Grip on Sports: It’s hard to see how this fall’s football fortunes could be much better

A GRIP ON SPORTS • Call it a Golden Age if you want to. Why not? For Inland Northwest sports fans, there may never have been a better time to turn on the television, listen to the radio or read the newspaper. Read on.

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• It certainly is one of those magical seasons in Pullman, what with Washington State 9-1 – The last time the Cougars had that record? 2002, a Rose Bowl year – and the team enjoying itself maybe even more than the days when Mike Price roamed the Bohler Gym hallways.

It was Price supplying the smiles back then, riding a white horse into practice or some other stunt to get his Cougars fired up. These days it is Gardner Minshew leading with his moustache, the mania inspired by which is sweeping the country. OK, the ESPN airwaves, but in sports, that’s the same thing, right?

This Cougar group is winning, sure. But they are also having fun doing it. It may be lost in multi-million dollar coaching contracts, huge new weight rooms and year-round practice, but that’s part of what college is supposed to be about. It harkens back to a simpler time.

It makes me wonder. Did Mel Hein ever grow a moustache?

• Eastern Washington football has experienced almost unending success the past decade, from winning multiple Big Sky Conference titles to the magical championship season in 2010.

There are some parallels.

If you remember that season, you also remember the Eagles lost their nonconference game against an FBS school (in that case UNLV, this year WSU), defeated Central Washington, and lost an early Big Sky road game (that year at Montana State, this season at Weber State).

They finished the 2010 regular season 9-2 and then ran through the FCS playoffs.

With one Big Sky game left, Eastern is 8-2. The chance is there this week in Portland to equal the title team’s regular season. The playoff run? That remains to be seen.

• For only the fifth time in Whitworth’s history, the Pirates have finished the regular season undefeated. They capped off that yesterday, routing Willamette 52-0 in Oregon.

They will learn their NCAA Division III playoff seeding and first-week destination this afternoon.

The ultimate prize will be a challenge.

Since national playoffs began in 1973, only two teams west of the Rockies have ever hoisted the Division III national title trophy: Pacific Lutheran in 1999 and Linfield five years later. Usually it’s Mount Union or Wisconsin-Whitewater or some other Midwest school celebrating. (Those two schools have shared 12 of the 13 titles since Linfield won in 2004.)

But this has been a special season for the Whits no matter what happens in the playoffs.

And a special autumn around here.

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WSU: The national media has discovered the Cougars – heck, USA Today had a moustache on its college football page Friday – but us here at the S-R have been following the phenomena since the beginning. (Not that any of us saw it coming, at least not this guy.) Yesterday the paper had three folks in Boulder, with Theo Lawson taking charge with his game analysis, difference makers and a story on Peyton Pelluer’s record-tying appearance. … John Blanchette was also at Folsom Field and has a column on the defense. (In it, John mentions Pelluer wasn’t credited with a tackle. I wonder if that will be reviewed through game film, because it sure looked like he had an assist or three.) … Tyler Tjomsland was also in Colorado and has the photo report. … The guys in the office chipped in with a recap and highlights. … I had my thoughts on the game broadcast which I have to say was one of the more enjoyable ones. Thanks guys. … This hasn’t been a golden year in Boulder, with Colorado coach Mike MacIntyre suffering some slings and arrows. So we won’t dispute this assessment too much, though we think the first-half wind played the biggest part in WSU’s low passing totals.

Elsewhere in the Pac-12, the biggest win came in the final game last night, as California dominated the second half en route to its first win over USC since Aaron Rodgers was on campus. There is heat on Clay Helton as the Trojans can’t win the South. … Arizona State became bowl eligible with a hold-on win against visiting UCLA. … Stanford dominated Oregon State, putting a crimp in the Beavers’ late-season charge. … Utah went into Saturday’s game without its best quarterback and running back (how Zack Moss got hurt is hard to swallow), but still found a way to overcome punchless Oregon.

Gonzaga: There was some thought Texas Southern would offer GU a bit of resistance. That must have disappeared somewhere over Utah on the plane ride to Spokane. Jim Meehan has the explanation for Gonzaga’s rout, which came despite foul trouble. … He also has the keys to the easy victory. … Colin Mulvany was in the Kennel and has a photo report. … Justin Reed has a story on Josh Perkins nearing a career milestone. … I watched from home – yes, it was long day – and have a TV Take. … Speaking of long days, the same guys in the office that took care of the WSU game also put together a recap with highlights of the Zag contest.

EWU: The showdown in Cheney with UC Davis finished with the Eagles showing the Aggies the door. Ryan Collingwood was there to document the 59-20 rout as well as to add more information in a notebook. … Libby Kamrowski braved the cold for an in-depth photo report. … Around the Big Sky, Idaho State dropped out of the title race a week early, losing big at home to Cal Poly. … Weber State stayed in the race, defeating in-state rival Southern Utah. … Montana State used its defense to dominate Northern Colorado. … The Northern Arizona at Sacramento State game was canceled due to smoke from nearby wildfires. … Portland State lost at North Dakota.

Idaho: The Little Brown Stein has been in Missoula a while, mainly because Montana and Idaho were playing football at two different levels recently. That trend continued, figuratively at least, Saturday, as the Griz dominated Idaho 46-27 in the Kibbie Dome. The stein will stay with Montana. Peter Harriman has the game story.

Whitworth: The Pirates clinched a perfect season with a near-perfect game at Willamette. … The Pirates had the Northwest Conference player of the year playing volleyball for them this season.

CCS: The Sasquatch won the conference women’s cross country title yesterday.

Chiefs: This time seven goals were enough, as Spokane’s defense tightened up against host Victoria. … Portland won at home against Kelowna. … Everett routed host Seattle, 5-1.

Preps: It was a wild second half at Gonzaga Prep but the Bullpups prevailed, holding off Eastlake 56-51. Dave Nichols was there and has this game story while Kathy Plonka adds a photo report. … We also have roundups on other football action, which included Mead dropping a 45-38 decision to Graham-Kapowsin, and a notebook of other action.

Seahawks: The Hawks gave the Rams everything they could handle in Seattle. Now comes the rematch in Los Angeles. It may not be a must-win game, but it’s close. … The offensive line has played well this season but L.A.’s front seven is a different animal.

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• The plan was to gather up the last of the autumn leaves this afternoon. Then the snow came. It’s stuck around some, making my plans moot. As Al Swearengen once said, “announcin’ your plans is a good way to hear God laugh.” Until later …