Morning after reactions from a bad Holiday Bowl loss

The Holiday Bowl was definitely a close game throughout... But it wasn't necessarily a good game.

The defense shined, giving up two touchdowns, one on a freak tip-drill touchdown and one on a short field following a near pick 6. The offense, however, was still tanning in the San Diego sun. The Cougs were held without a touchdown for the first 59 minutes and 41 seconds of the game. Until the final two minutes of the game, the nation's 2nd leading passing offense -- one that averaged more than 370 yards a game -- was held under 200 yards. Luke Falk, aside from the first drive and the game and the last drive of the game, resumed his form from the final two games of the regular season, struggling mightily, going 30-for-51 with just one touchdown and one interception.

Needless to say, the Cougars did not play a very good game of football Tuesday night. And the team itself was the first to admit that.

"We sucked, our offense was horrible," said Gabe Marks, who was held to just 4 catches for 27 yards in his final game as a Cougars, "our defense played good our special teams played more than good enough. We didn't do anything offensively, that's how you lose, you don't score points you lose games."

And Marks was right. Both defenses played well, but it was the lack of offense that led to the lowest scoring Holiday Bowl in the game's 39-year history.  "We did that to ourselves today, shot ourselves in the foot," added Luke Falk, " nothing special they did, obviously they got the win, credit to them, but we just didn't execute."

You can watch the full post game reaction from the Cougs here.

There were plenty more reactions from the 2016 Holiday Bowl. For all of those, check out the links below.

Holiday Bowl - Local Angles

Leach wonders whether or not Cougars took Gophers seriously | The Spokesman-Review
During a tense, emotional postgame press conference – they always are when a team loses its final game – Washington State coach acknowledged that the outside noise might have gotten through and led his players astray.

Washington State’s offense falls flat in 17-12 loss to Minnesota in Holiday Bowl | The Seattle Times
The Cougars shot themselves in the foot on multiple occasions, failed to capitalize on some early opportunities and allowed Minnesota to sneak up and beat them at the end.

Key moments in WSU’s 17-12 defeat to Minnesota in Holiday Bowl | The Spokesman-Review
Key moments from Washington State’s 17-12 Holiday Bowl defeat to Minnesota on Tuesday, Dec. 27, 2016 in San Diego.

Blanchette: Uninspired bowl game puts topping on what may be Cougars’ worst best season | The Spokesman-Review
So what will be the first point of reference for Washington State’s 2016 football season?

WSU QB Luke Falk evasive when asked if he’ll declare early for NFL Draft | The Seattle Times
Washington State quarterback Luke Falk was in no mood to entertain questions about his future after the Cougars' 17-12 defeat to Minnesota in the Holiday Bowl

Holiday Bowl - National Angles

Minnesota outlasts Washington State in sloppy Holiday Bowl - Pac-12 Blog- ESPN
Minnesota's defense held Washington State's high-scoring offense without a touchdown until the final seconds of the National Funding Holiday Bowl.

WSU's Holiday Bowl was The Nightmare After Christmas
Washington State went into the Holiday Bowl as a 10-point favorite expected to score lots of points. They left with a 17-12 loss to Minnesota.

PHOTOS: Gophers vs. Washington State (Holiday Bowl)
Check out the best photos from the Minnesota Gophers' 17-12 win over Washington State in the Holiday Bowl

Gophers top Washington State in Holiday Bowl | Duluth News Tribune
The Minnesota Gophers stifled Washington State’s vaunted offense to prevail in the Holiday Bowl 17-12 on Tuesday night.

WSU vs. UW Women's Basketball

Cougs Drop Pac-12 Opener At No. 9 Washington - WSUCougars.com | Washington State University Athletics
Despite putting three in double-figures, the Washington State women's basketball team dropped their opening Pac-12 contest at No. 9 Washington, 94-63, on Tuesday night. The game kicked off conference play for the entire Pac-12 as the two instate rivals met at the Huskies' Alaska Airlines Arena.

Women’s basketball: No. 9 Washington uses 26-0 run to scorch WSU in Pac-12 opener | The Spokesman-Review
Natalie Romeo made five 3-pointers in the first half and finished with a season-high 25 points, and No. 9 Washington used a 26-0 run in the first half to race past rival Washington State 94-63 to open Pac-12 Conference play Tuesday in Seattle.

Washington runs away from Washington State in Pac-12 women’s basketball opener | The Seattle Times
Junior Natalie Romeo scored a season-high 25 points, including making seven three-pointers, and the ninth-ranked Huskies had a 26-0 run in a 94-63 victory.