No. 19 COUGARS HOST UCLA FOR ANTHRACITE OUT
No. 19 Washington State (3-0, 0-0 Pac-12) returns to Martin Stadium to open Pac-12 Conference play hosting UCLA (0-3, 0-0 Pac-12) Saturday night at 7:30 p.m. on ESPN.

SERIES HISTORY
WSU and UCLA will meet for the first time since 2016 with the Bruins owning a 40-20-1 advantage in the all-time series but the Cougars claimed the last two meetings, 2015 in Pasadena (31-27) and 2016 in Pullman (27-21). UCLA's last win in the series came in 2012, 44-36 in Pullman, Mike Leach's first season at WSU.

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 in Austin, Texas (10/4/03) and the streak began two weeks later in Madison, Wisc. (10/18/03). 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. The streak's 217th appearance was its first in Pullman (10/20/18), a 34-20 win over Oregon. The streak reached 229  last Saturday after appearing in Ames, Iowa for the Iowa-Iowa State game.

ABOUT WASHINGTON STATE
WSU entered the week ranked No. 19 in the Associated Press Poll after starting 3-0 for the third straight season.  It's the first time WSU has started 3-0 three straight years since 1907-09. The Air Raid leads the nation in the passing (476.0), is sixth in total offense (567.0) and ninth in scoring (49.3). The Cougar Speed D entered the week fourth in the Pac-12 Conference in scoring defense (16.0) but is fifth in the country in takeaways (9) including a national-best seven fumble recoveries. WSU returned 40 letterwinners from the 2018 campaign that won a program-record 11 games capped by a victory over Iowa State in the Valero Alamo Bowl. The Cougars produced the nation's best passing attack (373.8 ypg) and the defense led the Pac-12 in sacks (36). Head coach Mike Leach is in his eighth season at Washington State.

COUGAR QUICK GAME
TEAM
•  WSU has started 3-0 for the 3rd straight season, seeking its 2nd 4-0 start in the last 3 seasons (6-0, 2017)
•  Since 2015, WSU owns 40 wins, 2nd-most among Pac-12 schools (Stan & UW - 41)
•  Since 2015, WSU owns 26 Pac-12 wins, 2nd-most among all Pac-12 schools (Stan & UW - 27)
•  WSU is the only Pac-12 team with four shutouts in the last six seasons (Stanford and Washington with 2)
•  WSU has beaten Oregon four straight years for the first time since 1981-84
•  WSU has beaten Stanford three straight years for the first time since 2001-03
•  WSU has beaten Utah in four straight meetings for the first time in program history
•  WSU has produced an All-America offensive lineman in each of the last 4 seasons
• WSU's roster features players from 19 states and from British Columbia, American Samoa and Australia

INDIVIDUAL
•  Mike Leach owns 52 wins at WSU, 3rd-most in program history
•  Leach was named the 2018 AFCA National Coach of the Year and 2018 Pac-12 Coach of the Year
•  Under Leach, WSU has recorded 13 4th-quarter comebacks in his 7 seasons (Utah, at Stanford in 2018)
•  QB Anthony Gordon leads the country in passing TD (12), passing yards (1,324), passing yards/g (441.3)
•  Gordon has won 2 of the first 3 Pac-12 Offensive Player of the Week Awards (Week 1, Week 3)
•  RB Max Borghi is tied for 8th in the country with 5 total TD, tied for most in the Pac-12

COUGARS IN THE RANKINGS
Washington State enters week four ranked No. 19, moving up one spot from last week and have moved up four spots up after starting the 2019 season ranked No. 23 in the Associated Press Preseason Poll. It was the second time in the last three seasons that WSU had appeared in the preseason AP poll and just the fourth time since 1952. The Cougars finished the 2018 season ranked No. 10 in both the Associated Press Poll and Coaches Poll, WSU's highest ranking to finish a season since finishing the 2003 season ninth in the AP poll. The Cougars' No. 10 ranking was the highest by any Pac-12 Conference team, the first time that has happened in conference history. 

