:format(webp)/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/35811322/20131005_mje_al2_283.0.jpg)
As long as I can remember, I have been pessimistic when it comes to my sports teams. Growing up a fan of the Cougars, Seahawks and Mariners will do that to someone. I get the feeling that there are many amongst the CougCenter readership who are the same way. However, the last calendar year has shown fans of Northwest teams that nearly anything is possible. WSU exceeded preseason expectations and made a bowl game. The Seahawks won the Super Bowl. Even the perennially terrible Mariners have a really good shot at making the playoffs.
As the season grows closer, we're all getting excited about the potential for another step forward for the football team this year. We all know the reasons to be both bullish and bearish on the Cougs in 2014. There is a ton of skill position talent on one hand, yet rebuilds on the offensive line and in the secondary. The question is, how optimistic are you? If I could guarantee that WSU would go 6-6 this season, and top it off with a bowl win, would you take it? Or do you bet that they'll do even better, with the obvious downside being a 5-7 or worse season?
If I'm being honest, I'm taking 6-6 and a bowl win. While there is a lot to like about WSU's chances of going 7-5, or even maybe 8-4 this year (a stretch, I know), the Pac-12 schedule is still daunting, and we will need a few bounces to go our way. Give me a slight step forward heading into 2015. How about you?
Football
Preseason magazines, Groundhog Day, and my Pac-12 picks . . . | Pac-12 Confidential | Seattle Times
I could see Washington State coming of age in Mike Leach’s third year — his third Texas Tech team put up 40 or more points eight times — and nosing past Washington or Oregon State, or both. But his team is awfully unproven on the back end defensively.
Golf
Michael Anderson Qualifies for U.S. Amateur - Washington State University Official Athletic Site
Washington State men’s golf student-athlete Michael Anderson continued his impressive summer by qualifying for the U.S. Amateur Championship earlier this week at Moon Valley Country Club.
Sports-ish
He Once Had A Baseball Empire
If you watched ESPN for more than 10 minutes back in the day, you saw these ads. That hat Fred McGriff is wearing will never leave my memory.
Non-Sports
On Social Media, Some Are Susceptible to Internet Outrage - NYTimes.com
This article really makes me mad. I'm going to get on Twitter and express my outrage at the author.