SB Nation Seattle - Washington State at Utah: Cougars blown out on roadhttps://cdn.vox-cdn.com/community_logos/48997/seattle-fave.png2012-11-06T12:41:22-08:00http://seattle.sbnation.com/rss/stream/33494632012-11-06T12:41:22-08:002012-11-06T12:41:22-08:00Leach steadfast after suspending Wilson
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<p>The head coach of the struggling Cougars remains steadfast in his ways after suspending the team's all-time leading receiver, Marquess Wilson.</p> <p>Washington State Cougars head coach Mike Leach is sticking to his guns after suspending wide receiver <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="http://www.sbnation.com/ncaa-football/players/114044/marquess-wilson">Marquess Wilson</a> indefinitely on Monday morning, <a href="http://seattletimes.com/html/budwithers/2019614539_withers06.html">according to a report from Bud Withers of The Seattle Times</a>.</p>
<p>Wilson, the Cougars' all-time leading receiver, was suspended after he left a grueling conditioning practice on Sunday night after Washington State (2-7) was demolished 49-6 by Utah on Saturday.</p>
<p>Leach defended his actions in his weekly news conference on Monday afternoon, <a href="http://seattletimes.com/html/budwithers/2019614539_withers06.html">telling The Seattle Times</a>, "We're not changing. This isn't a democracy. We don't say, 'Hey, you 125 guys, how do you want practice to be? What sort of direction do you want this to go?'" The first-year Cougars head coach runs a tight ship, and isn't going to cater to the desires of individual players. "Our standards are what our standards are. If somehow the standards don't appeal to one player or another, that's pretty irrelevant. They're either on board or off, and I can live with it either way."</p>
<p>The junior wide receiver has reportedly "never clicked" with Leach and his staff and had considered quitting as early as last spring.</p>
https://seattle.sbnation.com/washington-st-ncaaf/2012/11/6/3610580/marquess-wilson-suspension-mike-leachRiley Breckenridge2012-11-04T17:36:15-08:002012-11-04T17:36:15-08:00Another bad loss frustrates WSU Cougars fans
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<figcaption>Russ Isabella-US PRESSWIRE</figcaption>
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<p>The Cougs have been unable to find a balance on both sides of the ball in Mike Leach's first year.</p> <p>One of the more common signs amongst young, inexperienced teams in college football is inconsistency on a week-to-week basis. With a lack of experienced talent and depth on the roster, the <a href="http://www.sbnation.com/ncaa-football/teams/washington-st-cougars" class="sbn-auto-link">Washington St. Cougars</a> have struggled during coach Mike Leach's first season in Pullman.</p>
<p>On Saturday, the team was blown out yet again, this time falling to the <a href="http://www.sbnation.com/ncaa-football/teams/utah-utes" class="sbn-auto-link">Utah Utes</a> by a score of 49-6. The game was never really close after opening kickoff and there were very few things to build from. SB Nation's Cougars blog, <a target="_blank" href="http://www.cougcenter.com/wsu-vs-utah/2012/11/3/3596290/wsu-vs-utah-final-score-football-utes-tire-fire">Coug Center, was not pleased with the performance</a>. All they want is a little consistency from the team.</p>
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<p>I'm angry. Not that the Cougs faceplanted. I'm mostly angry about last week, when WSU took a top-25 team to the brink on the road. If they wouldn't have done that, I probably wouldn't have cared at all about this game. Stupid game against Stanford. If you are going to suck, WSU football, just suck consistently, please. Ranging between different levels of suck makes it hard on your fans.</p>
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<p>Washington State has just three games left on their schedule to get things figured out in 2012. They are already out of the running for a bowl game, although a strong finish could really propel the team into offseason workouts. They'll welcome in the <a href="http://www.sbnation.com/ncaa-football/teams/ucla-bruins" class="sbn-auto-link">UCLA Bruins</a> next Saturday night for a primetime meeting on ESPN2.</p>
https://seattle.sbnation.com/washington-st-ncaaf/2012/11/4/3601072/arkansas-tulsa-2012-reactionScott Coleman2012-11-03T15:36:52-07:002012-11-03T15:36:52-07:00Washington State vs. Utah final: Cougars lose 49-6
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<p>The <a href="http://www.sbnation.com/ncaa-football/teams/utah-utes" class="sbn-auto-link">Utah Utes</a> scored three touchdowns in their first four possessions Saturday en route to a dominating 49-6 victory over the <a href="http://www.sbnation.com/ncaa-football/teams/washington-st-cougars" class="sbn-auto-link">Washington St. Cougars</a> in a Pac-12 Conference football game at Rice-Eccles Stadium.</p>