COUGAR CONNECTIONS
There are a couple connections between the Washington State and UCLA programs.
- WSU head coach Mike Leach is 2-1 all-time against UCLA and 0-1 against Chip Kelly (2012, Oregon, in Seattle)
- WSU's roster features 27 players from southern California
- UCLA tight ends/special teams coach Derek Sage spent the 2017 season as the WSU outside wide receivers coach

AIR RAID
The Air Raid opened has put up big numbers in the first four weeks of 2019
- Week 1 vs. New Mexico State, 6 passing TD to 5 different WR, 618 yards of total offense, Max Borghi 128 rushing yards 
- Week 2 vs. Northern Colorado, 4 players caught TD passes, 2 had rushing TDs, 594 yards in total offense
- Week 3 at Houston, 440 passing yards, 7.3 yards-per-play
- WSU leads the country in passing (476.0), is 6th in total offense (567.0) and 9th in scoring (49.3)
- WSU returned 7 starters including 4 on the offensive line that protected the nation's top passing attack and blocked for 24 rushing touchdowns
- WSU returned 7 receivers with 20+ catches in 2018

MIKE LEACH AMONG NATION'S BEST
Now in his 18th season as a head coach, Mike Leach owns a 136-83 career record including a 52-40 mark at WSU, now in his eighth season in Pullman. 
- Leach's 52 wins at WSU are 3rd-most in school history, O.E. Hollingberry (93, 1926-42), Mike Price (83, 1989-2002) 
- Leach is the 1st Cougar head coach in school history to lead WSU to four straight bowl games
- Leach is tied with Mike Price for the most bowl appearances with 5
- Leach was the 2nd Cougar Head Coach to be named National Coach of the Year (2018 AFCA), Mike Price in 1997
- Leach has been named a George Munger Coach of the Year semifinalist (2016, 2017, 2018) 
- Leach was the 2015 Pac-12 Co-Coach of the Year and 2018 Pac-12 Coach of the Year
- WSU has led the Pac-12 in passing in 6 of Leach's 7 seasons, only finishing 2nd behind Cal (Jared Goff) in 2013 
- WSU has led the nation in passing three times under Leach (2014, 2015, 2018)

FRIENDLY CONFINES OF MARTIN STADIUM
WSU went 7-0 at home in 2017, 6-1 last season and opened 2019 with victories over New Mexico State and Northern Colorado to push their Martin Stadium record to 15-1 over the past three seasons. The Cougars saw their 13-game home winning streak snapped in the 2018 Apple Cup, ending the third-longest home winning streak in program history and at the time, was tied for the 5th-longest active home streak in the country. 

YOUNG COUGS TAKE THE FIELD 
- 19 players made their WSU debuts in the first three weeks of 2019; CB Derrick Langford, DB Daniel Isom, RB Deon McIntosh, FS Bryce Beekman, OL Hunter Mayginnes, LS Tyler Williams, DL Brennan Jackson, LB Travion Brown, DL Nicholas Sheetz, QB Gage Gubrud, DL Lamonte McDougle, WR Brandon Gray, DB Chad Davis Jr., DB Shahman Moore, OL Cade Beresford, LS Simon Samarzich, WR Mitchell Quinn, OL Seth Yost, WR Lucas Bacon, DL Cosmas Kwete
- 12 have made their first career start; CB Armani Marsh, END Karson Block, NT Misiona Aiolupotea-Pei, FS Bryce Beekman, SS Daniel Isom, QB Anthony Gordon, X Rodrick Fisher, Liam Ryan made his first career start at left tackle, Tyler Williams as the field goal longsnapper, Simon Samarzich as the longsnapper on punts, CB Derrick Langford, CB George Hicks III
- In his 1st career start week 1 against New Mexico State, RS-Fr. WR Rodrick Fisher caught a 41-yard TD pass
- In his collegiate debut at Houston, true freshman DL Cosmas Kwete made 3 tackles and recovered a fumble

