WSU notebook: Receiver Dom Williams honors late grandmother
PULLMAN – Washington State wide receiver Dom Williams played the last two games while coping with the intense feelings of solitude and sorry that accompany a close, personal loss.
But Williams’ exploits on the football field against Oregon and Oregon State have been an honor and homage to his grandmother, Jennie Dodd, who died on Oct. 4.
Against UO, Williams kept WSU’s hopes alive with a touchdown catch in the last second of the fourth quarter to force overtime in the eventual WSU victory. In Saturday’s 52-31 victory over the Beavers, Williams had the best game of his career.
Williams set career highs with 11 receptions and 158 yards and caught two touchdown passes from Luke Falk.
“I knew he was going to come out and play hard, because that’s what she would have wanted for him and he understands that,” receiver Gabe Marks said. “I knew that once he got on the field he would be fine. When he came back to practice he was on fire.”
The redshirt senior has 25 touchdown receptions in his college career, the second most in school history. Jason Hill is the school’s all-time leader with 32.
WSU basketball holds Fieldhouse practice for fans
Before the touchdowns, interceptions, kickoffs and slobber knockers, there were dunks and 3-pointers on Saturday. The WSU men’s basketball team held a 30-minute practice in Hollingberry Fieldhouse prior to the football game to introduce to fans the 2015-16 squad, which features seven newcomers.
While the team warmed up with defensive drills, head coach Ernie Kent praised their offseason work, particularly in the classroom where the Cougars emerged from the summer with a 3.2 grade-point average.
“Every player will graduate from Washington State, I promise you that,” Kent said, to cheers from the audience.
The drills gave way to shooting and dunking exhibitions. After the practice Kent and the players signed autographs.
“This is what coach Kent does: He comes out and gets people excited,” senior forward Junior Longrus said. “To have a basketball court in the field house on a football game day is something most people couldn’t imagine. For him to see the value and that and get that done is going to be huge for us.”
Leach gets win No. 100
The win over OSU was Mike Leach’s 100th victory, which he accomplished halfway through his 13th season as a head coach. The Cougars coach has a career record of 100-69, with 84 of the wins coming as the head coach at Texas Tech.
On a certain level, Leach dreads celebrating such milestones.
“It’s not everything it’s cracked up to be, because they’ll dump water on you and you’ll have to change your shirt. That water’s colder than you think,” Leach said.
Notes
Even though