COUGARS

OK, so there was some venting going on. Completely understandable. And, for the most part, it was civil. Now you can vent on me. I've included the unedited version of my game story and my part of the notebook for you to read.

After absorbing a 70-0 throttling from Arizona last week, a two-point victory today would have been a positive step for the Vandals. Instead, their 42-27 win over Idaho State left everyone in the program smiling. Especially coach Robb Akey.

Keep reading for an unedited version of my game story.

COUGARS

UPDATED 12:25 a.m.

If you can stand watching any of that game again, here's a video of post-game interviews and highlights from WSU's 66-3 loss to Cal. It's cleaned up from the rough cut I posted earlier.

Talking about the game are Paul Wulff, Todd Sturdy, Gary Rogers, Kevin Lopina and Greg Trent.

Get the Flash Player to see this video.

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We're heading down to the field soon and then into the interview room, so we won't have a chance to post the final score. But if you watched this one, you know the score was immaterial. Go ahead and talk among yourselves until we get back. For those of you who asked, criticism is fine, but keep it civil please.

COUGARS

It started bad and got worse. The Bears scored on their first play, they had 255 yards of total offense and they led 42-3. Not what Paul Wulff could have thought would happen and certainly not what anyone connected with WSU could have hoped. We'll be back later.

The first-half magic Eastern Washington used to throw a big-time scare in Colorado's big-time football program disappeared in the second half, and the Eagles lost a 31-24 heartbreaker in Boulder.

The story filed by EWU sports information director Dave Cook -- complete with post-game quotes from Eagles head coach Beau Baldwin -- can be accessed here. There are links to other game stories below, and this link to a Denver Post slideshow of the game.

I will update this post throughout the night as additional stories become available, so leave your thoughts on the game here.

The Panthers gained 422 total yards while allowing 147 and intercepting three passes in their 34-6 win over Odessa, despite amassing 90 yards in penalties.

It's halftime in Boulder and it sounds like the Eagles have done a nice job of taking the crowd out of the game in building a 21-7 lead over Colorado.

I'm working in the office this evening, and I'm not sure when I'll be able to post the game story we'll put together from various reports.

In the meantime, feel free -- regardless of the outcome -- to weigh in here following the game. And if Eastern's lead holds up, let's have some thoughts on where such a victory would rank among the greatest in the school's history.

COUGARS • UPDATED: 2:40 P.M.; 3 P.M.

With kickoff about an hour away, we have some pregame notes for you. Read on.

It's time to get ready for today's game, Eastern Washington at Colorado, with advance stories and anything else we can find, plus our tour around the Big Sky Conference.

However, we take a short time for kudos to the women's volleyball team for its big win over Notre Dame.

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Game day in the Palouse dawns bright and clear. I don't know how bright and clear the students will be by game time, however, if the ones in my apartment complex are any indication, partying until the sun came up. If any of them are reading this … you're too darn loud! OK, I've officially turned into my father. Oh, right, get to the football stuff. Read on.

The first football gameday of 2008 in Moscow is here, and it promises to be one of those great late-summer afternoons. Too bad the Vandals and Idaho State are playing inside.

Read on for previews of the in-state matchup.

There were no upsets, but the Greater Spokane League had some interesting games on the first full night of football

East Valley led 6-0 at half and trailed just 21-13 after three quarters before running out of steam against Gonzaga Prep, which won 31-13 in Dave McKenna's coaching debut. David Stockton at QB and a three-pronged option package of speedy soph Bishop Sankey, bullish ex-lineman John Lampert and misdirection from Kevin Mumma, plus excellent blocking and timely defense made it happen.

Lewis and Clark put a hurting on Lake City 39-0 behind Vaughn Kapiko and Taylor Eglet, Mead just got by Mt. Spokane 29-22 an indication the Wildcats will be a factor when all is said and done.

CV won 31-0 over Rogers, but yardage came grudglingly and U-Hi and Shadle battled evenly, the Titans winning 13-6 at home.

Here's my unedited game story on the Bullpups-Knights. The finished product is in tomorrow's Spokesman-Review

The Lewis and Clark football team breezed past Lake City 39-0 Friday.

Click below to read Greg Lee's unedited game story.

Jason Shoot staffed the Coeur d'Alene-Southridge game, and his game story is attached to the bottom of Lee's story.

Other Idaho scores:

Southridge 33, Coeur d'Alene 17
Mountain View 28, Post Falls 6
Lewiston 39, Clarkston 0
Priest River 14, St. Maries 14
Moscow 21, Timberlake 0
Sandpoint 21, Colville 20
Lakeside 30, Mullan 6
Lethbridge 39, Bonners Ferry 14
Wallace 54, Clark Fork 6
Cheney 30, Lakeland 10
Grangeville 27, Kellogg 17

Robb Soliday of Bsports.org gave a preview of what to expect in the Southeast 2B this season.

COUGARS

I know it's early in the afternoon, but you don't have to wait any longer for your Cougar news. And, if you are thinking about taking a Friday afternoon nap, maybe the unedited version of our Saturday advance will help ... revive you (I bet you thought I was going to say put you to sleep but that was too easy). Read on.

Austin Daye stopped by the MAC on Thursday to watch the charity game and he provided an update on his knee during a brief interview conducted in the third quarter.

Click below for some of his comments.

First game of the the season is not necessarily an indicator of things to come, but Ferris' victory had elements of the last two seasons. Aaron Roberts had a huge game at receiver/DB scoring four times and the Saxons' sizeable line was tough to penetrate in the 49-6 victory. Here's my story.

Eastern Washington will be hooked up against a Big 12 Conference power for the second week in a row on Saturday when he takes on Colorado in Boulder.

You can read an unedited version of the game advance that will appear in Saturday's S-R -- along with some additional comments from head coach Beau Baldwin and some of his players -- below.

The Eastern Washington football team is playing up for the second straight weekend but its not backing down.

The Eagles aren't predicting a win, but they will play with confidence.

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What have we got for you on this fine Friday? An early morning post here in Spokane, with some links and a couple of answers to questions. What more could you ask for? By the way, after being down on the Martin Stadium turf yesterday, two things hit me: The new scoreboard is pretty cool (a Laz-E-Boy and a beverage at the 30 facing west would be just about perfect) and the sun is going to be a pain Saturday for the passing game of the team marching east in the third quarter.

General manager Tim Speltz liked the Spokane Chiefs’ puck possession on Thursday night.

He also like the end result – a 3-1 Chiefs victory over the Everett Silvertips at the Tri-City Americans tournament in Kennewick.

More below...

I'm reasonably certain that GU fans aren't out there desperately surfing the net, trying to find out the final score from Thursday's charity basketball game at the McCarthey Athletic Center.

But it's either post this write-up now or wait 'til the morning. We're opting for tonight.

So click below to read an unedited article about an entertaining game. And come back tomorrow for some thoughts from Austin Daye, who spent a few minutes courtside.

Due to the Lakeside (WA) football field being vandalized early in the week, the Eagles have changed their home opener to an away game against Quincy.

VANDALS

As promised, I'm posting the Vandal notebook that will appear in tomorrow's S-R. Keep reading for the story, which focuses on Jayson Bird's ties with Idaho, Idaho State and a current member of the Vandals.