"Cougs vs. Everybody": Washington State drops a hype video touting school's status as a 'power' school

What's happened to the Pac-12 is a complete tragedy. A failure of leadership and imagination stretching back years.

But what's happening to Washington State specifically is a tragedy within a tragedy. The Cougars are one of the remaining Pac-4, but they're No. 4 of 4. Stanford and Cal may or may not wind up in the ACC. 

But even Oregon State has garnered a bit of the spotlight. It's temporary and not really genuine, sure. But it's a dose of bright, beautiful sunshine splashing on the Beavers before thee unknown of tomorrow.

Coming off a 10-3 season, Jonathan Smith's Beavers have attracted support as a dark horse Playoff candidate, an orange-and-black brick through the glass of all the forces that killed the Pac-12.

And then there's Washington State.

The Cougars went 7-6 in 2022 and were picked to finish seventh in the Pac-12's grand finale.

But, dadgumit, this is a proud program representing a proud university. Wazzu has contributed more than it's share to the fabric of college football, and the game will be worse with them in a diminished role. Heck, the Cougar flag flying at every GameDay location from Tuscaloosa to Timbuktu is more than plenty of SEC, Big Ten and Big 12 schools have contributed to God's Favorite Sport. (If you're a Washington State alum and your school really does get "relegated," do you continue flying the flag as an act of defiance, or stop as an act of protest?)

On the field, Washington State owns four Pac-12 championships, 18 bowl trips, one half the great Apple Cup rivalry, and gave us figures ranging from Gardner Minshew to Keith Jackson. Mike Leach's career might've very well stopped in 2009 if Washington State didn't hire him in 2011. 

Clearly sensing the ground disintegrating beneath their feet, Washington State produced this hype video, arguing for their seat at the table moving forward.

Don't miss this slide, touting how Washington State stacks up among schools outside the Power 2 of the SEC and Big Ten.

Here's an idea that, while probably unrealistic, would be great if we could somehow pull it off: What if Washington State could join a confederation of similarly-equipped schools -- I'm thinking 10 to 12 -- located up and down the Pacific coast? This would allow athletes from all sports to play schools close to them and generate interest not only within the region, but from fans and alums across the globe. 

Might that be a good idea?