head coach
head coach at Wazzu is a file of 3 stories. The newest of them: “Minshew credits Leach for saving him from Alabama's bench”, “Kirby Moore finally had something to say, and it wasn't about a tie”, and “Schroeder on the mic: WSU volleyball preps for Rams and Bobcats”. Gardner Minshew is the starting quarterback for the Arizona Cardinals now, and he spent part of his press conference reminding everyone that he almost wasn't. Kirby Moore finally looked like he had something to say, and it wasn't about a tie. The unofficial read for people who left Pullman and stayed Cougs. The list below is every head coach story on Wazzu, newest first.
Minshew credits Leach for saving him from Alabama's bench
Gardner Minshew is the starting quarterback for the Arizona Cardinals now, and he spent part of his press conference reminding everyone that he almost wasn't. He was ready to go to Alabama, hold a clipboard, be a graduate assistant, and love every second of it. Then Mike Leach called. Leach asked him a question that changed everything: "Do you want to go hold a clipboard or lead the country in passing?" Minshew chose the latter, came to Pullman in 2018, and threw for 4,779 yards and 38 touchdowns in one season. That got him drafted in the sixth round. Eight NFL years later, he's still starting. Minshew said he can't overstate what playing for Leach did for him. That tracks. The guy had one season in the Palouse and it rewired his entire career. Leach saw a gunslinger buried on a depth chart and pulled him out. Not every coach makes that call. Not every quarterback answers it. It is good to see Minshew get another shot, and even better to hear him say the quiet part out loud: Pullman made him. If you want more on how Cougs are showing out right now, check out *Coug ballers made Week 8 worth watching from the couch*. Go Cougs.
Kirby Moore finally had something to say, and it wasn't about a tie
Kirby Moore finally looked like he had something to say, and it wasn't about a tie. After WSU's 48-30 loss to Oregon State, the head coach showed up to the postgame microphone visibly frustrated, animated, and far more fired up than we've seen all season. For a guy who usually sounds like he just finished a scrimmage, this was a real shift. He benched Pinnick, started Owen Eshelman, and the offense finally looked alive. Eshelman completed 32 of 49 passes for 289 yards and ran for 136 more, the second-most rushing yards by a WSU quarterback in program history. If you didn't know it was his first start, you'd have called your buddy a liar. Moore also punted on fourth-and-short from midfield twice, both times leading to long OSU touchdowns. He defended the calls after the game, saying he has confidence in the defense. That's the right thing to say to the room. But you can tell he's learning. The Cougs are 1-6 and this season is basically a lost cause. But Eshelman changes the look of the rest of the schedule. They might not beat Boise State next weekend, but San Diego State and Colorado State suddenly feel different. Moore took too long to make this call. That's fair to say. But he made it, and that matters. For more on the bright spots from that game, check out our piece on Eshelman and Branden Ganashamoorthy making the scoreboard hurt a little less. Go Cougs.
Schroeder on the mic: WSU volleyball preps for Rams and Bobcats
Jenny Schroeder is back on the mic for WSU volleyball, and that alone is reason to pay attention. The Cougs are getting ready for the Rams and the Bobcats, and if you've been to Bohler Gym for a match, you know the voice makes the difference. Schroeder calls it like she sees it, and she sees it better than most. This team has been grinding, and the nonconference slate is where you figure out what you've actually got before Pac-12 play starts eating your lunch. If you're the type who likes your sports wrapped in math you can't explain to your friends, we've got you covered. Our piece on Pac-12 bowl math is still the most honest thing you'll read about how the conference treats its own history. But that's a football problem for later. Right now, it's volleyball season, and the only numbers that matter are kills and blocks. Pullman is cold already, and the Palouse wind is doing its thing. That means it's indoor season. Schroeder on the mic, the Cougs on the floor, and a couple of tune-up matches before things get real. That's the kind of Saturday you don't skip. Go Cougs.