Apple Cup 2021: What’s at stake for Washington and Washington State
Herb Nightengale
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No matter how the Washington Huskies and Washington State Cougars play in any season, the annual Apple Cup game brings out the best in both teams. Here are a few things at stake in Friday’s game.
It has been quite a 2021 for both the Washington Huskies and Washington State Cougars. Their eventful regular seasons come to an end at the Apple Cup in Seattle, Friday evening. There is a lot at stake for both teams.
The Washington State Cougars are on the hunt for their third permanent head coach in three years. The university terminated head coach Nick Rolovich and four of his assistant coaches because they refused to take the COVID-19 vaccine mandated by Washington Governor Jay Inslee for state employees.
Meanwhile, the Washington Huskies fired their head coach Jimmy Lake and offensive coordinator Jim Donovan after their loss to Oregon. Aside from the team’s poor performance, Lake also shoved one of his players during a sideline dust-up between Washington and Oregon.
Ironically, neither man got to head coach in the Apple Cup, the most important game for Washington and Washington State every season.
Washington Huskies
After throwing away last weekend’s game at Colorado, the Huskies clinched a losing season and aren’t eligible for a bowl game this year. Friday will be the end of the line for the senior players as well as interim head coach Bob Gregory and his staff.
Washington has won seven straight Apple Cup Games and 10 of 11. Their seniors have never lost to Wazzu, and they would like to go out on a high. Slamming the door shut on WSU’s slim North Division Title hopes would do it.
Washington State Cougars
For Washington State, the stakes are high, aside from ending a seven-game losing streak to UW. They are eligible for a bowl game after beating Arizona last week, and which one they get invited to may come down to whether they win the Apple Cup or not.
They have something more significant on the line. A Cougars win over Washington, Friday evening combined with an Oregon State win over Oregon on Saturday, means Wazzu wins the Pac-12 North.
No one has more riding on Friday’s game than Cougars Interim Head Coach Jake Dickert. Word is the university has been very happy with the way he’s handled the transition away from Rolovich. The next two (or three) games will determine whether or not Dickert loses the interim from his title or moves on. An Apple Cup win, especially one that breaks a seven-game losing streak to WSU’s arch-rival, will go a long way.
We don’t know what will happen Friday. But we do know in a rivalry game; both teams will bring their best.