GORDON SHINES IN STARTING DEBUT (Ratings Based On PFF College)
Not much was known about redshirt-senior quarterback Anthony Gordon outside of the program prior to his first career start in the opener against New Mexico State but the Pacifica, Calif. native put on a show in the win. Gordon started the game by completing his first 15 passes and led WSU to points on all nine of the drives he started including the first six that resulted in touchdowns. Gordon finished the night 29-of-35 for 420 yards and five touchdowns, tying Luke Falk (2014 at OSU) for the most touchdown passes in a Cougar starting debut. He followed with 464 yards and four touchdowns in the week two win over Northern Colorado and threw for 440 yards and three touchdowns in the win at Houston last week.
- Gordon leads the country in passing TD (12), passing yards (1,324), passing yards/g (441.3)
- Gordon is 3rd in the country in completion pct (78.7), trails LSU's Joe Burrow (83.3), OU's Jalen Hurts (80.3)
- Gordon's 12 TD passes are most by a Cougar QB in his 1st 3 career starts (Luke Falk, 11, 2014-15)
- 12 TD passes are the tied for the most by a Cougar QB to start a season, 3 games (Connor Halliday, 12, 2014)
- 1,324 passing yds are the 2nd-most passing yds by a Cougar QB in his 1st 3 starts (Falk, 1,427, 2014-15)
- Gordon is the 1st QB in program history to start a season with 3-straight 400-yard games
- Gordon's 15 straight completions to start week 1 was 2nd-longest in WSU history (Luke Falk, 21, Arizona, 2016)
- Following week 1 win over New Mexico State (420 yards, 5 pass TD), Gordon was named Pac-12 Offensive Player of the Week, Rose Bowl Pac-12 Player of the Week, 1 of 8 Manning Award Quarterback Stars of the Week
- Following week 3 win at Houston (440 yards, 3 pass TD), Gordon was named Pac-12 Offensive Player of the Week, Rose Bowl Pac-12 Player of the Week, 1 of 8 Manning Award Quarterback Stars of the Week

ANOTHER NEW FACE BEHIND CENTER
The Cougars saw Anthony Gordon win the starting job as the new face to lead the Air Raid in 2019 after Gardner Minshew II transferred in last summer and led WSU to 11 wins, earning 2018 Pac-12 Offensive Player of the Year. Below is a list of the current quarterbacks and their notes entering the season (listed by year).

Gage Gubrud (Gr.), EWU grad transfer, 9,984 pass yds, 87 TD, 2x Walter Payton Award winner (top FCS offensive player)
Anthony Gordon (RS-Sr.), 4th season at WSU, 3 games played in 2018, 3-for-5 (17 yards)
Trey Tinsley (RS-Sr.), 4th season at WSU, FG holder in 2017-18, 4 games played at QB (7-of-9 (63 yards, 1 TD)
John Bledsoe (RS-So.), Redshirted 2017, did not appear in a game in 2018
Cammon Cooper (RS-Fr.), 2018 4-star signee, Utah Gatorade Player of the Year, Redshirted 2018
Gunner Cruz (Fr.), 2019 HS All-American QB, 3-star, enrolled in January, No. 14 passing QB prospect
Aaron Angelos (Fr.), Walked on in January, threw 27 TD as a HS senior

GORDON PICKS UP SECOND PAC-12 PLAYER OF THE WEEK AWARD
Quarterback Anthony Gordon was named the Pac-12 Conference Offensive Player of the Week, the conference office announced Monday. In his first career road start, Gordon went 36-of-48 for 440 yards and three touchdown passes in the 31-24 victory at Houston last Friday. Gordon erased a seven-point halftime deficit by throwing for 277 yards and two touchdowns to help WSU start 3-0 for the third straight season. Gordon enters week four leading the nation in passing touchdowns (12), passing yards/g (441.3) and total offense/g (447.7) 

GORDON, RYAN EARNED WEEK ONE PAC-12 WEEKLY ACCOLADES
Washington State earned a pair of Pac-12 Conference weekly accolades following the week one win over New  Mexico State as quarterback Anthony Gordon was named the Pac-12 Offensive Player of the Week and left tackle Liam Ryan was named the Pac-12 Offensive Lineman of the Week. This is the first career weekly award for each student-athlete. In his first career start, Gordon went 29-of-35 for 420 yards with five touchdown passes, completed his first 15 passes and led the Cougars to points on all nine of the drives he started including touchdowns on the first six drives. The Pacifica, Calif. native was named the Rose Bowl Game Pac-12 Player of the Week and was on one of the eight quarterbacks named a Manning Award Star of the Week. In his first career start at left tackle, Ryan picked up the Pac-12's first Offensive Lineman of the Week Award after anchoring a line that blocked for six touchdown passes, allowed just one sack on 49 pass attempts and produced WSU's first 100-yard rusher since 2016. 

