Grip on Sports: The non-call at USC is one of those stories that continues to grow and grow

A GRIP ON SPORTS • With GameDay in Pullman this morning, we were a bit busy putting together a story for the S-R. But some things happened in the past 24 hours that couldn’t be ignored. So we have an abbreviated column today. But we have a column – and links. Read on.

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• Pete Thamel of Yahoo Sports has been all over USC’;s win earlier this season against Washington State, even weeks after it ended. A controversial ending I might add.

Earlier, Thamel pulled back the curtain a bit with a story based upon a leaked replay official’s report. That forced the conference to change how it handles replay, taking a non-official executive out of the game-replay loop.

Thamel has another story this weekend, this one on Mike Leach expressing his frustrations with Pac-12 officials after the game officials on and off the field ignored Porter Gustin’s obvious targeting of WSU quarterback Gardner Minshew.

Leach did it in a series of texts sent to different Pac-12 administrators, including commissioner Larry Scott. Whether this is the right way to express his frustration with the non-call, it is very Leach-like. And fan-like.

C’mon, if any Cougar fan had Larry Scoot’s cell number the day after that USC game, he or she would have sent the same text to the commissioner, complaining about the non-call and the hypocritical nature of the emphasis on player safety. But that number is available to the average Joe. It is to Leach. And he used it.

• Below is all the links from The Spokesman-Review today. That’s all we are presenting today due to the GameDay obligations. We’ll be back with our usual report tomorrow.

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WSU: Theo Lawson has a story based off Thamel’s report. He also has his keys to the Oregon game this afternoon and a story on the GameDay crew in Pullman. He also delves into the flag wavers who will be in Pullman this morning. … The main piece, though, is the preview of the game. … Finally, Theo makes his pick. He has Oregon. … Larry Weir talks with Matt Chazanow about today’s game for the most-recent Press Box pod. … The volleyball team picked up a big home win.

Gonzaga: Former GU player Johnathan Williams has signed a two-way contract with the Los Angeles Lakers. Jim Meehan explains what that means and more in this story. … Killian Tillie is the latest Zag to be on an award watch list. Jim has that story as well.

Idaho: The Vandals host Southern Utah today and Peter Harriman has a feature and a preview.

Whitworth: Another hurdle faces the Pirates today as they face Puget Sound. Win and the Northwest Conference title is looming. Dan Thompson has a preview.

Preps: The high school football season is winding down, but there is still a lot to be decided. Coeur d’Alene proved last night it is the best team in North Idaho, holding off Post Falls, 28-13. Jim Meehan has the game story and Jesse Tinsley the photo report. … Dave Nichols was in Cheney where West Valley held the Blackhawks out of the endzone and held on to a 17-14 victory. … We have a roundup of other football games last night as well as soccer.

Chiefs: The road trip continued in Saskatoon. It wasn’t what the Chiefs wanted as they lost 3-2.

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• If you didn’t know, and it seemed as if everyone did, Drew Bledsoe was was the guest picker. But Klay Thompson was the first choice. He couldn’t make it work, though, with the NBA schedule. … Thanks for your patience. I’ve been writing this while watching GameDay, taking notes and trying to get quotes exactly right. I’m guessing I screwed something up. Until later …