Commentary: Cougar QBs across generations show way for WSU fans
COUGFANCOM
AS MATT KEGEL AND JEFF TUEL walked to the first tee of the historic CougsFirst! Quarterback Classic at Palouse Ridge Golf Club earlier this month, the two former Washington State signal callers marveled at the day unfolding before them: More than 20 former WSU starting quarterbacks, all on their own dime, coming back to Pullman to raise money for the Cougar Athletic Fund and the Hilinski’s Hope Foundation.
“WSU is the only school in the country that could have this many quarterbacks return to support their football program,” said one. The shared love of the school and community, marveled the other, was a bond that crossed generations and eras.
The first-ever QB Classic raised $150,000 for the CAF and $25,000 for Hilinski’s Hope.
Led by co-hosts Jack Thompson, Mark Rypien and Drew Bledsoe, the message to the WSU alumni and friends who turned out for the day to play 18 or just to chat with the former players was succinct:
Now is the time for the crimson faithful to take WSU football to the next level with donations to the CAF and Indoor Practice Facility (IPF).
Coming off an 11-2 season and top 10 finish, with four-straight bowl invitations and an ESPN College GameDay appearance on the resume, the event was impeccably timed.
“We as WSU quarterbacks are sending a message by our actions that it is time for all WSU alumni and friends to step up and support our football program,” said Thompson who, I might add, was the driving force behind the event and, as the unofficial godfather of WSU’s QB U tradition, is perhaps the only person on the planet who could have pulled it off.
The golf tournament, sponsored by BECU, began in the morning with all the former quarterbacks — plus honorary QBs like Rueben Mayes and current members of WSU’s quarterbacking corps — in a semi-circle autographing footballs as Jack talked about the importance of Coug Nation seizing this moment to elevate support for their Cougars.
