Kirby Moore
61 stories filed under Kirby Moore on Wazzu. The newest of them: “Moore takes over WSU playcalls, promises QB competition this week”, “Moore to Cougs after Fresno dud: The noise is fair, the fix is on us”, and “Utah State on a short week? Cougs need an offensive pulse”. Kirby Moore is taking the play sheet back. Six points. The unofficial read for people who left Pullman and stayed Cougs. The list below is every Kirby Moore story on Wazzu, newest first.
Moore takes over WSU playcalls, promises QB competition this week
Kirby Moore is taking the play sheet back. After Washington State's offense went without a touchdown for the second time this season, this past Saturday's 26-6 loss to Fresno State, Moore announced Monday he's taking over playcalling from offensive coordinator Matt Miller. The numbers are ugly. The Cougs rank 133rd out of 138 FBS teams in total yards per game. They've scored three offensive touchdowns in four games against FBS opponents. That's not a slump. That's a fire drill. Moore called plays at Missouri from 2023-25. He knows what he's doing. But knowing and fixing are two different things when your quarterback has thrown five interceptions and your running backs combined for 13 yards on five carries in the second half. Moore says everyone gets reps this week. Caden Pinnick, Julian Dugger, Owen Eshelman, it's an open competition. He didn't rule out playing multiple guys Friday at Utah State. Miller is still on staff and still involved. That's fine. But the buck stops with Moore now. He's not panicking. He said he can't wait to get to practice. That's the right attitude for a guy who just admitted his offense needs a jump start. If you want the full look at what's at stake this week, check out "Utah State on a short week? Cougs need an offensive pulse." It's a mess right now. But Pullman has seen messes before. Go Cougs.
Moore to Cougs after Fresno dud: The noise is fair, the fix is on us
Six points. One offensive touchdown all season. A stat line that puts WSU near the bottom of 138 FBS teams in just about everything that matters. Kirby Moore stood in the Gesa Field locker room and told his guys the noise is fair. He's right. It is. This offense isn't just struggling. It's historically bad. The Cougars haven't gone without an offensive touchdown twice in a season since 2008, and that's not company anyone wants to keep. Caden Pinnick has six turnovers, he's taking sacks he doesn't need to take, and he's bailing from pockets that are actually clean. The running backs got five carries in the second half. Five. For a group whose retention was supposed to be Moore's biggest offseason win, that's a head-scratcher. There were bright spots. Matyus McLain looked like a menace off the edge, and Jack Stevens drilling a career-long 50-yarder after a 1-for-5 start is a genuine feel-good story. But those are crumbs. Moore says the leadership group has to step up, and he's taking over playcalls. Good. Something has to change. The Cougs are 1-4 with a short week before Utah State, and our Pac-12 power rankings already have the gap drawn. The fix is on them. We'll see if they're actually willing to try something different, or if we're in for more of the same. Go Cougs.
Utah State on a short week? Cougs need an offensive pulse
Kirby Moore is calling the plays now. That's the headline out of Pullman, and honestly, it had to happen. Washington State's offense has been so quiet this season that the boo birds at Gesa Field have become a regular part of the gameday soundtrack, something we covered in "Boo birds hit Gesa Field as WSU offense goes quiet again." After a 26-6 loss to Fresno State where the Cougars didn't score an offensive touchdown for the second time this year, Moore had to shake something loose. Caden Pinnick turned in his worst game of the season. The running backs combined for 45 yards. The third-down conversion rate is 27 percent, which is five spots from dead last in the country. That's not a blip. That's a pattern. So Moore steps in for Matt Miller. He says everyone will get reps at quarterback this week. That's not a vote of confidence for Pinnick, and it shouldn't be. The good news? Utah State is 1-4 and has thrown 10 interceptions, worst in the nation. Their offense is barely better than WSU's. The bad news? The Cougs are still 4.5-point underdogs on the road. This is a rematch of last year's Potato Bowl, which WSU won 34-21. That feels like a different era. Right now, this team needs a pulse. Friday night in Logan is as good a place as any to find one. Go Cougs.
