THE IMPORTANCE OF THE APPLE CUP will look and feel very different under Nick Rolovich at Washington State than it did under Mike Leah. Indeed, Rolovich told KJR’s Ian Furness on Monday that the Apple Cup can serve as a motivational tool throughout the year.
Whereas Leach adamantly insisted the Apple Cup was just another game, one can imagine Rolovich using it as inspiration in the winter, spring, summer and fall -- perhaps even spending some practice periods on Apple Cup prep outside one week in late November.
“I enjoy having great rivalry games -- I think there are a lot of inspirational things you can do throughout the year,” Rolovich said. “I think it’s something these kids will always be remembered for, or they will remember the experience … I like having a game like that we can point to (and say) this is special.
“We’ve got a lot of work before that and I want to overlook anybody we play. But I got a chance to be part of something with Nevada and Coach Ault and I loved how he portrayed (Nevada-UNLV) and that’s how I would like to let these guys know the Apple Cup is important.” You can listen to the interview here.
ROLOVICH COULDN’T CONFIRM new defensive coordinator Jake Dickert nor other assistants who have been hired because the hiring process isn’t complete (mandatory background checks, etc., take time) but he dropped enough hints that it's clear Dickert is the Cougs' new DC. Rolovich also said “In my mind, I think we’re almost full,” on the coaching vacancies. Related: Breaking down Nick Rolovich’s WSU staff with 3 hires remaining
YOU GOT THE SENSE Rolovich wants to increase the emphasis on defensive takeaways. WSU nabbed 19 turnovers this past season. That’s not bad, it ranked fifth in the Pac-12 and 48th nationally. But former DC Alex Grinch made it his primary point of emphasis and in Grinch’s last year in Pullman, Wazzu ranked ninth in the land with 28.
“I’m going to coach ‘em hard, I want to win football games, I want to score points, I want to take the ball away. But I also want to be there for ‘em outside of the 20 hours that we get ‘em with football a week … If they need me, they can lean on me,” said Rolovich.
ROLOVICH CONFIRMED THE Cougs have six more spots more guys to fill (WSU has 18 signees and one safety transfer). He reiterated the Cougs are looking at adding mostly on defense with the final 2020 scholies, and that he tends to add more defensive players in his recruiting classes generally as there is no tight end or fullback in the run and shoot.
He also said more defensive recruits fit nicely on special teams, though he observed the body types he’s seen on the current offense can help WSU this year on the 2020 special teams units.
ROLOVICH SAID IN-STATE RECRUITING is “big” for him, noting it looks like it will be a similar starting point for his staff as it was in Hawaii. He said he and his coaches will be spending a couple more days in Seattle introducing themselves to as many high school coaches as they can.
Rolovich said after a home visit in the area last night, he tweeted out the invitation to the Village Pub and about 40 Cougs came running. “The passion is real for Coug football,” he said.
ROLOVICH SAID ALL the early signees in December appear good to go with the new staff, though he also said it’s early days and they’re still 17-year-olds. That said, it doesn’t appear as if any are asking to be let out of their LOIs.
New Coach, New Schedule ?? Big things coming ??
??: https://t.co/T2V7njxtEU#GoCougs | #LetsRoll pic.twitter.com/SV3RxgxGoH
— Washington State Football (@WSUCougarFB) January 17, 2020
ROLOVICH WANTED TO know what the work ethic was like on the current team and having been able to get in the weight room a little when the Cougs were working out “was very encouraging. They know how to grind, they know how to push themselves, there’s not a lot of nonsense going on,” he said.
ONE MAIN DIFFERENCE in the run and shoot vs. the Air Raid is the running back doesn’t go out in the pattern as much, though Rolovich added that he likes how the RB does that in the Air Raid. There will be more run schemes in his offense than the Cougs are used to, he said.
He also said the Cougs will look to take advantage of where people aren’t, use aggressive common sense and that the QB and receivers need to see the same things.
ROLOVICH ALSO WAS asked about the leadership on the current team. “I think they’re very focused on not only keeping the group together but they want to do something on the football field they will be remembered for,” said Rolovich.
RELATED STORY: Pair of CBs tell CF.C visits this weekend are a go with new staff
The official beginning of the #RoloEra ??
Take a look back at the day our 33rd head coach was announced!#GoCougs | @NickRolovich pic.twitter.com/QenpRB9iHB
— Washington State Football (@WSUCougarFB) January 17, 2020
"cup" - Google News
January 21, 2020 at 11:06AM
https://ift.tt/3aDY8GS
WSU’s Nick Rolovich says Apple Cup offers year-round motivation - 247Sports
"cup" - Google News
https://ift.tt/33Fi2Nf
Shoes Man Tutorial
Pos News Update
Meme Update
Korean Entertainment News
Japan News Update
No comments:
Post a Comment