Apple Cup cancelled!

[Michael K.]

I wonder if we hadn't gone ahead 36 to 0 and outgained AZ by 300 in 3 quarters...if the Cougs might have waited longer to announce they didn't have enough players?

We are going to win the North, at 4 and 0!

[Sibelius Hindemith]

Maybe we can find a division 2 team to play in the meantime.

[Captain 97]

BYU has an opening this week but there are issues with testing protocol plus they would get bumped if a PAC 12 school becomes available so they are not that keen on committing anyway. Utah may be a possibility because there are doubts about weather or not ASU will be ready by this weekend.

[Michael K.]

BYU has an opening this week but there are issues with testing protocol plus they would get bumped if a PAC 12 school becomes available so they are not that keen on committing anyway. Utah may be a possibility because there are doubts about weather or not ASU will be ready by this weekend.

A buddy of mine said he heard BYU didn't want to commit until they saw where they stood in the Playoff picture. Basically, they don't want to play a real team until the Final 4. Based on the ass beatings we have given them lately, I guess that makes sense. My guess is we end up with a bye week. I am supposed to be in Phx this week...was hoping to get to the ASU vs Utah game. Even if it is played, that won't happen as fans aren't really allowed in, but I will tell you all, if you get a chance to watch a game at ASU, take the opportunity!

[D-train]

Might play San Diego St. now. I would even agree to honoring Dan McGwire at half time to see this team play again.

[D-train]

Dick Fain just might get some push back on this tweet:

https://twitter.com/dickfain/status/1330687222249492488

[Michael K.]

Not sure who Bryan Duncan is, but if he feels that Oregon State lighting it up through the air against the Cougars is similar? He didn't watch all four quarters as he claims. Take the muffed snap away, and how does that game look? The Cougars aren't one dimensional and now their coach cares? Good Lord man.

[Michael K.]

BYWho just one spot ahead of Whoregon in the playoff rankings. I wonder if they think they could use that game against us now? Anyone, anywhere anytime...just not the Huskies at Washington this Saturday! Fucking chumps.

[D-train]

Looks like it will be Utah on Saturday.

Wilner suggesting that Pac 12 should think outside the box in order to reschedule the Apple Cup. Good luck with that.

The last time the state of Washington went a year without an Apple Cup, the Nazis were in retreat along the Western Front.

To make up for the hiatus, the Huskies and Cougars returned to competition the next year, in the fall of 1945, and played twice. UW won the first game, in Seattle, 6-0, while WSU took the rematch in Pullman, 7-0.

Now, COVID-19 is raging, the Cougars are depleted, and the rivalry’s 113th edition is in doubt.

It won’t be played as scheduled on Friday; no makeup date has been set.

But unusual circumstances — whether it’s a World War or a global pandemic — require creative solutions, especially for something as sacred as the Apple Cup is to the Evergreen State.

They need to play, no matter what it takes or when it happens.

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It might work within the framework of the Pac-12’s seven-game schedule, assuming the Cougars get their players out of quarantine and both teams are healthy the rest of the way.

Maybe they end up with vacancies on the weekends of Dec. 5 or 12.

Maybe Washington doesn’t play for the conference championship on Friday, Dec. 18, and both teams are available the following day.

The Pac-12 hasn’t decided whether the 19th will be used for intra-division makeup games or North vs. South matchups based on the standings (i.e., No. 2 vs. No. 2, No. 3 vs. No. 3).

But if none of that works — if the Huskies and Cougars are unable to tangle on any of those final weekends of the regular season — here’s what they should do:

You play the game in Pullman after the regular season.

Maybe it’s the following weekend, on Dec. 26-27. Maybe it’s in early January. Maybe it’s on a Wednesday.

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The specifics would depend on the bowl schedule, which itself is in flux, and whether the teams are even interested in traveling thousands of miles for a non-conference game in an empty stadium.

The Pac-12 has already lost two partner bowls for this year (the Holiday and Redbox) and two more are seemingly in doubt (the Los Angeles and Las Vegas).

But if there’s a window available after the seven-week regular season, the teams should use it.

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Sure, it would be unusual, perhaps even unprecedented. Other than Army-Navy, we are unaware of any non-bowl game being played following the conference championships.

But in 2020, there are no rules.

In fact, the schools should change the name to the Apple Bowl — just for this year, of course — and play it for a cause.

For COVID-19 relief in the state, perhaps.

They couldn’t raise money in the stadium, of course. But they could ask fans and corporate partners to donate.

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We’re quite confident the Pac-12 would sign off on the idea. The goal, after all, is to play as many games as possible while keeping the players safe.

In fact, there would be financial benefits. Each conference game carries a $5 million paycheck (approximately) from ESPN or Fox.

Split that 12 ways, and the Apple Bowl would generate $417,000 for each member. The conference should do whatever it can to help arrange the game.

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Of this, we are certain:

The athletic directors, UW’s Jen Cohen and WSU’s Pat Chun, have an excellent working relationship and understand the importance of the game.

There could be limitations, especially if the Huskies win the conference and are bound for a New Year’s Six game.

Admittedly, playing the Apple Bowl in the middle of January is probably too late.

But there are plenty of dates potentially available, especially if the schools are willing to step outside the box.

If there’s a way, they need to play.

[D-train]

Looks like yet another DVR game for me. Sigh.

Now, it appears inevitable that the Huskies and Utes will be scheduled to meet on short notice this weekend. The only questions are where and when.

And ESPN may have already provided an answer. The network sent an email this afternoon stating that a game between UW and an unnamed opponent would be played in Seattle at 7:30 p.m. PT on Saturday and aired on ESPN.

A year ago, Utah defeated Washington 33-28 inside Husky Stadium — scoring two touchdowns in the fourth quarter to steal a road win. UW leads the all-time series 12-2 and had won four straight against the Utes before falling last November.