Falling Price(s)

Ugly ending to coach's era at Washington State

PASADENA, Calif. -- The most glorious era in Washington State football couldn’t have ended in much uglier fashion.

It ended in a 34-14 Rose Bowl loss to Oklahoma that wasn’t nearly as close as the final score.

It ended with the most successful quarterback in school history, Jason Gesser, getting sacked five times and throwing two interceptions.

It ended with 14-year head coach Mike Price running into the tunnel to a throng of cheering Alabama fans holding a Crimson Tide flag, and a lone Washington State fan yelling, “Traitor.”

This was not the sendoff Price had in mind when he decided two weeks ago to stay for the Rose Bowl despite having already accepted the Alabama job, and despite defensive coordinator Bill Doba already being named his successor.

“I don’t know the statistics, but this probably wasn’t one of the better games in my career here,” Price said. “You’ve got a chance for your dream to come true and have in my estimation a storybook ending, and we just came up short.”

In terms of interest, a football game between Oklahoma and Washington State managed about as much interest here in the land of sports cars and silicone as a Rob Schneider movie premiere or the Growing Pains: The E! True Hollywood Story. Despite postcard-perfect New Year’s Day weather, the bowl’s lowest attendance in 59 years (86,848) allowed fans behind the end zone to drift down to their choice of better seats in a scene befitting of a Wake Forest-Duke tilt.

But back in the land of Dixie, nary a set wasn’t tuned in for a glimpse of new Crimson Tide head coach in action.

By about the time Oklahoma’s Antonio Perkins returned a punt 51 yards for a touchdown to put the Sooners up 17-0 late in the first half, those same TV screens were flickering off faster than you can say, “Has he already signed the contract?”

For those keeping track, the score at one point was Oklahoma 27, Washington State 0, Alabama “Oh, dear lord.”

But it would be hardly fair to pin this one on Price.

Oklahoma’s notorious swarming defenders -- their bodies apparently drained of whatever got into them during those uncharacteristic Texas A&M and Oklahoma State games -- made mincemeat out of a Cougars offense accustomed to marching up and down the field, holding them to 142 yards through three quarters. And while Washington State’s defense stood strong against Sooners RB Quentin Griffin for a half, he eventually wore them down to finish with 144 yards on 30 carries, while flawless QB Nate Hybl went 19-of-29 for 240 yards and two touchdowns.

This was the Oklahoma team many expected to play for the national championship. The team that demoralized Iowa State, Texas Tech and Colorado earlier in the season. The team that went 13 consecutive quarters of bowl games without allowing a touchdown before Washington State’s two in garbage time.

“We’re probably one of the better defenses they played against,” Oklahoma co-defensive coordinator Mike Stoops said. “Our players aren’t in awe of anybody.”

In all reality, there probably is nothing Washington State could have done to avoid being the latest victim.

Still, it hardly seemed a fitting farewell for Gesser, the Cougars’ all-time winningest quarterback, or Derrick Roche, the All-America offensive lineman. Cornerstones of the first team in school history to achieve consecutive 10-win seasons, only the third ever to reach a bowl game, the last two weeks of their career will forever be marked by the furor over their coach's departure and the sting of this defeat.

“It was pretty emotional after the game,” Outland Trophy winner Rien Long said. “He was the one who recruited us and brought us here, so regardless of what happened we wanted to get him a win, but we also wanted to win for ourselves.”

Now Doba will go about the business of stamping his own mark on the program. After spending 14 years at Price’s side and helping to achieve five bowl appearances and three 10-win seasons, there’s no reason to think he can’t sustain similar success on the Palouse.

Whether Price can raise the bar at Alabama, where such accomplishments are considered modest, remains a vexing question, one that becomes all the more relevant following Wednesday’s debacle.

After all, Oklahoma comes calling to Tuscaloosa on Sept. 6.

But in the moments immediately following Wednesday’s loss, Alabama was the last thing on Price’s tongue. Donning the Washington State logo for the last time in an official capacity, Price used everything in his power not to start bawling as he reflected on the place into which he poured the past 14 years of his life.

“I’ve just been biting my lip for two weeks, the players have been so good to me and the coaches so good to me,” he said. “I respect them for that and I love them for that.

“I’m disappointed for the players, but I think the program is better off because of the 14 years I’ve been here. And I think we left a real good team and some real good coaches to coach them up.”

Stewart Mandel covers college football for CNNSI.com.

Got a comment, question or scoop for Stewart? Click here.

 

Related information

Stories

Stewart Mandel: Dorsey's struggles are behind him Stewart Mandel: Clarett was just being human Stopping Miami's quick-strike offense no easy task Fiesta Bowl Day at a Glance: Don't forget the kickers Oklahoma D quiets Washington St. in Rose Bowl George pulls for Ohio State to finish it off

Multimedia

Visit Video Plus for the latest audio and video