Off-field competition remains constant between Luke Falk, Washington State teammates

PULLMAN – Competition never ceases between college football players – on the field, and perhaps even more so, off of it.

There’s long been a friendly fire between Washington State football players when it comes to FIFA – the ultrapopular soccer video game at which many of the Cougars claim to reign supreme.

That particular debate resurfaced Wednesday when quarterback Luke Falk shared his head-to-head FIFA record against running back and roommate Jamal Morrow. Morrow had put on his reporter hat and asked the QB about his “video-game skills” during a group interview.

“I’m 3-0 (in FIFA) against Jamal Morrow,” Falk said. “We played yesterday.”

Falk vs. Morrow on the Xbox is no doubt an intriguing duel, but the Cougars QB now finds himself tangled up in another feud with another set of offensive teammates. He and at least two wide receivers consider themselves the team’s best angler.

The Air Raid offense is a system that, more than anything else, requires a perfect harmony between quarterback and receiver. Falk spent much of his summer on the lake developing a better rapport with the guys who will be catching his passes this fall.

A group of QBs and receivers, including Falk, Dezmon Patmon and Tavares Martin Jr., made frequent day trips to Coeur d’Alene, where they’d usually hook crappie fish – lots of them.

“We caught at least 100 fish each time,” Martin Jr. said.

A prevailing theory might be that the receivers have an edge on the water. After all, it is their duty on the field to reel in moving objects.

But Falk ruffled a few wideout feathers Wednesday when he handed the top angler crown to himself.

“Receivers are better than quarterbacks at fishing,” Patmon said.

The sophomore continued to make his case. “Luke’s not smart,” Patmon said. “Luke’s scared. Whenever we want to go fishing, Luke’s got something planned. That’s all we’ve got to say.”

Martin Jr., a native of Belle Glade, Florida, spent much of his childhood in “Muck City” scavenging for his food. One of his favorite pastimes – trapping rabbits with his bare hands – has come up in a number of meetings with the media.

WSU coach Mike Leach, no stranger to the angling world, vouched for Martin Jr.

“Tavares knows by far the most about it. He’s experienced, knows the most about it,” Leach said. “I think he reads up on it and he’s got a certain knowledge on the thing, so I think it’s kind of one of those things he’s into and studies it pretty good. And then I think the others kind of follow him.”