Gardner Minshew Reflects on 2018 Season at WSU, Perception of the Pac-12

SEATTLE – Chris Petersen has never lost to Mike Leach since coming to the Pac-12 Conference in late December 2013.

Washington has scored 38 points per game in the last five meetings against Washington State, with both programs finishing in the top three in the North Division each season since 2016.

The Huskies defense has matched the offenses production holding the Cougars to just under 14 points on average in the Apple Cup. Joined by only Stanford, the trio have finished 1-2-3 in the North over the last three seasons, with the specific order changing each year.

Despite three consecutive victories over the David Shaw and the Cardinal, Leach and the Cougars have failed to figure out the Huskies. Petersen is 2-1 over the last three seasons against Shaw, losing 30-22 in Palo Alto in 2017 with wins in 2016 and 2018.

Now graduated UW cornerback Jordan Miller said prior to the Rose Bowl that Ohio State might appear to run a similar spread, Air Raid offense compared to WSU. The only caveat being the Buckeyes, in his opinion, have a more intricate game plan than the Cougars.

“It’s going to be help but this team is a little different. They game plan a little more,” Miller said, when asked if WSU and OSU compared offensively.

“I feel like Wazzu, they just say ‘we’re going to run these plays, lets see if you can stop it’ and they always do that. It never works. So I don’t know why they do that. But I feel like Ohio State is a little different. But that’s just more of a challenge and we’re excited about that.”

Miller recorded one interceptions and three tackles in two games against WSU in his career. He missed he 2017 game due to injury and did not record a stat in 2015 was a true freshman.

All of his career tackles came in the Apple Cup this past season. Gardner Minshew, the Cougars graduate transfer quarterback in 2018, offered his advice to the 2019 team when it comes to the annual meeting between UW and WSU.

“It’s kind of like Coach Leach says all the time: respect everyone, fear no one,” Minshew said, noting there isn’t one specific cause that has led to six consecutive Apple Cup losses for WSU.

“You got to have that mindset that we’re playing a good team, but we can beat every team that we play.”.

Full transcription from TheDawgReport.com’s interview with WSU QB Gardner Minshew.

On Apple Cup advice to the 2019 Cougars team… “I don’t know. It’s kind of like Coach Leach says all the time: respect everyone, fear no one. You got to have that mindset that we’re playing a good team, but we can beat every team that we play. That’s the biggest thing I’d say going into any game.”

On the game that stood out the most… “I’d say the GameDay game. The Oregon game the whole week was crazy. They had to declare a state of emergency in Pullman. It was packed out. Stormed the field at the end of the game. It really was special.”

On how many selfies / photos he took with WSU fans and students this fall… “I don’t know I’d say a good 500. I was starting to think a thousand that’s a lot. But I don’t know dude. It’s tough. Anytime you go into public – Pullman is a crazy place, man. It’s special. It just kind of shows how much sports matter over there.”

On wanting to get into coaching after his playing career, potentially at WSU… “Yeah. I’m going to play for as long as I can. Hopefully that’s for a long, long time. But whenever that does end I do want to get into coaching because that’s a passion of mine. I want to be in a position to be around football, which I love, and have that ability to impact people. But man, I’d love to be back in Pullman. It’s a special place. Being with coach Leach who – he is one of the best in the business. He really is. He does more with less than anybody in the country.”

On his best coach Leach memory… “Dude it’s hard to like – because those things happen every day, you know? Like if somebody were to come sit in one day they’d think it’s hilarious. But for us it’s like okay, he’s getting off on a tangent about how Portland has some of the best pizza in the country. Or how Oregon’s beaches, if the weather was better, Oregon would have the best beaches. So it becomes the norm. But man you just learn to love it I guess.”

On the perception of the Pac-12 Conference as a player… “I don’t know. It’s not too frustrating. I think a lot of it’s self-inflicted. Our conference playing non-conference games, that’s something that’s tough. It’s going to be harder with a team with one loss at the end of the year, to put yourself in that position. Which we had none, so we weren’t going to get in the playoff anyways. So we have to do things better to put ourselves on the national forefront. Just being naturally on the West Coast having these [kickoff] time slots it’s going to be harder. But you have to proactively attack that.”

On Cammon Cooper and the WSU offense moving forward… “Cam can be as good as he wants to be man. He’s as talented as any player that I’ve been around. I think he’s going to be a great player. This year there were a lot of expectations on him. But man I tell you, coming in as a freshman anywhere that’s a really hard thing to do. But he took advantage of this redshirt year. He learned a lot, got a lot better. I saw him progress. So I think Cougs are going to have a good one on their hands the next few years.”

On his favorite spot in Pullman outside of Martin Stadium… “No. I’m saying Valhalla is probably my favorite spot. Find me on the dartboard. I’ll take anyone on over there.”