Washington State spring football game returning to Pullman in 2019

PULLMAN – After an eight-year residency at Spokane’s Joe Albi Stadium, the Washington State Crimson and Gray game will return to a familiar location, Martin Stadium, in 2019.

As the Crimson and Gray Game moves back to Pullman, WSU will use the spring scrimmage as a platform to promote suicide prevention and mental health awareness – two areas near and dear to Cougar players and fans following the suicide of quarterback Tyler Hilinski in January.

“The Crimson and Gray Game will give us a platform to do something unique for our campus,” WSU Director of Athletics Pat Chun said. “Bringing more awareness for suicide prevention and mental health is something very close to our hearts. This day will benefit our students, faculty, staff and greater community.”

Cougar Athletics and WSU Student Affairs have partnered to launch “Gameday for Mental Health” in conjunction with the 2019 spring game, in order to spread information and spur more conversation as it relates to mental health education and wellness.

Hilinski, who started for the Cougars in the 2017 Holiday Bowl and was the presumptive replacement for Luke Falk in 2018, will be memorialized by WSU throughout the fall season.

Cougar players will don Hilinski’s jersey number 3 on helmet stickers this fall. The team will also designate a locker for Hilinski inside the Cougar Football Complex and the school will raise a flag in his honor at home games this season.

“We are all committed to bringing our Cougar family together to draw attention to the needs of our students, including our student-athletes,” said Vice President for Student Affairs Mary Jo Gonzales.

WSU will release more information surrounding the 2019 Crimson and Gray Game in the coming months. The scrimmage has been held in Spokane every year since 2011.