Win the day for Crimson & Gray

It was going to happen eventually. I had faith. And the Cougs rewarded my unfailing loyalty with their first Pac-10 football victory since 2008 on Saturday afternoon. 

The fiance and I have traveled to a number of games during the past few years when it was anything but easy to be a WSU football fan. But Saturday's win against Oregon State eased the sting of watching those painful loses in-person and the criticism and ridicule that comes with residing in the conference basement.

Some questioned why head coach Paul Wulff recruited Jeff Tuel, who had never thrown a varsity high school pass when he committed to play in Pullman. I think Tuel showed everyone Saturday why he's such a special player.

One thing is certain. I will never be accused of being a fair-weather fan. I will support my school whether it be in the elation of victory or the despair of defeat. And it was nice to see a little of that elation Saturday in the players singing the fight song and the outpouring of support and pride on various social networking sites after the game.

Now the challenge is to keep the momentum going during the three-week break heading into the Apple Cup. Regardless of what's to come, I will be cheering on the Cougs.

A little Pullman Water to celebrate the streak-breaking victory. I think so. GO COUGS!

50 states: Tour de Pac-10

Cross the California colleges off the list of the Pac-10 schools stadium tour. Stanford Stadium in Palo Alto was the final stop in the Golden State. And the fiance and I definitely didn't save the best for last. 

The atmosphere was really strange. You would never know it was their Homecoming or the team was ranked No. 12 in the country by the quiet fans and half-empty stadium. At times, the WSU fans were louder, which made me happy even though we lost by 10.

The best California Pac-10 stadium to watch a football game in is easily Cal. The pre-game festivities are always fun unlike UCLA; Bears fans actually cheer for their team unlike Stanford; And Cal supporters aren't rude to opposing schools like USC.

This upcoming weekend, I'll cheer on the Cougs at ASU's Sun Devil Stadium for the first time. After that, the only Pac-10 stadiums I haven't seen a game in are Autzen Stadium in Eugene, Arizona Stadium in Tucson and Husky Stadium in Seattle (Which I will never visit). And with the conference expansion, future trips to Colorado's and Utah's stadiums are in order.

WSU at UCLA: Rose Bowl, Oct. 4, 2008

WSU at USC:
The Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum, Sept. 26, 2009

WSU at Cal: Memorial Stadium, Oct. 24, 2009

WSU at Stanford:
Stanford Stadium, Oct. 23, 2010

Five for Friday: Going back to Cali

It seems like the fiance and I left California such a long time ago when in reality it's only been eight months. And this weekend, we're making our triumphant return to the Golden State, more specifically the Bay Area ... Also known as one of my most favorite places in the world.

We're staying with our wonderful friends, Fred and Paty, and attending the Washington State/Stanford football game Saturday in Palo Alto. Our school will most likely get annihilated, but I am looking forward to completing my California Pac-10 schools stadium tour.

In honor of the trip back to the land I called home for three years, here are some of the most incredible sights I had the privilege of capturing through my lens:

1. Monterey: December 2007

 2. Santa Monica: April 2008

 

3. Hollywood: April 2008

4. San Francisco: July 2008

 

5. Pismo Beach: April 2009 

And because I couldn't decide on only five images, you get one more. Happy Weekend, friends!

6. Yosemite: November 2009

50 states: Hello, Pullman. Remember me?

The fiance and I had an amazing time in Pullman this past weekend. The improvements to the campus and town were modern and pretty, but a lot of the fun stuff is still the same. The buildings, stadium and grounds received a much-needed face lift, but special places like the Coug and Cougar Country thankfully remain untouched.

The most spectacular of makeovers was the CUB. When I attended WSU, the student union building was nothing to write home about. Now, it houses a bar, two-story bookstore, flat-screen TVs with comfy chairs and couches and countless dining options. Needless to say the current students are spoiled.

We stayed in the fiance's old dorm, which the school has turned into a hotel while the building is being renovated. For $160 including tax, we got the room for two nights, four meal vouchers to our old dining hall and day passes to the Rec Center. Not only was it reasonably priced and conveniently located right on campus, but the nostalgia of staying in the residence hall was more than worth the price.

It was great catching up with old friends, patronizing a lot of my favorite college spots and finally witnessing a football win in person. Although it didn't feel like much of a victory, considering the team should've dominated Montana State from start to finish, it was nice to be back in Martin Stadium.

A lot of people make fun of Pullman because it's located in the middle of nowhere, but after being away for four years, my decision to attend college there was reaffirmed this past weekend. It may not have the fancy trappings of big cities, but it's a true college town and one that will always have a place in my heart.

GO COUGS!

Poster of success?

If that's true, the Cougs will be the 28th best football team in the country this upcoming season. If not, well, they still have the 28th best schedule poster in the land according to Bleacher Report. Criteria for making the list included clarity, schedule (Is it clear and easy to follow? ... Not strength of), photo quality, uniqueness, eye appeal and coolness factor.

You can request WSU schedule posters and cards here. It looks like they're out of football ones, though. I still haven't found a place to get past posters. Maybe it's worth a call to the marketing and promotions department?! I have a collection of sports schedule posters from my time in Pullman sitting in the closet waiting to be framed when we have a house with a game room.

And on a geeky note, I couldn't be more pleased to see three of my favorite things, college football, visual design and my school, combined.

Oregon State was the only other Pac-10 school on the list, coming in at No. 25.

Vanderbilt was No. 1, but I didn't think it was anything special.

Honorable mentions:

No. 3: Bowling Green

No. 4: Iowa State

 

No. 5: Minnesota 

No. 7: LSU

No. 26: Louisville

 No. 35: Baylor

No. 43: Wake Forest 

 No. 48: Navy

[All posters courtesy of schools' sports information departments]