Boo birds hit Gesa Field as WSU offense goes quiet again
The boo birds don't usually show up early at Gesa Field. Saturday night, they were out before halftime, and you couldn't blame them. Washington State just laid a 26-6 egg against Fresno State in the opener of the rebuilt Pac-12, and it wasn't the kind of loss you can shrug off. It was the kind where you start checking the record books to see if you've hit a new low. The Cougars managed 182 total yards. Six three-and-outs. Three-for-14 on third down. Two turnovers. Three offensive touchdowns in four games against FBS competition. That's not a slump, that's a pattern, and the crowd let Kirby Moore and everyone else hear it. Caden Pinnick threw for 152 yards and an interception, took seven sacks, and looked like a quarterback who couldn't find an answer no matter where he looked. The running backs combined for 45 yards. The receivers ran routes short of the sticks. It was the kind of offensive showing that makes you miss the Air Raid days, when at least the ball was in the air and something was happening. Credit the defense for keeping this close. They recovered a fumble, blocked a field goal, and held Fresno State to field goals for most of the night. Jack Stevens hit a career-long 50-yarder and looked like he's turning things around. But when your offense can't punch it in, that only gets you so far. Moore's homecoming was nice, but WSU's offense is now the problem.
Moore's homecoming was nice, but WSU's offense is now the problem
The boos at Gesa Field Saturday night weren't just about one bad game. They were about a promise that hasn't been kept. Kirby Moore came home in December under a gorgeous sky, waving from a Jeep Wagoneer, telling fans he was excited to build something. The offense was supposed to be the fun part. Instead, WSU just laid a 26-6 egg against Fresno State. No touchdowns. Eight turnovers on the season. Three offensive scores in four games against FBS competition. That's not a rebuild, that's a regression. Moore said the Cougs needed 27 points to win. They scored six. He also said the fans deserve better, and he's right. But "better" has to start with a hard look at the quarterback room. Caden Pinnick took five sacks, threw a pick, and wasn't ready for a snap. He wasn't made available to the media after the game, which is a bad look for a guy who talked about giving the program pride after an earlier loss. Coaches should have at least given Julian Dugger or Owen Eshelman a look in garbage time. Even if Moore sticks with Pinnick, that evaluation has to be real. The defense played well enough to win. The offensive line didn't. The running game didn't. And the passing game didn't stretch the field. This offense hasn't improved since fall camp, and that's the most frustrating part. There's still time to fix it, but it starts with honesty.
Kirby Moore on K-State: What the postgame tape reveals about Wazzu's fight
Kirby Moore didn't flinch. The tape from K-State shows a Wazzu team that walked into a hostile environment, got punched, and kept swinging. That's not moral victory talk, that's a fact you can see in the route running, the blocking, and the way the sideline stayed locked in when the scoreboard got ugly. Moore's offense had moments where it looked crisp, even against a defense that big. The fight was real. The execution wasn't perfect, but nobody expected perfect in Manhattan. What you want to see is a team that believes it belongs, and that's on film. This is the kind of week where you check the tape and feel better about where things are headed, not worse. The Cougs didn't quit. They adjusted. They made plays that matter in November, not just in the box score. If you need a palate cleanser from the grind of game film, go watch *"Cougs sweep Southern Utah with highlights worth the replay."* That one's pure fun, no analysis required. Just dunks and digs and the kind of win that reminds you why you love this place. For now, trust what the tape shows. The fight is there. The rest will come. Go Cougs.