IT'S A CITY SITUATION
Since 2015, the Cougars have seen six players from San Francisco City College take the field and the 2019 roster holds four players from the school; QB Anthony Gordon, WR Easop Winston Jr., OL Robert Valencia, CB Derrick Langford. Past Cougars who played at SFCC, DB Shalom Luani (2015-16) and S/KR Rob Taylor (2016-17)
- In their only season played together at SFCC in 2015, Winston Jr. tallied 62 receptions for 986 yards and 12 touchdowns while Gordon threw for 3,864 yards and 37 touchdowns, leading SFCC to a 2015 California JUCO title
- In 2019, Gordon has connected with Winston Jr. for 16 receptions for 234 yards and 4 TD
- In the week 2 win over Northern Colorado, Gordon connected on all 6 of his targets at Winston Jr. for 6-113-2 TD
- Gordon has connected with Winston Jr. for a TD pass in all 3 games in 2019

COUGAR WIDE RECEIVER NOTES (Ratings Based On PFF College)
- Brandon Arconado is tied for the Pac-12 lead with 23 receptions, 3rd with 308 receiving yards
- Arconado owns 16 catches that have resulted in a 1st down or a TD, 2nd-most among Pac-12 receivers
- Arconado was targeted by Anthony Gordon 10 times last Friday at Houston, finished with 9 catches for 117 yards
- Arconado made a career-high 9 catches and tallied 117 yards at Houston, his 2nd straight 100-yard game
- Easop Winston Jr. is rated the 3rd-best WR in the Pac-12, 16 catches, 234 yards, 4 TD on 17 targets
- Dezmon Patmon is rated the 5th-best WR in the Pac-12, 13 catches, 227 yards, 2 TD
- Easop Winston Jr. had 113 rec yards and 2 TD week 2 against Northern Colorado, his 3rd career 100-yard game 
- Arconado set then-career-highs with 8 rec, 127 yards, 1 TD vs. Northern Colorado, his 1st career 100-yard game
- Through 3 weeks, WSU owns 3 of the top 4 Pac-12 receivers with the most yards-after-the-catch
Travell Harris, 2nd, 126; Tay Martin, 3rd, 119; Arconado, 4th, 116
- WSU had 9 players catch a pass in week 2 against Northern Colorado, 4 caught TD passes
- Patmon notched 103 rec yards against NMSU in week 1, his 4th career 100-yard game
- WSU opened 2019 with 10 different receivers catching a pass against New Mexico State, 5 caught TDs
- Patmon has caught a pass in 23 straight games
- Tay Martin has caught a pass in 22 straight games
- Winston Jr. and Max Borghi have each caught a pass in 16 straight games

ALL-PURPOSE, ALL THE TIME
The Cougar running backs serve all-purpose roles for the Air Raid. In the 2016 and 2017 seasons, the Cougar backs combined to record 1,000 yards rushing and 1,000 yards receiving and last season, the group just missed on making it three straight seasons, combining for 974 rushing yards, 1,044 receiving yards and 28 total TD.

