WSU

The X-factor in this year’s Apple Cup? WSU QB Gardner Minshew

Nov 19, 2018, 2:41 PM | Updated: 2:54 pm

Gardner Minshew was this year's Pac-12 Offensive Player of the Year. (AP)...

Gardner Minshew was this year's Pac-12 Offensive Player of the Year. (AP)

(AP)

The college football rivalry between the Washington State Cougars and Washington Huskies dates back 118 years, but the meeting between the two teams at this year’s Apple Cup could be one of the most exciting iterations yet.

UW’s Browning has chance to cap stellar career in Apple Cup

The last several contests haven’t been close: Washington has won the last five Apple Cups, and the last four games have been by a three or more score margin of victory.

There’s good reason to believe this year could bring a change in that dynamic, and according to 710 ESPN Seattle’s Jake Heaps, the biggest reason for that change will be Washington State quarterback Gardner Minshew.

“The defensive staff for UW has done an excellent job changing the picture,” Heaps said during the Blue 42 segment of Brock and Salk. The former NCAA and NFL quarterback attributes Washington’s string of success to their defense and run game.

“When I go back and watch the tape, they change the picture every time, pre-snap to post-snap, and really create confusion for the Washington State quarterbacks. On the offensive end, UW has really established the run game, and they’ve been able to jump ahead quickly and kind of put into the heart of WSU fans and their team that you’re in a hole you’ll have to come back from, and that’s tough to overcome mentally.

“With all that being said, the X-factor and difference-maker in this is Garner Minshew. He’s simply just different. He doesn’t just have this team believing, but they feel like they’re bulletproof. This team isn’t just hype; they’ve been battle-tested and it’s very much real. Washington is going to have to stick to the script of what they’ve been able to do the last couple years.”

This year’s Apple Cup will be played in Pullman, Wash. on Friday, Nov. 23 at 5:30 p.m PST. You can hear the pregame show on 710 ESPN Seattle at 3:30 p.m., with play-by-play beginning at 5:30 p.m.

Heaps also answered questions about the key to the Seahawks’ Thursday night win over the Packers and Monday night’s matchup between Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes and Rams quarterback Jared Goff. You can hear the full segment in the audio clip embedded above. New segments of Blue 42 will air every weekday at 7:45 a.m. on Brock and Salk.

WSU

UW Huskies athletic director Pat Chun...

Tim Booth

New UW Huskies AD Pat Chun: Washington where he’s ‘supposed to be’

Pat Chun was officially introduced as the next athletic director at Washington after serving in that role rival Washington State.

2 hours ago

UW Huskies WSU Cougars Pac-12 Apple Cup...

Brandon Gustafson

Huard’s Reaction: WSU’s Pat Chun was hire UW ‘needed to make’

"For the University of Washington, he's a tremendous hire," Brock Huard said of new UW Huskies athletic director Pat Chun.

2 days ago

UW Huskies AD WSU Pat Chun apple cup...

Brandon Gustafson

UW Huskies hire Pat Chun as next athletic director from rival WSU

The next UW Huskies athletic director is Pat Chun, who comes to Washington after serving as AD at rival school WSU since 2018.

2 days ago

WSU Kyle Smith Myles Rice Cougars...

Josh Dubow

Kyle Smith leaves WSU to be Stanford basketball coach

Stanford has hired Kyle Smith away from the WSU Cougars to take over its struggling men’s basketball program.

3 days ago

WSU Cougars Iowa State NCAA Tournament...

The Associated Press

Iowa St pulls away late to beat WSU 67-56 for spot in Sweet 16

Iowa State cranked up the second-half pressure against WSU, and the No. 2 seed Cyclones marched into their seventh Sweet 16 with a 67-56 victory over the seventh-seeded Cougars in the NCAA Tournament.

5 days ago

WSU Isaac Jones...

Eric Olson

WSU star Isaac Jones went from loading trucks to playing for Sweet 16 spot

WSU forward Isaac Jones went from loading trucks to a junior college to starring for a WSU Cougars team fighting for a Sweet 16 berth.

5 days ago

The X-factor in this year’s Apple Cup? WSU QB Gardner Minshew