We Have the Backs, Now We Need a Plan to Use Them
Remember when Kirby Moore pulled off that January hat trick, convincing Kirby Vorhees, Maxwell Woods, and Leo Pulalasi all to come back? Felt like the Cougs had struck gold, especially with a head coach who built his name on a productive ground attack at Missouri. Well, here we are at the end of September, 1-3, and the running game that was supposed to gash people is more of a paper cut. Against FBS competition, that trio has combined for 171 yards total across three games. That's 57 yards per game. The Duquesne blowout (316 yards) was fun, but it came against one of the worst FCS defenses around. The real problem is it's all connected. WSU went 0-for-7 on third down in the second half against Arizona, which meant the backs never got a chance to get rolling. Moore knows it: you can't get your running backs touches if you can't stay on the field. One fix that jumps off the page? Get them the ball in the air. WSU running backs have been targeted 22 times this season and caught 14 of those, a 64% clip that's actually better than Caden Pinnick's overall completion rate. Feels like an easy adjustment for Moore and Matt Miller to make. Fresno State comes to town Saturday, and it's a chance to prove this ground game can work against someone other than a FCS doormat.
Trey Leckner is healing up fast and might finally see the field
Trey Leckner is getting closer. That's the best news the Cougar offense has heard in weeks. The tight end from Snohomish has been out since summer with a foot injury. The early word was midseason. Now Kirby Moore says he's game-to-game after this weekend. That's a faster timeline than anyone expected. Moore said Leckner has been moving around in practice. That's not nothing. This matters because the passing game needs a jolt. The Cougs are 1-2 against FBS teams, and the offense has been stuck in neutral. Leckner caught 24 passes for three touchdowns last year. He's the best pass-catching tight end on the roster. Caden Pinnick and Matt Miller could use a reliable target over the middle. Jack Pedersen has been filling in, and he's fine. He's not Leckner. The Cougs host Arizona this Saturday, a night game under the lights. Leckner won't play. But if he's back soon, that changes the math. Read our piece on DJ Warner's Arizona roots for more on that matchup. Also worth watching: cornerback Jalil Tucker is a game-time decision. The secondary looked better against Duquesne when they moved Jamarey Smith to corner. And kicker Jack Stevens is 1-for-5 on field goals. Moore is sticking with him. That's loyalty. We'll see if it pays off. For now, the take is simple: Leckner healing fast is the best thing that's happened to this offense all month. Go Cougs.
DJ Warner's Arizona roots could fuel a Coug upset under the lights
DJ Warner grew up two hours from Arizona's campus, recruited by those coaches, and now he's suiting up for the other side. Saturday night under the lights in Pullman, he'll shake hands with old friends after the game. He'd prefer to do it with a win. That's the setup for a 4:30 p.m. CBS kickoff where Washington State is a 10½-point underdog against a Wildcats team that hung 42 on Northern Illinois. Arizona quarterback Noah Fifita is completing 81 percent of his passes and set a program record for career touchdown throws last week. He's the real problem. But there's history here. WSU has won five of the last seven meetings, and Arizona hasn't left Pullman with a win since 2014. Trent Bray, WSU's defensive coordinator, goes way back with Arizona coach Brent Brennan from their Oregon State days. Brennan called Bray "Uncle Trent" to his kids. That friendship pauses for three hours Saturday. The Cougars need this one. A 1-3 start would put a decade-long bowl streak in real danger. The offense finally showed life against Duquesne, but as we wrote in "Cougs need to prove the offense can show up against FBS defenses," this is the real test. Jack Stevens is 1-for-5 on field goals. Kirby Moore is 1-2 as a head coach. Warner is home for a night. If the Cougs can slow Fifita and get a bounce from their kicker, they might just make those postgame handshakes a little sweeter. Go Cougs.
Kirby Moore Breaks Down the Boeing Apple Cup Loss Straight From the Locker Room
Kirby Moore didn't hide after the Boeing Apple Cup loss. He stood in the locker room and broke it down like a coach who knows his guys deserve the truth, not a spin. That's what you want to hear. Moore talked about what the Coug offense is building. Not excuses. Not moral victories. Just the work. You can feel the frustration in his voice, but also the belief. That matters more than any one scoreboard. This is the same offense we've been watching take shape all season. If you haven't read "Kirby Moore on the mic: what the Coug offense is building," go back and grab that one. It puts this locker room moment in context. Moore isn't starting from scratch. He's stacking blocks. Some days the wall holds. Some days it doesn't. The Apple Cup stings. It always does. But listening to Moore, you get the sense this group isn't going to fold. They'll watch the film, take the hits, and line up again. That's the Pullman way. Go Cougs.
