Price always has time to talk about Cougar football

  • Larry Henry / Sports Columnist
  • Thursday, May 9, 2002 9:00pm
  • Sports

SEATTLE – Sometimes a guy likes to get in his car and just drive around the state.

Of course, if you’re a Division I football coach, you’d better or you may not have a job long.

You’ve got to get out and evaluate players, which was what brought Washington State boss Mike Price to the Puget Sound region this week.

That and Mother’s Day, which he celebrated early with his mom, Laura Jane, with dinner at Lombardi’s on the Everett waterfront. And he didn’t even have to pay for it. Some Cougar alum whom Price had never seen sprang for the bill.

“If I’d known he was going to do that, I’d have had dessert,” he said, laughing. “When I’m in Pullman, nobody even buys me a cup of coffee. It’s just, ‘Oh, there’s the coach.’ “

The coach had been to 30 high schools in three days to look at films of prospective junior players. He’d also taken in the Western Conference South Division track meet at Mariner’s Goddard Stadium the night before.

Checking out those Kamiak kids, were you?

Maybe, he replied coyly.

The road seemed to agree with him. He looked rested and refreshed, dressed in gray slacks and gray shirt with a crimson tie and a black sportcoat. His humor was as cornball as ever, which is one of his endearing traits.

Asked why he didn’t borrow one of WSU’s private jets to get around in, he said the Cougar mode of travel was much more spartan – either a crop duster or your own car.

And so here he was at mid-morning in the WSU West offices, taking time out to meet with the media and talk about whatever presented itself.

If you went to the window and looked south from the 11th floor of this downtown office building, you might have been able to see the new Seahawks stadium, where the Cougars will play their season-opening game on Aug.31 against Nevada-Reno.

That doesn’t have Price as jacked as a win over the Huskies, but he is excited about it. “It’s the right game, the right week and it satisfies everybody who’s been bugging us about playing over here,” he said.

You would think it’d draw a good crowd, a combination of Cougar fans (there are 80,000 alums within easy driving distance) and maybe even a few Huskies to check out the Seahawks’ new digs on Labor Day weekend. But 67,000 – which is roughly what the place seats? Don’t know about that.

So far, about 9,500 tickets have been sold.

“I’d be disappointed with anything less than a sellout,” said Price, who always looks on the sunny side of things. “They’re going to be disappointed with anything less than a great victory.”

The Cougars got 10 of them last year, and are projected to be strong again this year.

They’ve got a quarterback they’re pushing for the Heisman Trophy and a catchy slogan – “Guess Who for Heisman?” Jason Gesser, that’s who.

One national publication says that Gesser has the best chance of anyone on the West Coast to win the Heisman since USC’s Marcus Allen captured it in 1981. Gesser has most of his line back and some talented receivers. “This could possibly be the best offensive line we’ve had in 14 years,” Price said.

The challenge will be keeping the quarterback healthy through a 13-game schedule that doesn’t end until Dec.7. It’s 13 games now, but it may be down to 12 if the Cougars have their way. They’re working on lopping off the Nov.30 game at Hawaii, if they can find a suitable foe for the Warriors.

Price wasn’t looking forward to an emotional game against Washington in the Apple Cup on Nov.23, then a flight to the Islands the next week, followed seven days later by a trip to Southern California to take on the UCLA Bruins in the Rose Bowl.

If it hadn’t been for TV, the Cougars could have been facing the prospect of playing UCLA then the Huskies on back-to-back weekends. But ABC convinced everyone that it would be smart to move the Nov. 16 Cougar-Bruin game to December. “That’s a lot of car washes,” Price cracked, envisioning all that TV loot.

This way, the Cougars also get a bye week before the Apple Cup game in Pullman, so they have two weeks to prepare. “I don’t mind going down to Pasadena in December,” Price said. “With our indoor facility, we’ll be able to practice better in December.”

Price at 56 doesn’t look much different than he did when he came to WSU 14 years ago. One thing that has changed is he’s now the dean of Pacific-10 Conference coaches. “We just got through with the Pac-10 (coaches) meetings,” he said, “and they all reminded me of that.”

The coaching is still fun, though his social calendar is filled up. That’s what happens when you go 10-2. “That part has taken a little bit out of the coaching,” he said. “The two hours I’m on the practice field are the best two hours of the day.”

