Opponent Q&A: Previewing the September Apple Cup Clash with Craig Powers

Washington vs. Washington State 2024 Apple Cup Preview: Insights from Craig Powers on Jake Dickert, Key Players, and Rivalry History

Washington and Washington State meet for a special September version of the Apple Cup this Saturday at Lumen Field. I caught up with Craig Powers from CougCenter and Podcast Vs. Everyone to preview the rivalry game.

KC: Jake Dickert is in his third full season as the Cougars head coach, how would you describe his coaching style compared to past WSU coaches?

CP: The first notable difference for Dickert is that he was previously a defensive coordinator, while his two predecessors (Nick Rolovich and Mike Leach) were known for their offensive systems. Dickert is also a much more classic cheerleader of the program than either Rolovich (who wasn't much of an outgoing presence) and Leach (whose style is well-documented). 

Dickert's defensive background has definitely made an impact. WSU has had a better defensive than expected in each of his years as a coordinator and head coach. He's also shown that he values WSU's history of success in spread and pass-heavy offenses with his coordinator hires, which was something I was concerned about when he was hired. 

KC: Looking at the remaining schedule for the Cougs, what do you set your final win-loss record floor at? And how about your ceiling? 

CP: This year has been so difficult to gauge after UW decided it just didn't have what it takes to anchor a major college football conference on the West Coast. If this was a typical Pac-12 season, I'd say the Cougs would be in the five-to-seven-win range. However, after the Apple Cup, Wazzu is likely to be favored in every game except at Boise State. Given that, the ceiling could up around 11-1. The more likely scenario is 9-3. The floor, if say the Cougs have the same dip they had last year after an emotion-fueled hot start, would be at 6-6 with four favorable home games left on the schedule. 

KC: Who has impressed you the most on the team through two games this season?

CP: There are a handful of players that jump out to me, starting with the rebuilt Wazzu secondary. Cornerbacks Stephen Hall and Ethan O'Connor have played well. Freshman running back Wayshawn Parker has also been a revelation, anchoring a running back group that is a vast improvement over 2023. 

Finally, have to give a nod to John Mateer. The long training camp battle he had with Zevi Eckhaus appeared to be a red flag, but he's proven to be a legitimate playmaker, especially with his legs. He's already set the WSU single-game record for rushing yards by a quarterback.  

KC: What's your biggest concern with this team?

CP: The biggest concern so far has been pressure from the edge rushers. WSU has just one sack through two games, although they were able to force some bad throws against Texas Tech, getting home has been a challenge. The Cougs lost two very talented players on the ends last season, and even with them they struggled to pressure the quarterback with consistency.

KC: Who is your least favorite Husky, player or coach? 

CP: Little bit of a deep cut here: Carl Bonnell. Originally signed with WSU but went to UW and didn't play much, and wasn't very good in most of the games he played for the Huskies. However, he did play in the 2006 Apple Cup and threw for two touchdowns, including one on an extremely lucky tipped ball. That Apple Cup was my senior year and kept the Cougs out of a bowl (despite going 6-6. It was a slightly different world). 

KC: What's one of your all-time favorite Apple Cup memories?

CP: I was a junior at WSU in 2005 and the Apple Cup was played in Seattle. I tucked away the money for a student ticket early in the semester so I could see the Cougs play in Husky Stadium for the first time. Back before the remodel, the WSU student section was on a rickety set of bleachers behind the endzone. That day, Trandon Harvey took a screen pass from Alex Brink for a late winning touchdown that snapped an eight-game WSU losing streak. It was chaos in our section, and when the game ended we pushed past the temporary bright orange fence and rushed onto the Husky Stadium turf. 

The dad of one of my high school friends, a huge Husky fan and a campus police officer, was on the WSU sideline. He had actually offered to bring me over there during the game, but I was having too much fun with my fellow students. As we rushed onto the field I ran past him. He smiled and said "have fun." 

UW players took exception to our storming of the field, and met us at the W. I got shoved over, but not too hard (I was scrawny, it didn't take much). My friend got pooped on by a seagull as we walked off and she just kinda laughed because we were having such a good time.

KC: What’s your prediction?

CP: I'm going full homer here. I think WSU runs for over 200 yards and wins 31-28.

*Bonus question*

KC: How's the Ol' Crimson Lager? The reviews, at least according to some Husky fans, for the Redhook Montlake Gameday Gold Lager aren't positive...

CP: Very happy to field this question. I'm what many would call a "beer nerd" and I have this theory that our beer journeys almost always cycle back to lager. I've went through stages of ambers to IPAs to barrel aged stouts, saisons, and sour beers, and I have a sort of embarrassingly large cellar of fancy beers. However, I've cycled around to mostly wanting clean and crisp beers at this point, which means I most often order lagers and West Coast IPAs.

With that context, I think Ol' Crimson Legendary Lager is a damn near perfect craft lager. It's more flavorful and nuanced than a domestic light lager, but it's still crushable and chuggable for tailgate drinking games. I have kept a pretty steady supply of it around and I could not be happier with how it turned out. I would have drank a bunch of it regardless, but I actually really enjoy it. 

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You can follow Craig Powers’s coverage and commentary of Washington State Cougar football on X (@TheCraigPowers) and at Podcast Vs. Everyone and CougCenter.