COUGAR RUNNING BACK NOTES (Ratings based on PFF College)
- Max Borghi opened his sophomore year with his 1st career 100-yard game (128 yards vs. NMSU), the 1st 100-yard game by a Cougar running back since Gerard Wicks rushed for 128 against Cal in 2016
- Borghi followed with 3 total TD (2 rush, 1 rec) in week 2 win over Northern Colorado, 1st career 3-TD game
- Borghi's 54-yard carry against UNC week 2 owns the 2nd-longest run (54) by a Pac-12 RB in 2019, tied for Pac-12 lead with 4 rushing TD
- Borghi is 8th in the country with 5 total TD and tied for 2nd among Pac-12 RB with 4 runs of 15+ yards
- Borghi's 11 receptions are tied for 5th-most catches by a RB in the country
- Borghi's 53 catches last season were the 2nd-most in the country by a RB, trailing James Williams' 83
- Deon McIntosh's 32-yard TD run against Northern Colorado was his 1st WSU TD after rushing for 5 TD at Notre Dame in 2017

ANOTHER NEW-LOOK OFFENSIVE LINE
Last year's Cougar offensive line featured three new faces and emerged as one of the best in groups in the country. The 2019 group returned four starters but had to replace 2019 NFL 1st-round pick and All-American left tackle Andre Dillard. Senior center Fred Mauigoa has started 29 straight games and was named to the Rimington Trophy Watch List the past two seasons. Redshirt-junior Josh Watson returned after starting the first 12 games of last season at right guard, only missing the Alamo Bowl, while redshirt-sophomore Abraham Lucas returned at right tackle after earning Freshman All-America honors last season. Redshirt-junior Liam Ryan started all 13 games at left guard last season and moved to left tackle while sixth-year senior Robert Valencia returned and  has started the first three games at left guard after starting the Alamo Bowl at right guard where he earned the WSU "Bone Award" given to the team's offensive lineman of the game.

OFFENSIVE LINE NOTES (Ratings based on PFF College)
- RT Abraham Lucas is rated the best pass-blocking OT in the Pac-12, 8th-best in the country
- LT Liam Ryan is tied as the best screen-blocking OT in the country
- LG Robert Valencia is rated the best screen-blocking guard in the country 
- Fred Mauigoa (C) has started 29 straight games, 2018 All-Pac-12 HM, 2x Rimington Trophy Watch List
- WSU returned 65 starts to its 2019 offensive line, the most starts returning since starting 2016 with 69 starts
- WSU produced the nation's best passing attack in 2018, rated the 2nd-best pass-blocking line in the country
- WSU allowed just 13 sacks in 2018 on 677 pass attempts, fewest sacks allowed in the Pac-12 and tied for 8th-fewest allowed in the country, allowed one sack for every 52 pass attempts

SPEED D
The "Speed D" defense opened 2019 with familiar numbers and enters Pac-12 Conference play fifth in the country with 9 takeways, tied for the national lead with seven fumble recoveries and leading the conference in passing defense (162.7).

NEW MEXICO STATE - 3 takeaways, 7 pts, 317 yards of total offense, 3 sacks
NORTHERN COLORADO - 4 takeaways, 139 passing yards allowed, 9 tackles-for-loss
at Houston - 2 takeaways, 128 passing yards allowed, 2 sacks

COUGAR DEFENSIVE PLAYER NOTES (Ratings based on PFF College)
- Nnamdi Oguayo (DE) is rated the 2nd-best Pac-12 DE and owns 3rd-best pass-rushing grade
- Oguayo leads WSU in pass rush productivity, tallied 4 QB hurries, 2 QB hits, 1 sack in 41 snaps
- Fa'avae Fa'avae (RUSH) leads all Pac-12 OLB in pass rush productivity rating, 1 QBH, 2 hits in 9 pass rush snaps
- LB Jahad Woods is tied for 8th in the Pac-12 with 24 tackles
- In just 49 snaps played, true freshman LB Travion Brown owns 13 tackles, 4th-most among Pac-12 freshmen
- NT Misiona Aiolupotea-Pei owns the Pac-12's 2nd-best pass rush grade among all Pac-12 DT/NT
- DT Will Rodgers III is tied for 6th in the Pac-12 with a team-best 2 sacks

