Apple Cup 2008 – the Immoble Force vs the Weightless Object

Posted by Andy Boyer in Sports

(Ed note: updated when predictions come true)

I do not count WSU’s win over a Division 8 school, so I consider both these teams 0-10, which makes the game historic.  You can argue that these are two of the worst 10 teams in the history of college football, so it’s almost a shame one of them will be forced to get a win.  As I said before, I am hoping the universe does not collapse upon itself when someone leaves the field with that W.

So, here are 0-11 predictions for Apple Cup 2008. 

  • There will be more missed field goals than made field goals. (UW Kicker: 1 made, 3 missed.  WSU Kicker: 3 made 0 missed.  Who knew the WSU guy was good?)
  • There will be at least 4 fumbles, 2 of which will result in easy scores for the opposition, and 2 of which will happen just as a team is getting ready to score. (Shoot, 2 INT’s, but no fumbles. – FALSE)
  • At some noticeable point in the game, one team will have more penalties than first downs, and penalty yards than yards gained. (FALSE) 
  • We won’t see a sack until the 3rd quarter, and the sacker will either get charged with a celebration or hands to the face penalty. (FALSE)
  • At least one touchdown will be nullified by a dumb penalty. (Not a touchdown, but two big returns for UW, one to start the game, and one in Q3.)
  • One of the kick return teams will *almost* return a kick for a touchdown, but be tackled by the kicker.  (1st quarter, 15:00) The same kick returner will muff a kick.
  • We will see one – if not more – play that goes 70+ yards for touchdowns  (close 57 yards, Q3, 2:56).
  • We will not see a drive that lasts more than 5:00. (FALSE)
  • One cornerback will have an easy interception for a touchdown, but will drop the pick. That cornerback will get beat on the same drive for a touchdown. (FALSE)
  • There will be one quarter in which 7 or less points are scored (Q1), and one quarter in which 28 or more points are scored (FALSE).
  • The officials will monumentally blow an important call.  The call will be so bad and so important, both teams will leave the field thinking they should have won.  (The WSU kicker should have been called for Illegal Procedure because he moved early.  not sure if you saw that.)

As bad as the UW offense is, I think the WSU defense is worse (FALSE – Both offenses were really that bad). I’m going with UW 33 WSU 31.   WSU has a freak safety which gives UW the 2 point edge (OK, that was a longshot, and FALSE – would have been cool if it came true).  At the end of the game, UW commits 3 straight pass interference penalties so WSU gets the ball to the UW 10.  But then they mismanage the clock, get forced into a hurried FG attempt, and miss it.  (OK, I was close here.  Instead of the penalties, a UW cornerback inexplicably got burned on a fly pattern.  And WSU did mismanage the clock, but they made the kick.)  

Side notes:

  • Did anyone else hear the referee, at the beginning of the 2nd OT say, “Okey dokey.”
  • Did anyone else find it funny that the Fox Sports play by play guy kept predicting what play WSU was going to run?  He kept saying things like, “Look out for thee short side sweep” and sure enough, WSU ran a short side sweep.  He should be coaching.
  • Can you really put that much blame on a kicker who is trotting out there with a knee brace on?  On his KICKING leg?! Note to coaches….if your kicker has a knee brace on his kicking leg, you need to find a new kicker.
  • I know my coaching career is limited to 15 year old soccer.  But, if one of my players is dominating the game, I have a tendency to keep that player in.  So when a guy with 88 yards rushing in the first half – a guy doing so well that the sideline reporter asks the coach at halftime, “Where have you been hiding this guy” – what thought process includes the decision of sitting him on the bench in the 2nd half?  
  • With :50 left in the game and UW with 4th and 2 against the worst defense in the NCAA, did anyone else look incredulously at the TV when Willingham punted instead of going for the game clinching first down?  If you are 0-10, and 2 yards away from a win, how do you possibly put the game in the hands of the other team?
  • Is this the worst loss in UW history?  Especially since they had it won, and then “Couged” it in classical WSU fashion.  
  • How does this UW team POSSIBLY show up for 2 weeks of practice to go lose to Cal on Dec 6?