Washington State Football: Cougars hope to overcome tumultuous offseason
By Zach Bigalke
Washington State football prepares for a new era on both sides of the ball. What lies in store for the Cougars in the Pac-12 North in 2018?
Looking for your favorite team? Find their preview on the 2018 Countdown to Kickoff
It was an uneven 2017 season as Washington State once again fell short in its quest to win the Pac-12 North. Starting quarterback Luke Falk was benched several times and dealt with injuries over the course of the season. As a result, Tyler Hilinski gained some valuable experience filling in when the opportunities arose.
Hilinski looked like the surefire frontrunner to replace the graduating Falk as starter in 2018. But the young quarterback’s suicide in January, weeks after the end of the 2017 campaign, ended that plan. Hilinski’s death put life into a perspective beyond the gridiron, and his memory will cast a long shadow over the upcoming season.
At the Senior Bowl, Falk wore No. 3 instead of his regular No. 4 in honor of Hilinski. The young team that remains in Pullman will play to honor the memory of their departed teammate all throughout 2018. But football can only matter so much when mortality comes into full view.
Mike Leach and his staff have a long task ahead of them. Spring practices offered the chance to begin sorting out who might be ready to step up into bigger roles this season. It allowed a chance for first looks at freshmen who graduated early to enroll in time for spring practice. And it illustrated that there is still a lot to work on moving forward in Pullman.
How will the Cougars fare in 2018 with a rebuilt offense? Keep reading for a preview and predictions on how the 2018 season will turn out for Washington State in 2018.