student-athletes
Wazzu keeps student-athletes in one place: 14 stories so far. The section currently leads with “Kirby Moore breaks down the Boise State game without the coachspeak”, “Kamie Ethridge and the Cougs break down 2026 WBB at Media Day”, and “Riley and the roster speak, fall ball is next”. Kirby Moore walked into that postgame room and did something rare for a coordinator: he talked like a human being. Kamie Ethridge stood at the podium at Media Day and talked about the 2026 team like someone who has seen enough to know what she has. The unofficial read for people who left Pullman and stayed Cougs. The list below is every student-athletes story on Wazzu, newest first.
Kirby Moore breaks down the Boise State game without the coachspeak
Kirby Moore walked into that postgame room and did something rare for a coordinator: he talked like a human being. No coachspeak. No "we just need to execute better" nonsense. He broke down the Boise State game with the kind of honesty that makes you want to run through a wall for the guy, even if you're just reading it on a screen. Moore got specific about what worked and what didn't. When the Cougs punched back with that Vorhees touchdown to knot it up 7-7 at the half, he explained the adjustments that made it happen. And when Boise State took the lead back on a short field goal after Madsen drove them into the red zone, Moore didn't sugarcoat the defensive breakdowns. He called it what it was. That's refreshing. We already covered the broader picture in "Boise State got the win, but the Cougs didn't back down," and this breakdown fits right alongside it. Moore's film-room clarity gives you the why behind that fight. If you want to understand how the Cougs held their ground against a top-25 team, start here. This is the kind of football talk you'd have at the bar on College Hill, not in a press conference. Go Cougs.
Kamie Ethridge and the Cougs break down 2026 WBB at Media Day
Kamie Ethridge stood at the podium at Media Day and talked about the 2026 team like someone who has seen enough to know what she has. That is the part that sticks. Not the hype. The honesty. She broke down where the Coug women are, and where they need to go, and she did not waste words doing it. This is a team that has earned the right to be direct. They have held steady at No. 13 in the national rankings, still the top of the West. That is not an accident. That is a program that has built something real in Pullman, the kind of thing you feel when you walk into Beasley and see the same faces in the stands year after year. Ethridge is not selling anything. She is telling you what she sees. That is the difference between a press conference and a conversation with another Coug. If you want to stay in the weeds on where this program sits nationally, we have you covered with "Coug Women Hold Steady at No. 13, Still Top of the West." It is a good companion piece for a long winter afternoon. For now, take Ethridge at her word. This team is not done. Go Cougs.
Riley and the roster speak, fall ball is next
Jake Dickert and the roster are talking, and that's the part that matters most right now. Fall ball is next, which means the depth chart we've been guessing about all summer is about to get real. The noise from the outside? Doesn't matter. What matters is who shows up ready when the pads go on in Pullman. This is the time of year when you find out if summer workouts actually stuck. The Cougs have questions to answer on both sides of the ball, and Dickert has been clear that competition is open. That's not coachspeak. That's a roster that needs leaders to step forward. If you've been following along, you already know Korey Schroeder broke down what the Cougs need this week on the Palouse, worth a read if you want the full picture on where the staff is focusing. The thing about fall ball is it rewards the guys who put in the work when nobody was watching. The depth, the discipline, the decisions under pressure, it all starts to show now. We're not going to pretend we know who's going to start at every spot. But we do know this: the Cougs have enough talent to make it interesting, and enough questions to keep it honest. Pullman gets quiet in the summer. Fall ball changes that. Go Cougs.
