Brett Rypien was close to following in his uncle’s footsteps. Then, he decided to forge his own path in Boise.

The younger Rypien grew up watching the Washington State Cougars and driving down from Spokane to watch the team for which Mark Rypien played. Brett says that he got into football by watching his uncle’s game tapes, and whatever he saw worked. Brett went to Shadle Park and rewrote the record book, including new state records for career passing yards (13,044 yards) and career touchdowns (134).

When it came time to pick a college, Rypien considered Washington State, but eventually chose to head to the Smurf Turf and the Boise State Broncos. Before last year’s game he was quoted as saying he “wanted to try something different.”

Washington State University and Martin Stadium are still special places for Brett Rypien and he talked about his return to the Palouse on Tuesday when he met with the Boise media. Our fellow SB Nation brothers over at One Bronco Nation Under God bring us the video on their YouTube Page.

There are a couple WSU bites sprinkled in before, but the bulk of the WSU stuff comes in at 6:42 when Rypien talks about the Cougar defense before taking a trip down memory lane. He recalls his favorite Apple Cup (which was the 2012 OT game), what he admires about Coach Leach and the atmosphere he expects this Saturday. “Hopefully an Apple Cup atmosphere,” Rypien says. “Loud. Exciting.”

The Cougs are looking to put a stop to this “local star comes home” storyline on Saturday night, but Rypien may not be the only quarterback we see come game time. In week one, he split time with Kansas transfer Montell Cozart. Despite what Bronco coaches say, there appears to be a quarterback controversy. We’ll find out this weekend.

Football

When Boise State QB Brett Rypien returns to WSU, his uncle Mark will be there to welcome him | The Seattle Times
Brett Rypien grew up in Spokane, and has attended many games at Martin Stadium as a Cougars fan. Now, he returns in a Boise State jersey to try and beat the team he grew up rooting for

NCAA considering more changes and once again, Washington State’s Leach doesn’t approve | The Spokesman-Review
PULLMAN – The NCAA might make a few more edits to its rule book in the near future and like usual, Washington State’s Mike Leach won’t be one of those endorsing. According to 247Sports, the governing body of college sports is considering a reform of the transfer rule that forces Division I athletes to sit out for an entire season before they’re eligible to play. The revision would allow student-athletes to transfer without waiting, as long as they meet a certain GPA standard. Those who don’t hit the academic benchmark would still have to sit out.

Every which way but Palouse: Boise State vs Washington State game preview - One Bronco Nation Under God
Let me begin by saying that WSU should be a stiff challenge for the young Bronco defense. They handled their business against Troy, but the secondary will be tested time and again by Mike Leach’s Air Raid.

WSU moves up in both major college football polls: 20th in AP Poll, 22nd in Coaches Poll | The Seattle Times
In the preseason Coaches Poll, WSU was ranked just outside the top 25 - at No. 26. But one game into the season, the Cougars have pushed their way into the top 25.