Random moments in Washington State football history: 1997 vs. Arizona

With this week’s news that we won’t get to enjoy any Cougar football this fall—or any WSU sports, for that matter—what the heck do we do now? In non-pandemic times, WSU would be in the thick of fall camp right now. We’d be reading practice reports and watching scrimmage highlights and wondering what true freshman could play full time. We’d want to know which quarterback is playing the best and how the defense looks.

Alas, it’s not to be. So let’s look back at a random time in WSU’s football history. This week, I happened upon highlights from the end of the Washington State Cougars’ home game in 1997 against the Arizona Wildcats.

WSU edged Arizona 35-34 in overtime and the clip ends right before the final play (a failed two-point attempt by Arizona). But that’s not what makes this clip noteworthy. This was the game when the officials twice allowed Arizona freshman quarterback Ortege Jenkins to ask for a re-start due to crowd noise. The second time came as the play clock was about to hit zero.

Here’s what the crowd looked like in the end zone Jenkins was playing toward:

#Pac10refs

Jenkins made good on his do-over to get within one, but he threw away the game-winner on the two-point conversion, giving WSU a 7-0 record.

Enjoy the memory. That’s Brad Nessler and Gary Danielson with the call, the current SEC on CBS duo.

Links

Without fall sports, Washington State faces 'post-apocalypse' scenario | The Spokesman-Review
In mid-April, with Washington State's athletic department already reeling from the forfeiture of spring sports, Athletic Director Pat Chun said it wasn't worth discussing the financial shortfalls the school would face if the COVID-19 pandemic outlasted the summer and bled into the month of August, potentially impacting the lucrative football season that largely keeps the other 14 athletic programs in Pullman afloat.

Oregon State women’s basketball newcomers total five after Beavers land Washington State transfer, Portugal freshman - oregonlive.com
Jovana Subasic, a 6-4 graduate transfer, and Ana Teresa Faustino, a 5-8 guard, join the Beavers for next season