Moore puts it plain after Cougs let early lead slip in Pullman
Kirby Moore sat down at the podium Saturday night and didn't waste words. "This should hurt," he said. He was right. The Cougs took an early two-score lead against Arizona, then watched it disappear in the second half, losing 34-24. That's now 1-3 in Moore's debut season, and the problems are starting to stack up. Caden Pinnick played OK on short throws, 85% completion inside 9 yards, but he's up to five turnovers, and they keep coming when he tries to do too much. The running backs are averaging 3.38 yards per carry against FBS teams, which isn't going to scare anyone. Special teams gave up a 39-yard punt return and another missed field goal, even if that one wasn't the kicker's fault. And for the second straight week, the coaching staff botched an end-of-half situation, letting 40 seconds burn off the clock before calling a timeout. That's the kind of stuff that loses games you should win. There were bright spots. Linus Zunk finally got his first sack and is grading out well. Punter Max Dean is 14th in the country. But the Cougs need more than that. Next week Fresno State comes to town. That's the start of Pac-12 play, and it's where we start to find out what this team really is. If you want a deeper look at that matchup, check out our piece on Moore facing his old team as a new era begins. For now, this one should hurt. It did. Go Cougs.
Kirby Moore on the mic: what the Coug offense is building
Kirby Moore is calling plays that sound different. The Coug offense is building something, and it's worth paying attention to. Not because we're about to hang 50 on someone every week, but because there's a plan. Moore has a feel for what this group can do, and he's not forcing square pegs into round holes. The quarterback reps, the route combos, the way the line is setting up, it all points to an identity forming in real time. That's more than you could say for some recent seasons, and it matters. If you want the full breakdown of how Moore talked through Kansas State on the radio, go read "Kirby Moore Breaks Down Kansas State on This Week's Cougar Football Hour." That piece gets into the specifics he laid out himself. This one is about what comes next. The offense isn't finished. It's not supposed to be. But you can see the foundation. Moore is patient without being passive. He's building a system that fits the guys he has, not the ones he wishes he had. That's how you get better in the Palouse. That's how you stay competitive when the roster turns over. It's early, and nobody is handing out trophies for September concepts. But the direction is real. And for a Coug fan who remembers the years when the direction was just spinning tires, that's something to hold onto. Go Cougs.
Max Dean's migraines make Cougs' punting a game-time call
Max Dean's migraines are making Saturday a game-time call, and for a Coug punter averaging 45 yards a boot, 18th in the country, that's a problem Washington State doesn't need. Dean emerged from the locker room around 3:15 p.m. for warmups, which is a good sign, but if he can't go, kicker Jack Stevens takes over punting duties. Stevens has never punted in college. Not once. High school was the last time. He's also 1-for-5 on field goals this season, including a missed extra point. So, yeah, that's not ideal. Dean has been a bright spot in a season that already saw the Cougs let a 14-point lead dissolve against Arizona, a game we covered in "Cougs jump Arizona early, then watch a 14-point lead dissolve." His 14 punts for 627 yards, five inside the 20, and a long of 52 are the kind of quiet consistency that wins close games. Coach Kirby Moore said it best: Dean's work in the punt game is getting overshadowed. He's right. If Dean can't go, the Cougs lose more than a leg. He also holds kicks, and that job is suddenly up for grabs too. Against a Wildcats team that just flipped the script on them, special teams can't be a question mark. Go Cougs.