<p>The victory helped the Utes earn their second straight win and improve to 4-5 overall (2-4 Pac-12), while the Cougars (2-7, 0-6) had their losing streak extended to six games.</p>
<p>Utah went three-and-out on its first offensive possession of the game,but responded with four straight scores, including three touchdowns, to take a commanding 24-0 lead with 8:03 to go in the second quarter.</p>
<p>A touchdown pass from quarterback Travis Wilson to running back John White helped the Utes earn a 31-0 lead heading into halftime.</p>
<p>From there, the Cougars managed a touchdown on the final play of the game.</p>
<p>Overall, Washington State was held to just 255 yards of total offense with 259 of it coming through the air. Utah's defense held Washington State to minus-4 yards rushing on 13 attempts.</p>
<p>The Cougars were 2-15 on third-down attempts and did not convert either of their two fourth-down attempts. Washington State also turned the ball over twice.</p>
<p><b>Box Score Hero: </b>Utah's White finished with 18 carries, 101 yards and two touchdowns. He also added an 18-yard touchdown catch in the second quarter.<b><br></b></p>
<p><b>Rankings Ramifications:</b> The game's result will have no impact on the top 25 rankings, but moves the Utes two wins closer from becoming bowl eligible.</p>
<p><b>But Did They Cover?</b> Utah entered the game as 10.5-point favorites, so the lopsided win did cover the spread. The final score also covered the over/under of 49 points.</p>
<p><b>For More On This Game:</b> Visit the SB Nation blogs <a href="http://www.cougcenter.com/">CougCenter </a>(Washington Cougars) and <a href="http://www.blocku.com/">Block U</a> (Utah Utes).</p>
<p><b>Next Week's Schedule:</b> Washington State hosts the <a href="http://www.sbnation.com/ncaa-football/teams/ucla-bruins" class="sbn-auto-link">UCLA Bruins</a> while Utah visits the <a href="http://www.sbnation.com/ncaa-football/teams/washington-huskies" class="sbn-auto-link">Washington Huskies</a> on Saturday.</p>
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<p>This story was <a href="http://www.sbnation.com/college-football/2012/11/3/3595702/utah-washington-state-2012-results-score">originally published on SB Nation.com</a>.</p>
https://seattle.sbnation.com/2012/11/3/3596400/washington-state-vs-utah-final-cougars-lose-49-6Jared E. Smith2012-11-03T13:47:47-07:002012-11-03T13:47:47-07:00Utes dominating Cougars, 31-0, at halftime
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<p>Running back John White has already rushed for 96 yards and two touchdowns, and has helped the <a href="http://www.sbnation.com/ncaa-football/teams/utah-utes" class="sbn-auto-link">Utah Utes</a> take a commanding 31-0 halftime lead over the <a href="http://www.sbnation.com/ncaa-football/teams/washington-st-cougars" class="sbn-auto-link">Washington St. Cougars</a> in a Pac-12 Conference football game at Rice-Eccles Stadium.</p>
<p>Utah quarterback Travis Wilson is 14-for-18 with 144 yards and a pair of touchdown throws. The last connected with White for a 18-yard score that came with 21 seconds to go in the second quarter and capped the first half scoring.</p>
<p>The Utes (3-5, 1-4 Pac-12) are completely dominating statistically. So far, Utah owns a huge advantage in total yardage (285-116), first downs (17-5) and time of possession (18:31 to 11:29). Both teams have a turnover.</p>
<p>Cougars' quarterback <a href="http://www.sbnation.com/ncaa-football/players/78188/jeff-tuel" class="sbn-auto-link">Jeff Tuel</a> is 10-for-24 with 131 passing yards and one interception. Washington State (2-6, 0-5) has -15 rushing yards.</p>
<p>Washington State entered the game looking to end a five-game losing streak; however, it looks like Utah will win its second straight game.</p>
https://seattle.sbnation.com/2012/11/3/3596024/cougars-utes-score-updateJared E. Smith2012-11-03T13:01:20-07:002012-11-03T13:01:20-07:00Cougars trail Utes, 14-0, after 1st quarter
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<p>A pair of touchdowns from the <a href="http://www.sbnation.com/ncaa-football/teams/utah-utes" class="sbn-auto-link">Utah Utes</a> has put the <a href="http://www.sbnation.com/ncaa-football/teams/washington-st-cougars" class="sbn-auto-link">Washington St. Cougars</a> in an early 14-0 hole in a Pac-12 Conference football game that has reached the end of the first quarter.</p>
<p>Utah (3-5, 1-4 Pac-12) used a 47-yard rushing touchdown from John White and a five-yard touchdown reception by <a href="http://www.sbnation.com/ncaa-football/players/124722/max-moala" class="sbn-auto-link">Max Moala</a> from quarterback Travis Wilson to take the early two-touchdown lead.</p>
