who resigned due to health reasons. Claeys had been a part of the Minnesota coaching staff since 2011, where he served as defensive coordinator before adding the title of associate head coach prior to the 2014 season. In 2016, his first full season as head coach, Claeys guided the Gophers to a 9-4 record and a victory over Washington State in the Holiday Bowl. Minnesota's nine wins were the most it had earned since winning 10 games in 2003 and were the second most since 1905 when the Gophers also won 10 games. Minnesota's defense allowed an average of 22.1 points in 2016, which was the lowest since it allowed 21.9 in 2003. From the time he took over the Gopher defense in 2011, at the conclusion of the 2016 season, the Gophers had held 36 of their last 48 opponents below their scoring average. In 23 of those games, Minnesota held its opposition to eight or more points below their season average and in nine games, the Gophers held their opponents to 14 or more points below their season average. Claeys has coached four First Team All-Big Ten defensive selections and coached six defensive players taken in the NFL Draft in his final three years at Minnesota.  No. 32 in the nation in pass efficiency defense, No. 27 in total defense and No. 27 in rushing defense in Claeys' final season.

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.

PATRICK CHUN NAMED DIRECTOR OF ATHLETICS
Washington State University President Kirk Schulz has selected Patrick Chun as the WSU Director of Athletics, it was announced Jan. 22, 2018. Chun is the 14th individual 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. "I am honored to serve the Washington State University family and I want to thank President Schulz and the search committee for entrusting me as the steward of the Department of Athletics," said Chun.  "The passion and pride of Cougar Nation is renowned and revered across the country and I will work with our great coaches and staff to impact the lives of our student-athletes and to build upon our past successes to achieve new heights.  My family and I are looking forward to joining the WSU community and we are excited to get started."

JASON HANSON NAMED TO CoSIDA ACADEMIC ALL-AMERICA HALL OF FAME
Jason Hanson was inducted into the CoSIDA Academic All-America Hall of Fame his 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.

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.