Mike Leach
2 stories filed under Mike Leach on Wazzu. The newest of them: “Minshew credits Leach for saving him from Alabama's bench” and “SDSU has the edge, but Leach's ghost still haunts the matchup”. 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. The Hotline turned college coaches into Halloween candy, and we're still deciding if Kirby Moore as a Butterfinger is a compliment or a warning. The unofficial read for people who left Pullman and stayed Cougs. The list below is every Mike Leach 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.
SDSU has the edge, but Leach's ghost still haunts the matchup
The Hotline turned college coaches into Halloween candy, and we're still deciding if Kirby Moore as a Butterfinger is a compliment or a warning. We aren't sure what to make of it either. But the real treat this week is Cougs at SDSU, and the betting line says the Aztecs have the edge by 2.5 points. The Hotline agrees, picking San Diego State. They note the Aztecs have been solid at home, while the Cougs have been awful everywhere. That stings. But it's honest. If you want a deeper look at how this team is shaping up on the road, check out our piece on Coach Schroeder breaking down the road ahead for Cougar volleyball. It's not the same roster, but the travel grind is real. The rest of the picks are a mixed bag. The Hotline is high on Arizona over Texas Tech, which feels right. They also picked Washington to cover against Nebraska, which feels like a prayer. And they have Oregon State as the five-star special, which is a nice nod to the old Pac-12 blood. The record is 50-46-3. That's not great, but it's honest. And honesty is better than a press release. Go Cougs.