One good half doesn't change what Duquesne was
One good half doesn't change what Duquesne was. The Cougars beat a bad FCS team that gives up yards like candy at a parade. Kirby Moore made adjustments, and credit where it's due, Caden Pinnick looked sharp after halftime, and Maxwell Woods and Kirby Vorhees ran like they meant it. That second half felt good. It should encourage you. But here's the honest part. Against FBS teams this season, WSU has one touchdown and four turnovers. That offense has looked thin. Arizona comes to Gesa Field as a 10½-point favorite, and that line exists for a reason. Tony Freeman is done for the year with an injury, and without him, the deep threat shrinks. This isn't a doom post. The offensive line shuffle and Moore's growing role in playcalling are real reasons to believe. Those changes should help win some Pac-12 games. But beating a Big 12 team in primetime? That's a taller ask. Prediction: Arizona 23, WSU 16. If you want more context on what's at stake with the kicking game, go read about Max Dean's migraines making punting a game-time call. Special teams might matter more than usual Saturday night. Go Cougs.
Trey Leckner's return is suddenly a Saturday question for Cougs
Trey Leckner's foot healed faster than the schedule said it would, and that's a small win in a 1-3 start that's felt heavier than the record. The Cougars' best pass-catching tight end is a game-time decision Saturday against Fresno State, per Kirby Moore, who's been cautious with him all month. Leckner was supposed to miss the first half of the season. Instead, he's back at practice, full-go, and ready to give an offense that's turned the ball over seven times a much-needed safety valve. That's the thing about this group: they've got backs, they've got receivers, but they haven't had a reliable middle-of-the-field target since Leckner went down. Jack Pedersen has filled in admirably, five catches, one score, mostly against Duquesne, but he's not the same mismatch. Moore said it himself: they want both guys on the field, and that's a problem for Fresno State's defense if Leckner's actually healthy. Elsewhere, Jalil Tucker's status remains a shrug emoji. He's dressed and warmed up the last two weeks but hasn't played since the Apple Cup. The silver lining? Jack Bal made the most of his shot against Arizona, picking off a pass and taking it back 25 yards for a score while logging a career-high 67 snaps. If Tucker can't go, you ride Bal again and hope the secondary doesn't bend too far. Moore also defended his clock management before halftime last week, and honestly, he's got a point. You don't give Noah Fifita extra chances.
Kirby Moore Breaks Down Kansas State on This Week's Cougar Football Hour
Kirby Moore spent part of this week's Cougar Football Hour breaking down Kansas State on film, and if you've been paying attention, you already know that tape doesn't lie. Moore walked through what K-State does schematically, and it's the kind of breakdown that makes you appreciate how much goes into a Saturday you probably spent yelling at your TV. He didn't sugarcoat it. He didn't need to. The Wildcats are disciplined, they're physical, and they force you to earn every yard. That's the kind of opponent that tells you where your program really is. We also ran a piece on what the postgame tape revealed about Wazzu's fight, worth a read if you want the full picture of how the Cougs responded when things got tight. Moore's hour is a good companion to that. He's not selling hope. He's showing you the work. Pullman football doesn't get the benefit of the doubt from anyone outside the Palouse, so it matters that the guys in the room are honest about what they see. Moore is. The Cougs are still figuring out who they are, but the film room is where that happens. Go Cougs.
Moore's offense showed some pulse, but the Cougs still left plays on the field
Three offensive touchdowns in three games against FBS teams. Six turnovers. Seven total giveaways. That's not a Power 4 problem. That's a self-inflicted wound problem, and it's the story of this Cougar season so far. Kirby Moore's offense showed a pulse Saturday against Arizona, especially on that opening 11-play, 71-yard touchdown drive where Caden Pinnick looked like he knew what he was doing. The quarterback keeper, the blocks, the finish. That's the offense we were hoping to see. Then it vanished. The third quarter was brutal. Three points, two three-and-outs, four punts, three sacks. Arizona turned a three-point deficit into a four-point lead and never looked back. The defense held up its end. The offense didn't. Pinnick is making bad decisions, not just Power 4 athletes making great plays. The interception into triple coverage against Duquesne. The fumble while trying to throw while being dragged down. The slide a yard short of a first down. Those aren't talent gaps. Those are judgment gaps. Moore said it starts with him. That's the right answer. But the fix has to show up against Fresno State next week. If these problems are about competition, they'll ease up. If they're about Pinnick's decision-making, they won't. We've got more on Moore's postgame comments in "Moore puts it plain after Cougs let early lead slip in Pullman." Worth a read. For now, the Cougs are what we thought: 1-3, right on schedule. The question is whether they're better than the schedule. Go Cougs.
