It’s almost football season.
The sport that never rests is upon us. College football season is near, and while it may be more than 100 degrees in much of eastern Washington this weekend, signs of fall are creeping in.
One of those signs is the start of preseason football camp, which gets underway in Pullman on July 31. WSU will hold 14 practices and two scrimmages between then and the start of school. Gone are the days of practicing at a middle school in Lewiston, Idaho. And I can even remember when they still held two-a-days.
Things get started July 31 at 9 a.m., and let’s hope for the sake of players, the temperatures cool a bit from what we’re expecting this weekend.
Anyway, here’s the full schedule if you find yourself in and around Pullman:
- July 31: 9 a.m.
- Aug. 1: 9 a.m.
- Aug. 2: 8:30 a.m.
- Aug. 3: 8:30 a.m.
- Aug. 4: Off
- Aug. 5: 8:30 a.m.
- Aug. 6: 8:30 a.m.
- Aug. 7: 9 a.m.
- Aug. 8: 8:30 a.m.
- Aug. 9: Off
- Aug. 10: 10:15 a.m. (Scrimmage)
- Aug. 11: Off
- Aug. 12: 8:30 a.m.
- Aug. 13: 8:30 a.m.
- Aug. 14: 7:30 p.m.
- Aug. 15: 4:30 p.m.
- Aug. 16: 9:15 a.m.
- Aug. 17: 6:45 p.m. (Scrimmage)
- Aug. 18: Off
- Aug. 19: First day of school
Practices are open to the media, and this note in the school’s release brought back one memory: Media will also have access to viewing areas adjacent to Rogers Practice Field.
That would be the time during the Bill Doba years when I was covering the team for The Daily Evergreen and a couple decked out in Oregon State gear—like, bright orange—roamed the practice field and were also seen watching from the roof of the library. It was very odd, and a sign that maybe these practices needed at least a little more security.
Clear your calendars and plan those fall Saturdays: Cougar football is almost here.