February 20, 1998
PULLMAN, Wash. -- Pacific-10 Conference football opponents Oregon, USC, Arizona State and Washington are on Washington State University's home schedule for 1998, along with non-conference foes Illinois and Idaho, Rick Dickson, WSU athletic director, announced today.
"This is probably one of the most attractive home schedules we have ever played," Dickson said in announcing the slate. "We open against a Big Ten opponent, Illinois, bring the Vandals back into our scheduling plans, and have four excellent Pac-10 teams coming to Martin Stadium, including USC and Washington."
WSU, coming off its first Rose Bowl appearance in 67 years, will open the season Friday, Sept. 4, against Big Ten opponent Illinois in a game to be televised by Fox Sports Net, tentatively at 6:00 p.m.
"I'm excited about playing Illinois on a Friday," WSU Head Football Coach Mike Price said. "It is a unique and inventive approach and will be fun for the Cougs," he said of the game that will be played on the eve of the three-day Labor Day Weekend.
The Border Rival between the Cougars and Idaho Vandals will be renewed Sept. 19 as a WSU home game. The last time WSU and Idaho met on the football field was 1989. The granting of provisional Div. I status to Idaho at the recent NCAA convention paved the way for the addition of the game to both teams' schedule.
"This is great for both schools," Price said of the resumption of the series with Idaho. "It makes too much sense for the schools not to begin playing again. It is a great rivalry renewed."
The defending Pacific-10 conference champion Cougars open league play on the road at California Sept. 26, then play the next week at UCLA. The Bruins shared the league title with WSU after both posted 7-1 records last year, although the Cougars edged UCLA 37-34 in the opening game of the 1997 season.
"This (schedule) accomplishes our objectives of securing six home games as consistently as possible, which as we saw last year, positions our football program with a competitively advantageous scenario," Dickson said. "We are making every effort possible to continue this pattern. It also has a positive economic impact on our athletic program, University, and the Pullman community."
WSU's first league game at home will be Oct. 10 against the Oregon Ducks. WSU will also host league foes USC Oct. 17, ASU Oct. 31 and Washington Nov. 21. The Cougars will be on the road at Arizona Nov. 7 and at Stanford Nov. 14.
The WSU Ticket Office will begin accepting season ticket orders Monday, Feb. 23, with the full six-game price next year $109 if ordered prior to April 1 and $119 if ordered April 1 or later. WSU ticket plans also include a two-game package of any two Cougar home games. The Two-Pack costs for each game are $35 for Washington, $18 for any of the other three conference opponents, and $15 for a non-conference opponent. Single game tickets will go on sale August 1, according to ticket manager Janet Johnson.
1998 WSU FOOTBALL SCHEDULE:
Sept. 4 - Illinois at Pullman (6:00 PDT, tentative)
Sept. 12 - Boise State at Boise (7:00 MDT)
Sept. 19 - Idaho at Pullman (tba)
Sept. 26 - California at Berkeley (12:30 PDT)
Oct. 3 - UCLA at Pasadena (12:30 PDT)
Oct. 10 - Oregon at Pullman (tba)
Oct. 17 - USC at Pullman (tba)
Oct. 24 - Bye
Oct. 31 - ASU at Pullman (tba)
Nov. 7 - Arizona at Tucson (7:00 MST)
Nov. 14 - Stanford at Palo Alto (tba)
Nov. 21 - Washington at Pullman (tba)
Note: All game times are subject to change.