Moore faces his old team as a new Pac-12 era begins in Pullman
Wazzu's own Kirby Moore gets a chance to turn around a 1-3 start Saturday night, and the storylines are too good to ignore. He's facing Fresno State, the program that gave him his first FBS job as receivers coach and offensive coordinator from 2017-22. That's the kind of drama that makes a Palouse fall evening worth the walk to Gesa Field. The Cougs are coming off a loss to Arizona that had a few bright spots, safety Jackquintin Bal's pick-six, punter Max Dean averaging 40 yards despite migraines, but also a whole lot of slog. WSU put up zero points in the third quarter. Caden Pinnick took his 10th sack of the season. The offense has turned the ball over seven times now, which is 119th in the country. That's not a stat you text home about. Fresno State, meanwhile, is rolling. They're 3-1 with the Pac-12's best defense so far, allowing just 19 points a game. Cornerback Simeon Harris has three interceptions already. Moore knows the challenge: "That's gonna be really important, to make sure we take care of the football." He's not wrong. If you want to dig into how WSU's defensive snaps piled up in that Arizona loss, our piece on "Second-half snaps tell the story of WSU's defensive breakdowns" lays it out. Go Cougs.
The Ball is the Boss: Moore's First Pac-12 Test is About Holdin' On
Saturday night in Pullman, the Cougs finally get to play a game that counts in the Pac-12 standings. It's been nearly three years. Problem is, Fresno State is coming to town, and they take the ball away for a living. Plus-seven turnover margin. Sixth-best in the country. Meanwhile, Caden Pinnick has lost five turnovers in four games. That math doesn't add up. Kirby Moore is walking a tightrope. He has to tell his quarterback to protect the ball without making him afraid to throw it. That's a fine line, and Moore knows it. He's been saying all week that every play has a life of its own. That's coach-speak for "don't force it, but don't freeze up either." The ground game might not help. Kirby Vorhees is a gametime decision with an upper-body injury, and the running backs haven't cracked 100 yards against an FBS team all year. The good news? Trey Leckner could finally debut at tight end. That's a weapon they haven't had yet. Defensively, they have to slow down Jayden Mandal and Rayshon Luke, who just put up 167 yards on 11 carries. That's a problem. This game won't decide the season, but it'll tell you a lot. Lose, and you're staring at 1-4 with Utah State and Oregon State on the road. The bowl streak starts looking shaky. Win, and you're 1-0 in conference play with a pulse. If you want the deeper numbers, check out our piece on Pinnick's five turnovers.
Kirby Moore on Duquesne prep and what it means to be a Coug
Kirby Moore didn't just take a job. He took a role that comes with a handshake, a history, and a whole lot of expectations. The Cougs' offensive coordinator sat down this week to talk Duquesne prep, and he kept it real about what it means to wear the flag. No fluff. No coachspeak. Just a guy who knows Pullman isn't for everyone, and that's exactly the point. Moore gets it. Being a Coug means showing up when nobody else does. It means grinding through a Tuesday in November when the wind is howling and the stands are half-full. It means the work matters more than the spotlight. That's not a line from a brochure. That's the truth. Duquesne is next. A non-conference game that doesn't get the hype, but Moore made it clear: respect the opponent, respect the process. The Cougs can't look past anyone. Not if they want to be the team they think they are. If you liked that kind of straight talk, check out our piece on Korey Schroeder and the Cougar volleyball team. Same energy. Different sport. Same standard. Moore is building something. It won't happen overnight. But listening to him, you get the feeling he's in the right place. Pullman has a way of sorting that out. Go Cougs.
