For a moment, the Washington State Cougars had hope in the 2011 Apple Cup. Late in the third quarter, after driving for a touchdown to cut the Washington Huskies' lead to seven, Keith Price appeared to be injured. Nick Montana led the Huskies onto the field following the Cougars' scoring drive as Price was being attended to by trainers on the bench.
With the season Price has been having on the injury front, it shouldn't have been a surprise. The Washington quarterback is playing on two bad legs, two bad ankles, and with all sorts of aches and pains. But trainers were looking at his upper body, specifically his thumb. It was an odd sight all around.
Following the game, we found out what the mysterious ailment that kept Price out for a series in the Apple Cup was. Washington head coach Steve Sarkisian explained:
"The reason he missed the series was because he got a cramp in his thumb, so we've seen it all physically throughout the year, and we're learning how to deal with all that stuff."
Yes, a thumb cramp, something I had no idea was possible. And that thumb cramp nearly swung momentum to the Cougars with the game on the line in the third quarter.
Price would return one series later after apparently ridding himself of the pesky thumb cramp. He was fine, obvious, and we can chalk this one up as the least serious injury the Washington quarterback has suffered this season. In comparison to the rest -- the sprained knees and rolled ankles -- his one-series thumb ailment amounts to a broken nail, and little more.
To discuss the Apple Cup with UW fans, head over to UW Dawg Pound. To talk about the game with WSU fans, check out CougCenter.