Good news! We’re just over a month away from Cougar football returning to Martin Stadium for the first time in 11 months.

The bad news is that while the Cougs will be on the field in Pullman, you won’t be able to join them in the stands. The Pac-12 announced two weeks ago that football will be returning on November 7, but fans will not be allowed in attendance.

The lack of fans in the stands at Martin Stadium is sure to account for a serious issue for the WSU athletic department and their bottom line this season. But the university got to work and found a solution.

The ‘Ready to Play’ initiative is based on a simple solution to the problem: Just because you can’t buy a ticket and go to the game... Doesn’t mean you can buy a ticket and stay home.

“During your visits to Pullman you were able to experience lifelong memories, catch-up with fellow alumni and friends, and support our extraordinary student-athletes through various purchases,” The athletic department website explains. “The ‘READY to PLAY Campaign’ presents the opportunity for Cougs to support our student-athlete scholarships by directing funds from items you may typically purchase before and during your visit to Pullman.”

Basically, the department is offering fans the chance to use the money they would have spent going to a Cougar game and, instead, donate it directly to the university. On their purchase page, the university lists various different purchase options including $65 for a what would have been a single ticket, $300 for a family plan, $20 for parking and $7 for a Cougville beverage.

Of course, you don’t actually get the ticket or the drink. The donation is just symbolic of the money you would have spent. It’s a unique way to make headlines and raise some money during a tough time for the program, and it seems to be working. The CAF tweeted this update around 2:30 p.m., just 5 hours after the campaign was unveiled.

Links

Pac-12 Football: Best Game Every Week of the Revamped 2020 Schedule
The Apple Cup features two new coaches in Jimmy Lake (Washington) and Nick Rolovich (Washington State) and a fun battle between a high-powered offense against one of the nation’s top defenses.

Canzano: Three truths about the Pac-12 Conference football season - oregonlive.com
The Pac-12 Conference champion will not only have to blow through the regular season undefeated, it needs to do it with big-time style points.

Pac-12 football coach tests positive for COVID-19 - oregonlive.com
Arizona football coach Kevin Sumlin has tested positive for COVID-19 less than a week before the team begins its preseason practices.