Grip on Sports: This is an Apple Cup the Cougars need to win

A GRIP ON SPORTS • Today is Apple Cup Saturday, part of a great four-day weekend of sports action around the Northwest. It is also prove-it day for the Cougars. Read on.

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• It’s time for the Washington State Cougars to win the Apple Cup in Seattle. Past time, actually.

It’s time for Luke Falk, who has been the most statistically dominant quarterback in WSU history, to lead the Cougars to an Apple Cup victory. It is his last chance.

And it’s time for Mike Leach’s team to step up, win a title and move on to the next goal.

Tonight, the Pac-12 North is on the line. But for this senior class, something else is as well. They don’t want to go through their four years at Washington State winless in the most important game of the season.

Sure, Leach will tell everyone who will listen this game isn’t any more important than a matchup with Colorado or California. But the players know better. How could they not? It’s the make-or-break game for their fans. It’s something former players hang their hats on. It’s the game that cements or destroys legacies.

Alex Brink was the best passer WSU had in the pre-Air Raid era. But if you ask any Cougar what they remember about Brink, the answer comes quickly. He won three Apple Cups.

Not that he threw for a few miles worth of yards. Not that he was booed at home and the fans lobbied for his backup. Nope. He won three Apple Cups. That’s his legacy.

In 10 years Luke Falk might not hold all the Washington State or Pac-12 passing records he holds now. But if he can step into Husky Stadium today, a place the Cougars haven’t won since Brink was under center, and lead his team to a win, then his legacy will be secure. Ten wins, a North championship, a third-consecutive bowl game. All good. But winning the Apple Cup as part of all those things is the exclamation point.

It’s time.

• Another late night on Friday as Gonzaga and Florida went two overtimes in Portland. In the end, the Gators had more depth, more quality depth, and it showed.

As November games go, heck, as March games go, it was exhilarating, exciting, whatever “e” word you want to use. But it also was an “L.”

Now the Gators will play Duke for the Motion title in the PK80 basketball tournament. Gonzaga will play Texas, which lost to the Blue Devils in overtime, in a consolation game that tips off before noon Sunday.

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WSU: Well, Theo Lawson doesn’t believe it is time for the Cougars. He picks the Huskies. But he does have some keys for Washington State. And he has an advance which illustrates my earlier point: this game is important for the players. … If you haven’t been paying a lot of attention to the basketball team, maybe you should. They ran past 21st-ranked Saint Mary’s, 84-79, yesterday to move into the Wooden Classic finals. … The women lost to 17th-ranked South Florida after an icy-cold start. … Back to football, the rivalry brings out the best and worst in the fans. … Matt Calkins has a column in the Times on a man who played for both teams in his college career. … Gabe Marks told the Times he is done with professional football. … The Times also gives Washington the edge at a lot of positions, including quarterback.

Elsewhere in the Pac-12, it should be an interesting last week of regular season games. It started off with a tight one, as UCLA earned bowl eligibility with a last-second win over California without quarterback Josh Rosen. The Bruins look to be the winners in the Chip Kelly race. … There is a report Oregon State has settled on former Eastern coach Beau Baldwin as its next head coach. Others are saying it is premature. If so, the Beavers will play for Cory Hall for the final time today in the Civil War against Oregon. … Arizona State’s Territorial Cup battle with Arizona may just decide Todd Graham’s status. Or it may have already been decided. … The game between Utah and Colorado probably has some sort of cool nickname, but it eludes me right now. … In basketball, Arizona State, Washington and Oregon found a way to win yesterday (along with Utah), but Arizona was 0-3 in its tournament, Oregon State lost and Stanford struggled again.

Gonzaga: Florida’s 111-105 double-overtime win didn’t lack for stars. In a lot of places. Jim Meehan has the game story and the three keys, John Blanchette has a column that sums up the Moda Center shootout and Tyler Tjomsland has an in-depth photo report. … I watched at home and added a TV Take. … Because of the holiday nature of the PK80, Gonzaga will celebrate Thanksgiving today. The Zags finish up the tournament Sunday. … There are other stories about the game as well. … The women bounced back in Las Vegas behind Jill Barta’s 30 points. … Around the WCC, BYU lost in New York.

EWU: Eastern’s long basketball road trip is over, ending on a loss to Utah in Salt Lake City. … Around the Big Sky, the FCS playoffs start today. Weber State hosts Western Illinois and Northern Arizona faces USD. … Portland State’s basketball team has impressed at the PK80.

Idaho: The Vandals host New Mexico State today. Peter Harriman has an advance.

Chiefs: Everett put it to the visitors, downing the Chiefs 4-1. … Portland won again.

Preps: Dave Nichols has a great story this morning about Newport’s football program and what it has gone through.

Seahawks: Kam Chancellor has been out injured for a while, but Pete Carroll said yesterday there is some clarity coming to the situation soon. … Luke Joeckel is back from injury and will start. … The Hawks could use a fast start against the lowly 49ers.

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• It’s a busy day. We will be back here with some opinions on the Apple Cup right after the game ends. And then we will be available for your opinions on the radio on the WSU postgame show. You can listen on your TuneIn radio app. Until then …