Bill Moos on bowls, his black list and more

A lot is riding on Bill Moos' shoulders these days as he attempts to successfully navigate WSU into a bowl game. With more eligible teams than games, a lot will be on athletic directors to successfully sell their football program to those in charge of the bowl games. Moos has been busy doing just that and answered some questions with Jacob Thorpe of the Spokesman Review.

When asked about projections leaving WSU out of the bowl landscape, Moos said he feels WSU has a "very good" chance to be invited to a bowl:

I feel that we've got a very good chance to play in another game and I feel that we've got a lot to sell in regards to the improvements we've made this season, our dynamic coach and our record-setting quarterback. And the fact that we'll travel well, especially considering that we haven't been to a bowl in 10 years. Our fans are excited and ready to join us so I think that we've got a lot to sell.

A lot was made of Moos' "No Bowl Tickets" blacklist, but he said he was "probably going to lighten up." That's not nearly as fun, but also not expected. Moos is selling ticket sales to bowl representatives and with a bowl in question, every possible fan in attendance probably counts. Moos is a salesman after and followed his answer up by urging fans to join the Cougar Athletic Fund.

He also gave some insight into future projects. Moos said the regents recently approved the plan soccer project and that the AD is working on funding models to build a permanent indoor practice facility. Michael wrote about the proposed upgrades last month.

"There's still work to be done but we've really come from the outhouse to the penthouse in the last couple years."

Football:

Pac-12 football Power Rankings: Week 14 - ESPN
7. Washington State: Despite losing the Apple Cup, the Cougars are clearly on an uptick under Mike Leach. A bowl win, of course, would accelerate the upticker.

Cougars play waiting game for potential bowl game | WSU Cougars | The Bellingham Herald

With no more regular-season games left to play, the Washington State football team faces a different kind of challenge this week: the waiting game.

Deone Bucannon Named First-Team All-Pac-12 - Washington State University Official Athletic Site

Five Washington State football players received All-Pac-12 Conference accolades led by senior safety Deone Bucannon earning first team honors, commissioner Larry Scott announced Monday.

WSU's Bucannon, UW's Sankey on Pac-12 first team - Spokesman.com - Dec. 2, 2013
Safety Deone Bucannon of Washington State has been named first-team all-Pac-12, the conference announced on Monday. Joining Bucannon on the first-team list was Washington running back Bishop Sankey, who played his high school ball at Spokane’s Gonzaga Prep.

Football recruiting:

FEATURE: Cabrillo's Rahshead Johnson In Recruiting Whirlwind - Gazettes.com, Long Beach California: Cabrillo
During last weekend’s trip to Washington State, current Cabrillo teammate Darren Gardenhire made his pledge to the Cougars, meaning there would be even more familiarity on the Wazzou roster. But Johnson says those things won’t factor much into his decision, saying, "I’m just thinking about me and what’s best as far as the school and for me playing."