<p>Moala's catch capped an eight-play, 69-yard drive that ended with 3:46 to go in the first quarter. An extra point by kicker <a href="http://www.sbnation.com/ncaa-football/players/136414/coleman-petersen" class="sbn-auto-link">Coleman Petersen</a> gave the Utes a 14-0 lead.</p>
<p>So far, the Cougars have had two offensive drives go three-and-out while their first drive of the game lasted just eight plays. Quarterback <a href="http://www.sbnation.com/ncaa-football/players/78188/jeff-tuel" class="sbn-auto-link">Jeff Tuel</a> is 4-for-14 with 47 passing yards while running back <a href="http://www.sbnation.com/ncaa-football/players/78195/carl-winston" class="sbn-auto-link">Carl Winston</a> has 14 yards on two carries.</p>
<p>Washington State is looking to snap a five-game losing streak while Utah is trying to make it back-to-back wins.</p>
https://seattle.sbnation.com/2012/11/3/3595876/cougars-utes-score-updateJared E. Smith2012-11-03T06:50:33-07:002012-11-03T06:50:33-07:00Washington St. aims to stop skid against Utah
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<figcaption>Jake Roth-US PRESSWIRE</figcaption>
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<p>Washington State has lost their last five games, and are 11-point underdogs to the Utah Utes on Saturday.</p> <p>The <a href="http://www.sbnation.com/ncaa-football/teams/washington-st-cougars" class="sbn-auto-link">Washington St. Cougars</a> head on the road to face the <a href="http://www.sbnation.com/ncaa-football/teams/utah-utes" class="sbn-auto-link">Utah Utes</a> on Saturday, something of a break from their recent schedule. The Cougars have lost their last five, three of which were played against top-20 teams.</p>
<p>The latest was a 24-17 loss to the <a href="http://www.sbnation.com/ncaa-football/teams/stanford-cardinal" class="sbn-auto-link">Stanford Cardinal</a> that saw the offensive line give up 10 sacks, while the defense was putting in their best performance of the season. They held the Stanford offense to just 256 yards, including 136 through the air, both of which were season lows. They did give up a go-ahead touchdown midway through the third quarter, and Stanford was able to put the game out of reach when they returned an interception of senior quarterback <a href="http://www.sbnation.com/ncaa-football/players/78188/jeff-tuel" class="sbn-auto-link">Jeff Tuel</a> for a touchdown.</p>
<p>Tuel has 1309 yards on the season with a 66.8 completion percentage, seven touchdowns and four interceptions. The Cougar rushing attack hasn't done much to carry its share of the offense: The team is averaging just 33.5 yards on the ground, and no one player has a season total above 200 yards.</p>
<p>Utah is coming off an upset of the <a href="http://www.sbnation.com/ncaa-football/teams/california-golden-bears" class="sbn-auto-link">California Golden Bears</a>, a 49-27 win that snapped a four-game losing streak. Quarterback injuries and struggles have severely hampered their offense, and their averages (193 passing yards per game, 115.4 on the ground) reflect that impact. Travis Wilson is the most recent man under center. He's 1-1 in games he has started, completing 31 of 52 passes with one touchdown and three interceptions.</p>
<p><b>Game Time</b>: 12 p.m. PT<br><b>Television Coverage</b>: Pac-12 Network<br><a href="http://www.oddsshark.com/ncaaf/washington-state-utah-odds-november-3-2012">Odds</a>: Utes favored by 11 points</p>
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https://seattle.sbnation.com/washington-st-ncaaf/2012/11/3/3594608/utah-washington-state-2012-game-time-schedule-oddsPete Holby2012-11-02T15:38:20-07:002012-11-02T15:38:20-07:00Cougars Defense Showing Signs of Life
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<figcaption>Jake Roth-US PRESSWIRE</figcaption>
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<p>The Washington State Cougars defense has slowly improved throughout the season, which was highlighted in their effort against Stanford last week. </p> <p>The 2-6 Washington State Cougars have yet to win a conference game in 2012, having lost all five. That puts them in last place in the Pac-12's North Division. While their dreams of making it to a bowl game after the 2012 season aren't likely to come true, there is reason to hope that they won't finish the season without a conference win.</p>
<p>This is mainly due to the fact that their defense has had moments of brilliance this season. It just hasn't been consistently brilliant.</p>
<p>The Cougars have allowed an average of 29.6 points per game to date this season, which ranks at No. 77 in the FBS. Even though they've lost five games in a row, <a href="http://seattletimes.com/html/cougarfootball/2019583225_cougarfootball02.html">two of their defense's best games came in the last three weeks</a> against Oregon State and Stanford, both ranked teams.</p>