SPEED D STRIKES AGAIN (2018 RANKINGS)
WSU Speed D finished the 2018 season:
- 5th in the Pac-12 in scoring defense (23.3), 9th-best in WSU single-season history
- 1st in the Pac-12 in sacks (38), 25th in the country and tied for 9th-most in WSU single-season history
- 1st in the Pac-12 with 15 players who recorded a sack
- 2nd in the Pac-12 in tackles-for-loss (88), tied for 31st in the country and 10th-most in WSU single-season history
- tied for 2nd in the Pac-12 in takeaways (23), 28th in the country
- tied for 3rd in the Pac-12 in 3rd-down defense (36.0%), 36th in the country
- 3rd in the Pac-12 in rush defense (141.5), 38th in the country
- 4th in the Pac-12 in total defense (359.2), 42nd in the country

COUGAR SPECIAL TEAMS 
- PK Blake Mazza has connected on all 5 field goal attempts, matched his career long of 50 vs. New Mexico State
- KR Travell Harris did not have a chance to return a kick until last Friday at Houston and made the most of it, averaging 28.7 yards on 3 returns including a 37-yarder
- Last season, KR Travell Harris led the Pac-12 in return average and had six kickoff returns of 30+ yards
- Tyrese Ross leads the team with 2 special teams tackles
- WSU has a pair of new longsnappers this season, RS-Fr. Tyler Williams (FG), Fr. Simon Samarzich (P)

NEW FACES MADE MARK FOR SPECIAL TEAMS IN 2018
Cougar special teams saw new faces at punter, kicker and kick returner, and all produced big numbers in 2018.
- Punter Oscar Draguicevich III earned All-Pac-12 honorable mention, produced 13 punts of 50+ yards and put 15 punts inside the 20 while averaging 45.7 yards per punt, tied for 7th in the country (The minimum to qualify for NCAA stats is 3.6 punts/g, Draguicevich III averaged 3.5 punts/g)
- Travell Harris was named All-Pac-12 honorable mention as a kick returner last season, good for 6th in the country in kickoff return avg (27.6), had a 100-yard kickoff return for TD against Eastern Washington, PFF College credited Harris with a 102-yard kickoff return, the longest in the country in 2018

WSU special teams finished 2018:
- 1st in the Pac-12 in net punting (40.9), 11th in the country
- 2nd in the Pac-12 in kickoff return (27.1), 5th in the country
- 2nd in the Pac-12 in kickoff coverage (20.3

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

BONE AWARD - given to the offensive lineman of the week
NMSU - LT Liam Ryan, graded out the best, 1 sack in 59 attempts, 6 passing TD, 100-yard rusher    
UNC - RT Abraham Lucas, graded out the best, did not allow a pressure in 41 pass blocking snaps    
at HOU - RG Josh Watson, graded out the best, 440 passing yards, 3 passing TD, 1 rushing TD

DEFENSIVE PLAYER OF THE WEEK - selected by coaches as top defensive performer
NMSU - CB Marcus Strong, team-high 8 tackles and 1 INT    
UNC - LB Travion Brown, 8 tackles in just 26 snaps    
at HOU - FS Bryce Beekman, 10 tackles, 1 forced fumble

MECHANIC AWARD - selected by coaches as player who was the best at doing their job
NMSU - WR Dezmon Patmon, 7 catches, 103 yards, 48-yard TD catch, played physical    
UNC - WR Brandon Arconado, set career-highs with 8 catches, 127 yards, 5-yard TD catch     
at HOU - FS Bryce Beekman, team-high 10 tackles, 1 forced fumble

SPECIAL TEAMS PLAYER OF THE WEEK - selected by coach Matt Brock as the top special teams contributor
NMSU - K Blake Mazza, connected on all 7 PAT, hit all 3 FG attempts (45, 50, 34), matched career long of 50 yards
UNC - KO Jack Crane, produced 3 touchbacks, 3 fair catches, held UNC to 14-yards per kickoff return    
at HOU - KO coverage, Tyrese Ross, 1 tackle, huge hit

TOUGH GUY AWARD - selected by the coaching staff as player who gave great effort
NMSU - LB Travion Brown, freshman LB played fast all game, made 4 tackles in collegiate debut    
UNC - WR Travell Harris, 3 rec for 44 yards, 16-yard PR, 1 tackle on kickoff,  played every snap of special teams    
at HOU - DL Cosmas Kwete, in collegiate debut, made 3 tackles, 1 fumble recovery