Kirby Moore steps to the mic as Cougs prep for Boise State
Kirby Moore stepped to the mic this week, and if you've been paying attention to fall ball, you know exactly why. The offense is starting to look like something. The timing is sharper. The routes have purpose. That's the stuff that gets a Coug hopeful heading into Boise State week, even with the noise around the roster. Moore isn't the type to hand you a press release. He talks ball like a guy who's been in the meeting rooms and on the grass. That matters. Because Boise State isn't a team you walk into cold. They'll bring pressure, they'll bring crowd noise, and they'll test whether all that crispness from practice holds up when it counts. We've been digging into this week from a few angles. Korey Schroeder broke down what the Cougs need on the Palouse, and "Riley and the roster speak, fall ball is next" gives you a sense of where the group's head is at. Both are worth your time before Saturday. The concern, of course, is health. The news that Tripp and Clemons hobbled in is not what anyone wanted to hear. You can scheme around a lot of things. Depth at the skill spots isn't always one of them. If those guys are limited, Moore's play-calling gets a little less flexible, and that's a real problem against a defense like Boise's. Still, this is the week we've been waiting for. The Palouse is loud, the Cougs are hungry, and the prep is real. Go Cougs.
Why every WA high school helmet will carry No. 3 this week
Twenty thousand helmet stickers are hitting Washington high school football fields this week. Every one of them carries No. 3. That number belonged to Tyler Hilinski. He was a Washington State quarterback who died by suicide in 2018, with no visible signs of struggle. His parents, Mark and Kym, started Hilinski's Hope to make sure other families don't get that phone call without warning. The Washington State Football Coaches Association partnered with them, and with the Seattle Seahawks, to put those stickers on every helmet in the state. Tumwater coach Willie Garrow, who helped organize it, put it plain: "We're still dealing with 50 to 100 14-to-18-year-old boys. It's a good reminder that we have a greater responsibility than blocking and tackling." Abe Lucas, the Coug who now plays offensive line for the Seahawks, recorded a video that coaches will show their teams. There will also be a 10-second moment of silence at the start of the third quarter of every varsity game across Washington. That's a lot of silence, and a lot of conversations starting at once. This is what it looks like when a program keeps showing up after the tragedy. If you want to see how the current Cougs are handling their own business this week, check out "Cougs Take the Fight to Logan for a Friday Night Tilt." But this week, the biggest win might not have a scoreboard attached. Go Cougs.
Kirby Moore talks Utah State, and the quiet work that wins in Pullman
Kirby Moore doesn't raise his voice to explain what wins in Pullman. He just points to the work that doesn't make the highlight reel. Talking Utah State this week, Moore broke down the kind of quiet, repetitive stuff that turns a good Cougar team into a tough one. That's the part of the season that doesn't get a headline, but it's the part that keeps you in games when the crowd gets loud and the road gets long. It's easy to forget, in the middle of baseball midweeks and volleyball preps, that football is still grinding through its own kind of spring. Moore's approach fits Pullman. No flash. Just film, fundamentals, and the kind of patience that only makes sense if you've spent a winter in that town. He knows what Utah State brings. More importantly, he knows what his guys have to bring back. If you're the type who tracks every pitch, we've got you covered with "Cougs Hit the Road for a Pair of Midweek Ballgames in Texas." Different sport, same kind of under-the-radar work that builds a season before anyone notices. Moore would probably approve of the overlap. Go Cougs.
Kirby Moore and the Cougs Talk Fresno State After the Final Whistle
Kirby Moore didn't walk off the field in Fresno looking for style points. He walked off with a win, and that's the part that matters most to a Coug. Moore and the team sat down after the final whistle to talk about what went right, what went wrong, and what nobody saw coming. The conversation was direct. No coach-speak. No dancing around the fact that Fresno State made them earn it. Moore pointed to the moments where the Cougs kept their heads when the noise got loud. That's not nothing. On the road, in a stadium that doesn't love you, staying steady is half the battle. If you want the full breakdown on how the Cougs cleaned up the little things and left with a W, we've got you covered there too. That piece digs into the details Moore touched on in the presser, the execution stuff that doesn't show up on a highlight reel but wins games in September. What sticks from this conversation is the tone. Moore sounds like a guy who knows his team is still cooking. Not done. Not perfect. But headed somewhere. That's the kind of coach you want on the bus home. 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.