He also opens his door for kids having personal problems. And five years ago, he started having his position coaches meet with their kids every week for one-on-ones. “It’s a 5-on-5,” Price said. The coach and the player each gets five minutes to talk about anything but football.

Price told a story about one kid who just didn’t like to talk.

He came in to see his specialty coach and a long silence ensued. Finally, the coach – Bill Doba, who runs the defense – piped up and asked, “So, you got a girlfriend? How’s your love life?”

To which the kid replied, “I really don’t think that’s any of your business.”

“You’re right,” Doba said. “It’s not.”

End of conversation.

Talk to us

> Give us your news tips.

> Send us a letter to the editor.

> More Herald contact information.

More in Sports

Monroe's Halle Keller drives past Meadowdale's Payton Fleishman during a Feb. 14, 2025 3A District 1 playoff game at Meadowdale High School. (Qasim Ali / The Herald)
Last-second layup powers Monroe past Mavs

The Bearcats staged a 50-49 road upset in a district playoff clash.

Shorecrest’s Cassie Chesnut leaps in the air to block a shot by Shorewood’s Bridget Cox during the 3A district playoff game on Friday, Feb. 14, 2025 in Shoreline, Washington. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)
Shorecrest girls win rubber match against Shorewood

Cassie Chesnut’s 28 points, 18 rebounds pushes the Scots to District 1 3A semifinals with 53-38 win.

Freshman leads Jackson to 4A district swim title

Syunta Lee sets two meet records as Timberwolves edge Lake Stevens.

Shorecrest wins 3A district swim title

Snohomish’s Torsten Hokanson sets two meet records and leads two winning relays.

Snohomish’s Kendall Hammer yells in celebration with teammate Snohomish’s Sienna Capelli after she makes a shot and is fouled during the game on Thursday, Jan. 9, 2025 in Snohomish, Washington. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)
Prep basketball roundup for Friday, Feb. 14

Snohomish, Stanwood girls cruise into district semis.

Vote for The Herald’s Prep Athlete of the Week for Feb. 2-8

The Athlete of the Week nominees for Feb. 2-8. Voting closes at… Continue reading

Mountlake Terrace’s Svayjeet Singh leaps in the air after the basketball during the 3A district loser-out playoff game against Snohomish on Thursday, Feb. 13, 2025 in Mountlake Terrace, Washington. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)
Snohomish upsets Mountlake Terrace for first playoff win in 11 years

Bryson Wheat scored 25 in Panthers’ 49-43 win to advance to the District 1 Boys 3A quarterfinals

Julio Rodríguez (left) and manager Dan Wilson (right) of the Seattle Mariners react after the game against the Oakland Athletics at T-Mobile Park on Sept. 27, 2024, in Seattle, Washington. (Steph Chambers / Getty Images / Tribune News Services)
Dan Wilson begins first spring training as M’s manager

An anxious eagerness to get through the first of… Continue reading

Marysville Getchell junior Bubba Palocol reverses directions while dribbling against Arlington during a playoff matchup at Arlington High School on Saturday, Feb. 24, 2024, in Arlington, Washington. (Ryan Berry / The Herald)
Prep basketball roundup for Thursday, Feb. 13

Marysville Getchell, Lakewood boys each earn district wins

Kenneth Walker III runs with against the New York Jets at MetLife Stadium on Dec. 1, 2024. (Photo courtesy of the Seattle Seahawks)
Seahawks hire run game coach

Justin Outten added to staff as Mike Macdonald continues attempts to bolster rushing attack.

Balanced scoring attack leads Gonzaga

Zags take over second place in WCC with 88-77 win over USF.

Shorewood senior Bridget Cox (11) elevates to get a shot over Everett senior Aimelie Hovde-Girard (21) in Shorewood's 41-30 win in the opening round of the District 1 3A Girls Tournament on Wednesday, Feb. 12, 2025 in Shoreline, Washington. (Joe Pohoryles / The Herald)
Shorewood girls basketball avoids Everett upset bid in 41-30 win

Glasser’s ‘dagger’ 3 caps second-half run, pushes No. 5 Stormrays to 3A District 1 Quarterfinals

Support local journalism

If you value local news, make a gift now to support the trusted journalism you get in The Daily Herald. Donations processed in this system are not tax deductible.