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<p>Their two most promising performances both resulted in losses, both on the road. The first was a 19-6 setback against Oregon State in which WSU held the Beavers without a touchdown in the first half. The second was last week against Stanford, a game the Cardinal won 24-17 despite gaining just 256 offensive yards.</p>
<p>That WSU held Stanford running back <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="http://www.sbnation.com/ncaa-football/players/77863/stepfan-taylor">Stepfan Taylor</a> to just 58 yards on 21 carries was especially impressive, considering the Cougars allowed Cal to rush for 318 yards the game before.</p>
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<p>Cougars linebacker <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="http://www.sbnation.com/ncaa-football/players/136491/darryl-monroe">Darryl Monroe</a> said, after watching the game film from their one-touchdown loss to Stanford, that the difference between great defenses and the Cougars defense is great defenses play the way they played in that game all the time.</p>
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<p>"That's why I feel we've been making plays and starting to come together as a defense, because we listen to what our coaches say, use the techniques they taught us," Monroe said. "We just kind of make a team beat us with something they haven't shown us or a way that our coach hasn't taught us to play it."</p>
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<p>The Cougars have allowed more yards than they did in the 2011 season, but not as many points and they've already sacked the quarterback more (21 compared to 17) and picked off more passes than they did last season.</p>
<p>Defensive coordinator Mike Breske believes that his defense needs to play the way they did against Stanford in every game.</p>
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<p>"As a group, individually, whatever the case may be, they've got to perform at that level," Breske said. "And they can. We've just got to grow up."</p>
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<p>The Cougars will need that tough defense to show up when they face the <a href="http://www.sbnation.com/ncaa-football/teams/utah-utes" class="sbn-auto-link">Utah Utes</a> on Saturday at home.</p>
https://seattle.sbnation.com/2012/11/2/3592708/cougars-utes-game-time-schedule-previewJason Garrison2012-10-31T19:22:04-07:002012-10-31T19:22:04-07:00WSU's O-line is the key to victory vs. Utah
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<figcaption>Jake Roth-US PRESSWIRE</figcaption>
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<p>If Washington State is going to beat Utah, its offensive line must step up.</p> <p>Washington State has been struggling with its consistency this season, and the Cougars appear to be on their way to spending the postseason at home.</p>
<p>But this week, they find themselves playing a game in which they're expected to win, as they travel to Salt Lake City to take on the <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="http://www.sbnation.com/ncaa-football/teams/utah-utes">Utah Utes</a>.</p>
<p>For WSU to win, the outcome of the game will fall on the shoulders of the offensive line, <a href="http://www.cougcenter.com/wsu-vs-utah/2012/10/31/3574854/wsu-vs-utah-key-matchup-offensive-line" target="_blank">writes Coug Center</a>.</p>
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<p>"That brings us to the weak link, the offensive line. Keith Jackson was fond of call them the "big uglies" and WSU certainly lived up to that nickname against Stanford. I didn't expect them to have their best performance against <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="http://www.sbnation.com/ncaa-football/players/37760/chase-thomas">Chase Thomas</a> and his gang of point allowing haters but I certainly didn't expect them to allow <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="http://www.sbnation.com/ncaa-football/players/78188/jeff-tuel">Jeff Tuel</a> to be sacked 10 times. Tack on an additional five tackles for a loss and this performance might be the worst we've seen in a long time. It seems like an obvious statement but I'm going to make it anyway: for any offense to function, the line must, at the very least, protect the quarterback. Right now, the offensive line isn't even capable of doing that. Forget protecting well enough to run the ball, the quarterback can't even stay on his feet."</p>
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<p>The unit will certainly have its hands full with Utes' nose tackle Star Lotulelei, a projected first-round NFL draft pick.</p>
https://seattle.sbnation.com/2012/10/31/3583850/washington-state-utah-previewScott Enyeart