FOUR FORMER WALK-ONS EARN SCHOLARSHIPS
This past summer, the Cougars awarded scholarships to four former walk-ons. (stats prior to 2019) 
Karson Block (RS-Sr., DL)    Pac-12 All-Academic 2nd Team, 12 GP, 11 tackles, 4 TFL, 1 sack
Oscar Draguicevich III (RS-Jr., P)    All-Pac-12 HM, 2nd in Pac-12 with WSU record 45.7 avg
Clay Markoff (RS-Jr., RB)    Pac-12 All-Academic 2nd Team, 16 GP, special teams
Armani Marsh (RS-So., CB)    5 career games played, competing for starting CB spot

FOUR COUGS EARN BACHELOR'S DEGREES
Four current Cougars entered the 2019 season already owning their bachelor's degree.
WR Brandon Arcodando (management information systems)
QB Gage Gubrud (business)
OL Robert Valencia (social sciences)
WR Easop Winston Jr. (sociology)

LIKE FATHER, LIKE SON
The Cougar roster features a number of players who have family members who played professional sports. 
- QB 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
- LB Travion Brown's great, great uncle is Jackie Robinson (dad's side)
- P Oscar Draguicevich III's dad, Oscar played professional soccer for 10 seasons including three for the San Jose Clash of the MLS
- WR Calvin Jackson Jr.'s dad Calvin Sr. played DB at Auburn, played 6 NFL seasons with Miami
- CB Derrick Langford's dad Derrick Sr. was a 52nd-round MLB draft pick by the Atlanta Braves in 1994
- NT Lamonte McDougle's dad, Stocker played OL at Oklahoma for offensive line coach Mike Leach and 7 NFL seasons, uncle Jerome McDougle played DL at Miami and 4 NFL seasons
- RB Deon McIntosh' brother RJ played DL at Miami and is with the Giants
- WR Dezmon Patmon uncle, DeWayne Patmon played LB at Michigan and 2 seasons for Giants
- DL Will Rodgers III's uncle is former NBA start Jason Richardson, played 13 NBA seasons
- S Tyrese Ross' dad, Dominique Ross played FB for Dallas Cowboys in late 1990's
- RUSH Ron Stone Jr.'s dad, Ron Sr. played OL in the NFL for 13 seasons, 3x Pro Bowler, 2x Super Bowl Winner
- CB Marcus Strong's brother, Victory played DE at Oregon State and in the NFL for 6 seasons
- QB Trey Tinsley's dad, Scott played QB at USC and for Philadelphia Eagles in late 1980's

COACHING STAFF CHANGES
Washington State University Head Football Coach Mike Leach announced last January that Roc Bellantoni and Dennis Slutak have been added to the Cougar football staff, with Bellantoni coaching linebackers and Slutak serving as the director of football operations. 

ROC BELLANTONI
Over his 26-year coaching career, Bellantoni has coached the defensive line and linebackers, served as defensive coordinator at three different stops, and reached the FCS playoffs six different times, to go with a bowl appearance in 2018 while with the University at Buffalo. He has mentored 16 players who played professionally, including three NFL Draft picks. Bellantoni recently completed his second season at Buffalo, where he served as defensive ends coach and special teams coordinator in 2018. 

DENNIS SLUTAK
Slutak arrived in Pullman having spent the previous four seasons as the Director of Football Operations at UNLV. He also served as the Director of Football Operations at Bowling Green in 2013, where the Falcons went 10-4 and reached the Little Ceasars Bowl in his lone season. Prior to Bowling Green, Slutak spent three seasons at the University of Washington (2009-2011) as the Assistant AD for Football Operations and another four years at the University of Southern California (2005-2008) as the Director of Football Operations. Prior to taking over the football operations at USC, Slutak coached Special Teams for the Trojans in 2003 and 2004, winning two consecutive National Championships.  He's also previously coached at Ole Miss, North Carolina State and Lehigh University, where he won a Patriot League Championship in 1995. A native of West Palm Beach, Fla., he was a punter at Florida State University.