I'm short on time and there are a lot of links to get to today so I will keep this brief.
(Whoops. It looks like Jeff and I were writing simultaneous posts last night. Ignore what I wrote below and go read his post.)
Not mentioned in the links below is the boost Donnie Marbut's team received Monday night. Neither Taylor Ard or Derek Jones signed professional contracts by the MLB signing deadline, meaning both will return to Pullman next season. In addition to the two veterans, incoming freshmen Ben Roberts, Tanner Chleborad and Joe Pistorese also turned down professional offers.
Of the six underclassmen drafted, WSU lost only Adam Conley to professional baseball. Ard led the Pac-10 in home runs and RBI a year ago. He and Jones should form one of the most powerful middle of the orders in the Pac-12 next season.
Onto the links.
Monday morning links from WSU - SportsLink - Spokesman.com - Aug. 15, 2011
Mondays are usually the light day when it comes to links around Washington State and the rest of the Pac-12. Today doesn't change that, but there are a few more things to pass along than there will be in a few months as the season wears on. Trust me on that and read on.
WSU backs have a little thunder and lightning in them - Spokesman.com - Aug. 15, 2011
PULLMAN – When Washington State’s running backs huddle together prior to practice, it looks a bit like a jockey convention. With one big horse in the middle. "Today, I walked over after a drill and I was like, ‘damn, I can see over all your heads clearly,’" said Logwone Mitz with a laugh. "It is crazy." At 6-foot-1 and 223 pounds, Mitz, a fifth-year senior, is expected to be the powerful workhorse of Washington State’s running attack
A thought about flag-waving - WSU Blog articles - MyNorthwest.com
This may be a little strange considering that there is quite a bit of football going on right now, but as I was perusing the school's website while doing some research I did notice the many "Wave the Cougar Flag" logos and mentions throughout, not to mention, the flag-waving site that's dedicated to Cougar flag-waving.
Cougars developing quality depth at receiver - Spokesman.com - Aug. 14, 2011
PULLMAN – Mike Levenseller has said it before. And he’ll say it again before he calls it quits as a receiver coach. There is depth and then there is quality depth. This season, Washington State has depth at the receiving position. And, Levenseller believes, the next step is just down the field.
Cougar Football: Day Off (Bonus Photo Day Footage) - WSUCougars.com
Monday is day off for the Cougars, their first of fall camp...practice resumes tomorrow at 8:30 a.m....there were two practices originally scheduled for tomorrow but coach Paul Wulff has decided to only hold one workout in the morning.
Best case-worst case: Washington State - Pac-12 Blog - ESPN
First in a series looking at potential dream and nightmare scenarios for all Pac-12 teams. Understand: These are not predictions. They are extreme scenarios and pieces of fiction. You can read last year's versions here. We're going in reverse order of my post-spring power rankings (which might not be identical to my preseason power rankings). Up first: Washington State
Scout.com: 14 Youthful Questions for Jeff Tuel
IF JEFF TUEL’s performance on the field this season matches his Q&A skills, the Cougars are in for a very big year. The junior quarterback from Fresno is friendly, funny and genuine. But best of all, he’s informative, providing entertaining insights on offensive coordinator Todd Sturdy, the nasty truth about Travis Long, the best burger in town, and much more.
WSU Athletics passed along two videos. An interview with United States champion Jeshua Anderson and a behind the scenes look at a football video shoot.
Jeshua Anderson Pre-World Univ Games and World Championships (via WSUCougarAthletics)
Cougar Football Photo Day (via WSUCougarAthletics)
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