Cougs Come Up Roses -- After Glorious Season, 41-35 Apple Cup Victory Sends WSU To Rose Bowl For First Time Since 1931

They streamed onto the damp field at Husky Stadium yesterday, thousands of wet-cheeked students, alumni and the rest of the Washington State faithful.

The security personnel ringing the field couldn't stop them.

Or wouldn't.

After 67 years, the Washington State Cougars were going to the Rose Bowl, and it was time to let the long-suffering fans celebrate. A sea of crimson and gray blanketed the green field as the voices of hundreds screamed and cried and shouted.

The tired but joyous Cougar players lingered among their fans seemingly stunned by their glorious season. It has been a remarkable feat for a school located among Eastern Washington's pea and lentil farms.

By virtue of yesterday's 41-35 victory over the UW before an Apple Cup-record crowd of 74,268, the Cougars earned their first trip to Pasadena, Calif., since 1931.

Coupled with UCLA's 31-24 victory against rival USC, the No. 11-ranked Cougars (10-1) gained the New Year's Day bowl bid from the Pac-10. Washington State finished as the Pac-10 co-champion and earned the berth on the basis of a tie-breaker.

After a magical season, to clinch the Rose Bowl bid against bitter rival Washington on the Huskies' home field, well, the Cougars were stunned.

Shawn McWashington, Washington State defensive back from Seattle, could only shake his head as the rain fell and the feelings began to soak in.

"The rain must have been the tears of Babe Hollingbery and Mel Hein," said McWashington, evoking the names of the legendary coach and player of the Cougars' last Rose Bowl team.

"I feel numb," said Jack Thompson, Washington State's spectacular quarterback from the 1970s. "A lot of people said it couldn't be done. They gave us every excuse in the book."

The indefatigable Washington State fans could relate.

Washington State's first Rose Bowl appearance was a 14-0 victory against Brown in 1916. Fifteen years later the Cougars lost to Alabama, 24-0 in the 1931 Rose Bowl.

That led to almost 50 years of mediocrity, as WSU did not win another postseason bowl bid until the 1981 Holiday Bowl, a 38-36 loss to Brigham Young. The Cougars have played in three bowl games since '81, including the 1994 Alamo Bowl in San Antonio, Texas, where they defeated Baylor, 10-3.

But the Rose Bowl had been an elusive dream. Almost out of reach. That was evident by fan reaction.

With 4 minutes, 2 seconds left in the game, Washington State held a comfortable 41-28 lead. Standing 20 yards behind the Cougar end zone, WSU President Sam Smith was asked about the impending victory.

"I'll tell you how I feel in 4 minutes and 2 seconds," he said.

After 67 years, he could afford to wait.

But once it became official, it was impossible to stop the fans, whose emotions spilled onto the stadium floor on a chilly, gray day in Seattle.

"It's hard to speak about it," said Jeff Jordan, longtime sports editor of the Spokane Spokesman-Review. "You watch so long and it never happens."

Jordan's departure from impartial journalist can be excused in such a moment. Like thousands in Eastern Washington, as well as WSU graduates from the Puget Sound area, he has suffered through the almosts and could-have-beens.

Not this game. Not this season. Although No. 17 Washington scored first, Washington State gained a 17-7 halftime lead, then held on behind the passing of Ryan Leaf in a memorable Apple Cup.

Leaf, a 6-foot-6, 238-pound junior, completed 22 of 38 passes for 358 yards and two touchdowns. His Husky counterpart, sophomore Brock Huard, completed 18 of 36 passes for 283 yards and four touchdowns.

"We've been doing this all year long, haven't we?" Leaf asked. "It was nothing different."

Sure. Tell that to Mike Price, Washington State coach, who was clutching a dozen red roses in the locker room.

"I can't put it into words; it's never happened before," he said. "How do we act?"

Climb up the goal posts, blare horns and scream throughout the night.

Or act like linebacker Brandon Moore. Run around hooting while biting a red rose.