Arizona week starts with Kirby Moore on the mic, no need to overthink it
Arizona week is here, and Kirby Moore is the one talking into the mic. That is fine by us. No need to overthink it. Moore has been running the offense all season, and he has earned the chance to break down the tape and the game plan after a win. The Cougs just handled business on the road in Fresno, and if you want the full breakdown of how that looked, we have the *Fresno State couldn't slow the Cougs in a clean road win* piece waiting for you. That game was clean. This week should be, too. Arizona is a different animal. They have athletes, and they will try to make things messy. But Moore has been steady. He does not get cute. He calls what works and trusts the guys in front of him. That is the kind of offensive coordinator you want when the schedule starts to tighten up. Pullman will be loud. The weather will probably do something weird. And Kirby Moore will be up there, talking through the adjustments like he has been doing it for a decade. Because he has. We will have more on the game plan and the matchup as the week goes. For now, it is Cougs on the mic, Cougs on the field, and no reason to complicate it. Go Cougs.
Kirby Moore on Fresno State and what it means for Cougar football
Kirby Moore's name coming up with Fresno State is the kind of news that makes you check the date and then check your pulse. The Cougs just spent a season fighting through the kind of injuries that would've sunk a lesser group, and now the offensive coordinator chatter starts. That's what happens when you run a unit that looks like it finally figured out how to get out of its own way. Moore's system has a rhythm to it, a willingness to take what the defense gives you, and then take the deep shot when they creep up. That's not nothing. Fresno State knows what they're getting: a coach who's been in the Palouse trenches, who understands that Pullman isn't a stepping stone so much as a proving ground. The real question for Cougar fans isn't whether Moore can call a game, it's whether he stays long enough to see the roster he helped build actually peak. If he leaves, he leaves the offense in better shape than he found it, and that's about the best you can ask for in this conference. It stings to think about the what-ifs, but that's the gig. You don't get to keep the good ones forever. You just hope the next guy up watched closely. And if you need a reminder of how this program keeps its head down and works, go back and read about the soccer team grinding out a result against Oregon State in Pullman. Same spirit, different field.
Kirby Moore on the mic, Cougs prepping for Arizona under the lights
Kirby Moore on the mic means one thing: it's game week in Pullman, and the Cougs are about to get after it under the lights. Arizona under the lights, specifically. No need to overthink this one. Moore has been around long enough to know what a night game in Martin Stadium does to a team, and the Cougs are prepping like they know it too. There's a rhythm to these weeks. You get the depth chart, you get the quotes, you get the sense that this group isn't interested in looking past anybody. Arizona is next. That's the focus. And with the lights on, Pullman tends to show up in a way that makes visitors uncomfortable. That matters. If you want the full picture on where this offense is headed, our piece on Korey Schroeder breaking down Fresno State and OSU is worth your time. He gets into the next step stuff that fits right into this week's conversation. For now, Kirby Moore on the mic is the right tone. No hype. Just work. Cougs know what that sounds like. Go Cougs.
Kirby Moore on Duquesne: What the OC Saw That You Didn't
Kirby Moore saw something on that Duquesne tape that most of us missed. And in his breakdown of the Cougar win, he walked us through exactly what it was. You know how it goes. You watch the game, you see the scoreboard, you feel good about the result. But the guy calling the plays sees a whole different film. Moore gets into the details, the coverages Duquesne hid, the adjustments that made the difference, the little things that don't show up in a box score but win games in the fourth quarter. This is the kind of breakdown that makes you want to rewatch the game with a notebook. Because Moore isn't just telling you what happened. He's telling you why it happened, and what he saw that made him call what he called. We've got more on this Cougar team if you want to stay in the weeds. Our piece on the volleyball squad, "Five sets, no quit: Cougar volleyball leaves it all on the floor," shows the same kind of fight that Moore talks about from the sideline. Different sport, same damn grit. Point is, this win wasn't luck. It wasn't just Duquesne coming to Pullman and wilting. Moore and the staff saw things during the week, adjusted during the game, and put the Cougs in position to handle business. That's the part worth understanding. Go Cougs.