I admit it. I grew up a Husky fan. Being from the west side of the state, I bled purple and gold until I was a sophomore in high school.
Then in one fell swoop, something strange happened.
Cougar mania hit me.
That year, Jason Gesser led WSU to the Rose Bowl in what was the beginning of three consecutive 10-win seasons. The following year, Matt Kegel unexpectedly led the Cougars to a Holiday Bowl win over Texas. It was easy to join the bandwagon.
But what defines a real Cougar?
Former head coach Jim Walden once said, “I can’t define it; I can’t tell somebody who isn’t a Cougar what it’s like. There’s something that happens at Washington State, you quietly and subtly become infected. There are very few people I’ve ever met who have gone to WSU and not come away with a favorable impression … Washington State was a passion. Being a Cougar was a passion.”
I agree.
Head coach Paul Wulff is rebuilding a program decimated by off-the-field incidents, academic casualties and recruiting struggles. It’s times like these that separate the true Cougars from the bandwagon fans.
I went online to www.cougfan.com and asked fellow Cougars what being a Cougar meant. Here are some of the responses I received.
“It’s like being part of a really good club … It’s not easy to be a Coug. It’s not easy to attend WSU. Unless you live in Pullman, Moscow or Spokane you have to make an effort to attend WSU. You have to plan your drives from Tri-Cities, Wenatchee or the West Side. You have to plan moving your stuff back and forth. It’s not a casual decision. And once you’ve made that effort, you’re part of the club. And I think that plays into supporting the sports teams. You know it’s going to take some effort. It may not always be pretty but you’re part of a group that is very dedicated, proud and passionate.” – PhilX
And also, “Heartaches, strokes, headaches, mild seizures … but it’s worth it!” – YoungCity6
I believe these are true words to describe what being a Cougar is all about. Being a Cougar means being anywhere in the country and saying “Go Cougs” when I see someone else wearing crimson and gray.
I’m glad I made the decision to attend WSU. Once a Coug, always a Coug.