"It's hard to express how much (WSU fans') support means to me. And if it never got expressed from me the way it needed to, I apologize. They need to know that. I am so proud to be a Cougar. Washington State is a very special school. When people talk about the family atmosphere of WSU, I'm here to tell you it's real and it's unique.

"And I want them to be proud that I am a Cougar. I always worried that they weren't but I've found that's not true ... I was nervous about going back there last year and meeting all the people. But it's been nothing but the greatest."