Washington State – BYU Moved to Thursday, Aug. 30 on ESPN
By Kyle Kensing
Washington State’s athletic website wsucougars.com announced that the Cougars’ 2012 opener at Brigham Young has been moved to Thursday, Aug. 30. ESPN will broadcast Mike Leach’s WSU debut, with kickoff slated for 7:15 PT.
Leach returns to BYU, his alma mater and home to the football program that shaped his offensive philosophy. Leach gained notoriety guiding Texas Tech through a successful in the 2000s, employing a high octane, passing-oriented offense inspired by LaVell Edwards and Norm Chow. His first WSU team promises to be similarly based, with wide receiver Marquess Wilson and quarterback Jeff Tuel in the fold.
BYU is coming off a 10-win debut as an independent.
A little piece of irony in the game’s Thursday night move is that Leach was dismissed from his post at Texas Tech following a clash with former ESPN analyst Craig James. James was noteworthy as color analyst for ESPN’s Thursday night broadcasts.
James left the Worldwide Leader after the 2011 football season to pursue a seemingly ill-fated Senate run. ESPN announced in February it would not retain James.