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The Washington State Cougars capped a magical season with a 20-14 win over the Miami Hurricanes in the Hyundai Sun Bowl, pushing their win total to nine games and securing their first bowl game victory since the 2003 Holiday Bowl.
It was a season filled with dramatics, including game-winning touchdowns, wide right heartbreak and tough injuries at key positions, but one thing always remained the same: This is a team that always endured, and they showed it once again today.
A little over a year ago, in the midst of a 3-9 campaign, a Washington State coach told me he loved they way they were building this program, that this program was more than a football team — it was a family rounding into form.
It was right then and there — as I toured this amazing new facility that houses over a 100 football players working out, hanging out and doing everything together, as a team— that you could tell special things could be on horizon for Washington State football.
The best is yet to come for the Cougs and you should be as excited for the future as they are.
congrats Washington St. football on win today in Sun Bowl- The one and only coach Mike Leach doing it again.
— Matthew McConaughey (@McConaughey) December 27, 2015
Been here every step of the way. #GoCougs pic.twitter.com/1EZh7RJD2P
— WSU Cougars (@WSUCougars) December 26, 2015
Love my team man !!!!!! #WazZu
— keith harrington (@keithy_rice21) December 26, 2015
Thank you to all our fans that made the trip to the Sun Bowl! And all the rest of Coug Nation! What a Great Finish! #GoCougs #SpeedD
— CoachKen Wilson WSU! (@CoachKWils) December 26, 2015
We did it!! All of us together put our school back on top. Cougs party tonight! #GoCougs pic.twitter.com/sz0Ro1wXuU
— Gabe Marks (@throwitupto9) December 26, 2015
What a time pic.twitter.com/TatR3Y7h9g
— Marcellus Pippins (@PAE21) December 26, 2015
Sun Bowl Champs #GoCougs pic.twitter.com/nFwsFCtjFB
— Kaleb Fossum (@kfoss24) December 26, 2015
#GoCougs pic.twitter.com/96dWvUTCen
— WSU Cougars (@WSUCougars) December 26, 2015
Sun Bowl Champs! #GoCougs @HyundaiSunBowl pic.twitter.com/HwMzhoj2s2
— WSU Cougar Football (@wsucougfb) December 27, 2015
With my boys getting the bowl win!! Yupp Sun Bowl pic.twitter.com/7nPZNYqHy4
— GH3 (@GregHoyd3) December 27, 2015
All dat matters is we won da Sun Bowl...blessed to have played at this amazing skool pic.twitter.com/IaBw1ySFo0
— Dom Williams (@Domwill80) December 27, 2015
So proud of these guys, tremendous heart and character! Love yall!! #Sun Bowl Champs#Goonsquad pic.twitter.com/ScF8xUowc8
— Clay McGuire (@CoachMcGuireWSU) December 27, 2015
Couldn't be prouder of this group of guys. #NeverGiveUp #GoCougs pic.twitter.com/fqYTkpt9bf
— Coach Mastro (@jim_mastro) December 26, 2015
What A Game! Cougs Win! The Defensive Staff Celebrating a Hyundai Sun Bowl Victory! The Future is Bright at WSU! pic.twitter.com/4928rWIm0w
— CoachKen Wilson WSU! (@CoachKWils) December 27, 2015
2015 @HyundaiSunBowl Champs! Proud of this team, these coaches & especially this group right here! #OGs #CougD pic.twitter.com/dZoFYAlddf
— Roy Manning (@CoachRoyM) December 27, 2015
Our guys weren't only fighting for a win today, they were fighting with another member of our family. Earned it all! pic.twitter.com/UMbv8rAtau
— Austin Ardrey (@CoachArdrey) December 26, 2015
What a season. Go Cougs.