Cougs on Deck: The 2026 Baseball Class Is Signed and Sealed
The 2026 baseball class is signed, sealed, and on its way to Pullman. That's a good feeling this time of year, when the ink is dry and the only thing left is to see who shows up ready to rake. Washington State put together a group that covers the bases, literally and figuratively, and if the names on the page match the talent in the box scores, the next few springs in Bailey-Brayton Field could be loud again. There's something about signing day that hits different for baseball. Football gets the hats and the cameras. Hoops gets the one-and-done drama. But baseball? Baseball gets kids who actually want to be Cougs, who sign knowing Pullman is a long way from home and that the wind will make every fly ball an adventure. That kind of commitment matters. If you need a break from the diamond, we've got you covered. Check out "Cougs grind through another round in Wisconsin, no fluff, just golf" to see how the links crew is handling business in the cold. Different sport, same grit. For now, welcome to the 2026 class. The work starts when you get here. Go Cougs.
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.
August Athletes of the Month put in the classroom work
August Athletes of the Month put in the classroom work. That headline does two things at once, which is exactly what we like to see around here. It says these Cougs were good on the field or the court or the track, sure. But it also says they handled the books. That is the part that matters long after the last whistle. Pullman is not a place that lets you coast. Neither is Washington State. So when we see student-athletes getting it done in both places, that is worth a stop. We do not have the full list of names in front of us, but the message is clear. The work does not stop when practice ends. The hours in the library matter as much as the reps on the field. That is a standard we are proud of. It is easy to cheer for the highlight reel. It takes something else to cheer for the study session. If you want to see how that classroom discipline translates to the field, we have you covered. Our story on Kirby Moore breaking down the offense after Arizona digs into the X's and O's of a team that is clearly paying attention in all the right rooms. The same focus that shows up in a grade report shows up in a game plan. Go Cougs.
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 breaks down the Cougar win and what it took to get there
Kirby Moore doesn't just call plays. He explains them. And after the Cougs handled Duquesne, he sat down and walked through exactly what it took to get that win. No coachspeak. No hiding behind "we just need to execute better." Moore got specific. He talked about the rhythm of the game, what the offense was seeing, and how they adjusted when things got sticky. That's the stuff you don't get from the box score. If you want the full breakdown, go read "Chris King called it and the Cougs made it happen twice", it pairs well with what Moore laid out here. Moore's takeaway is simple: this wasn't pretty, but it was real. The Cougs had to earn it. Duquesne came ready, and Washington State had to answer. They did. Moore credits the preparation during the week and the trust between the coaches and the players on game day. That's not fluff. That's how you build a team that can handle a trap game and keep moving. This is the kind of insight that makes you feel like you were in the room. No hype. Just football. Go Cougs.
Kirby Moore Breaks Down the Offense After Arizona
Kirby Moore sat down after the Arizona game and didn't sugarcoat anything. He broke down the offense the way you'd expect from a guy who spent his Saturday watching his unit grind through a Pac-12 road game. No excuses. Just film, mechanics, and what needs to click. That's the kind of talk Pullman actually respects. Moore walked through the adjustments, the reads, and the moments where the Cougs either hit or missed. It wasn't a victory lap. It was a coach who knows the margin between a good drive and a stalled one is smaller than a play call sheet. If you watched that game and wondered why certain routes looked open but the ball didn't go there, Moore answers that. He doesn't hide behind jargon. This is the stuff that doesn't make the highlight reel but makes the difference in November. If you want the full picture from Tucson, we already had a piece on the things that won't show up in a box score. Moore's breakdown fits right next to it. Read them together. That's where the real story lives. The offense is still finding its rhythm. Moore knows it. The players know it. But hearing him talk through it, you get the sense he trusts what he sees. That matters more than a clean stat line. Go Cougs.