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Good morning Coug fans. I know the 2019 sports season at WSU is upon us with the Pac-12 hosting football media day next week, but let’s take some time to look back to 2018-2019.
Last year’s sports calendar at WSU was an amazing success. The football team won a school-record 11 games and finished ranked no. 10 in the nation. Volleyball, soccer and tennis all qualified for their respective NCAA tournaments, with the volleyball team advancing to the Sweet 16 and soccer advancing to the second round. The track and field squads had some individuals qualify for nationals as well.
And despite struggling in other higher profile sports like men’s and women’s basketball and baseball, WSU still held its own against the rest of the nation.
CBS Sports doles out the Best in College Sports award each year, which is similar to the Director’s Cup. While the Director’s Cup treats all sports equally, CBS gives more credit to the more popular sports (sorry, beach volleyball). Here’s how CBS describes its methodology:
We rate every FBS school in three sports -- football, men’s basketball and women’s basketball -- along with two “wild cards” among the school’s most successful spectator sports: baseball, softball, volleyball, soccer, gymnastics, lacrosse, hockey and wrestling.
The weighted formula puts 2.5 times as much emphasis on football and 2.0 times the emphasis on men’s basketball compared to women’s basketball and the “wild cards.” Teams that did not finish in the final AP Top 25 in football but played in a bowl were awarded 62.5 points (25 x 2.5). Teams that made the men’s NIT were given 20 points (10 x 2), while WNIT teams received 10 points. For all titles settled via bracket, point totals were based upon how many teams participated. All champions in the other sports received 100 points for a national title.
Despite a poor showing from the two basketball teams, WSU’s wild card teams (presumably volleyball and soccer) helped propel it to 37th in the nation.
Here’s how the Pac-12 did:
No. 10: Washington
No. 21: Oregon
No. 22: Stanford
No. 33: Arizona State
No. 37: Washington State
No. 45: UCLA
No. 53: Cal
No. 57: Oregon State
No. 61: Utah
No. 71: Arizona
No. 75: USC
No. 82: Colorado
USC at no. 75. Yikes!
Georgia (no. 32) and Penn State (no. 25) are the only schools ahead of WSU that also scored double zeroes in men’s and women’s basketball. You have to go down to Oklahoma State at no. 51 to find the next school with double zeroes on the hardwood.
This, coupled with a record-setting year for the Cougar Athletic Fund is great news. There’s still more to accomplish (IPF, Martin Stadium naming rights, beer sales inside the stadium, etc.), and hopefully we’ll be talking about larger accomplishments this time next year.
Frederick Mauigoa named to Rimington Trophy Watch List
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At this rate, soon we’ll all be on a watch list.
Mauigoa Named To 2019 Rimington Trophy Watch List - Washington State University Athletics
The Rimington Trophy is given to the nation’s top center.
Don’t look now, but NFL training camps open next week
Eagles potential victims of depth: Andre Dillard and more O-linemen - The Morning Call
Unusual depth at offensive line could leave qualified players like Stefen Wisniewski, Halapoulivaati Vaitai, Matt Pryor and more on the bench all season for the Philadelphia Eagles.
How Will Rogers, of Brandon HS, bonded with Jacksonville Jaguars QB
Over the years, Will Rogers, of Brandon HS in Mississippi, has built a relationship with Gardner Minshew, who was drafted by the Jacksonville Jaguars.
Jalen Thompson expects to be up to speed with Cardinals quickly – ProFootballTalk
All rookies have to adjust to the differences between playing in college and playing in the NFL once they enter the league, but Cardinals safety Jalen Thompson’s experience will be a different one than players drafted in April went through.
AZ Cardinals’ Jalen Thompson confident he will be successful in NFL
He joins the team two months behind other rookies after being selected in the supplemental draft.
Links
Washington State Cougars Strategic Planning Process (Part I)
AthleticDirectorU is proud partner with Washington State University to present an in-depth look into how the Cougars are implementing just such a strategic plan to ensure the success of their program for many years to come. Part I of the series explores the why and how components of the strategic planning process, and will help equip other departments around the country with a compass they can use to chart their own paths through the ever changing world of college athletics.
Cougars Conclude Record Revenue Year - Washington State University Athletics
CAF annual giving reached program-best $8.6 million for 2018-19.
Motuga Named to Australia's U-19 World Cup Squad - Washington State University Athletics
The Gems will take on the world's best in Thailand.
This is it, this is the most Mike Leach quote in the history of Mike Leach quotes - Golf Digest
The quote has nothing to do with golf.
Best in College Sports: Michigan edges Kentucky to bring the 2018-19 award to Ann Arbor - CBSSports.com
Michigan's consistency drove the Wolverines to the top of the 2018-19 Best in College Sports rankings
The pitfalls of parity: Diagnosing the condition of the Pac-12 and its tumble in college football’s arms race – The Athletic
An inside look at why the Pac-12 has fallen behind the rest of its Power 5 counterparts on (and off) the football field.
The petty, wonderful and delightfully weird rise of Horns Down
The anti-Texas sign that unites the Big 12 and rivals beyond has been around for more than 60 years but really took on a life of its own over the past 12 months.