Over the next two months, there will be a heavy focus on recruiting news. Between dead periods, decommits, press conferences, a lot will happen until signing day. As Kyle has mentioned several times, WSU's class is essentially full, but that doesn't mean Mike Leach and staff won't be busy.
Several highly ranked players from the state of Washington are yet to commit and while WSU was off their radar before, that could change now. Seattle Times Husky beat writer Bob Condotta recently wrote a Washington recruiting story where he interviewed Adam Gorney from Rivals.com. Beyond his story, Condotta posted a few interview notes in a blog post including a note about Leach's potential impact on in state recruiting.
But it was almost like before that Washington State was a stepchild and Washington got their players and WSU picked up the pieces. Now, it seems like Mike Leach is not going to take a back seat anymore. I've been told he wants to go after Banner and Garnett and Russell just to make kind of a statement that they are in the state, too, and want to be recruiting hard. And with his resume and his reputation it might be at least a little bit of a challenge now for Sark, where in the past he got whoever he wanted.
Now this doesn't mean Leach is going to scoop up every four and five star recruit in the state, far from it. It does, however, show the kind of impact Leach will bring to recruiting starting especially in 2012. WSU has been an afterthought for top Washington recruits, but Leach's presence should at least get the Cougars back into the conversation. That is no small step to take.
Scout.com: An exit interview with Mike Levenseller
MIKE LEVENSELLER’s goal was to hit 300 and then add on a couple dozen more. He came close, by our count racking up 279 games in crimson over the span of his playing and coaching career at WSU. So Saturday night, when he took the podium at the Cougars’ season-ending football awards banquet, he had to take a couple of deep breaths to make it through his remarks without choking up.
WSU athletics striking while iron's hot - Sports: Eric Degerman | Tri-City Herald : Mid-Columbia news
On Saturday, my dependable U.S. Postal Service carrier delivered a piece of mail to my all-time favorite Cougar — a donation request from Washington State University athletics. The form letter came with signatures from athletic director Bill Moos and head football coach Mike Leach. (His autograph looks as if his last name is "Lunch.") It started off with "Welcome to a new era for WSU Athletics" and touched on "the lack of financial support that has been historically provided by the Cougar fan base."
Everything's slow on a Monday - SportsLink - Spokesman.com - Dec. 12, 2011
Monday morning in Spokane. Attended a party, and an after-party party, last night. Though we woke up early this morning, there was no way we could stare at a computer screen for an hour or so. But time passes and the vision clears. Read on.
Brock Motum Named Pac-12 Player of the Week - The Washington State University Official Athletic Site
Washington State University men's basketball junior Brock Motumhas been named the Pac-12 Conference Men's Basketball Player of the Week for the week of Dec. 5-11, Commissioner Larry Scott announced Monday.
Howie Stalwick: Leach to bring new level of excitement " Kitsap Sun
Leach Lovefest: If you're a Washington State football fan, it's easy to get jacked about the tangible benefits of Mike Leach's arrival. The increased season ticket sales and donations are so desperately needed in wheat-and-lentil land.
Contracts reveal UT assistants' buyouts " GoVolsXtra
The timing of Charlie Baggett's and Eric Russell's respective departures will prevent Tennessee from collecting any sort of buyout money from the former assistant coaches