GO COUGS!!!

As many of you know we are avid WSU Cougar fans in our house. Being fortunate enough to live 45 minutes from campus, we have season tickets for football and basketball. Over the past 5 years our entire family has fallen in love with the Cougar basketball team, players, coaches (who couldn't like Tony Bennett!) and the newfound atmosphere of Cougar basketball. If you are an alum, you know how deep and wonderful Cougar pride can be...some might call it bizarre and insane...but we LOVE it! When your toddler can name starting line ups, some may call it obsessive! We call it being faithful fans! Our kids may show up tired for school on Friday mornings after a late Thursday night game, may have to miss friends' birthday parties to attend a game, but it is always well worth being at the games.

The past week has been phenominal for the Cougar basketball team. They beat highly ranked UCLA in California for only the 2nd time in the last 51 years, beat Arizona on Thursday night with a very strong margin, and then toppled ranked Arizona State this afternoon for the second time this season in the last seconds of an OVERTIME game! It has been a great week to be a Cougar. So much fun, so much pride, so much excitement!

Today was especially exciting, as it was Senior Day. Living where we do, we can occassionally run into the players in the grocery store, eating at a restaurant, in the car next to us at stop lights or on a street corner. Our seats are near the players' tickets, so we've grown accustomed to seeing the family and friends of the players from time-to-time. My kids have been looking forward to this special game all week.

So at noon I loaded up my suburban with 6 kids (Gage stayed home with a babysitter), a good friend and we headed to watch our Cougars and celebrate our dandy seniors who've been a joy to watch and change the culture of Cougar basketball! And, what a game we saw!!!!!

As the game ended on an exciting final shot made by Taylor Rotchestie with a couple seconds to go in OT, the students swarmed the floor along with the players family and friends who'd gathered. My kids all asked if they too could join the celebration on the floor! I said, "Go for it!" So the kids hit the floor, yes all 6 of them...and that was the beginning of a great experience for them...

Gunnar and his best friend Trey watching warm-ups! We always try to get to the games an hour before tip off so the kids can get snacks and watch the players warm-up.

After much of the crowd left the court, the players mingled on the court one last time! The five seniors wanted a group picture in their uniforms. And, yes that is Ashtyn just to the left.

(Just seconds after this pose, my friend's 4 year old Tanner ran up in front of the boys wanting to join in on the picture. So #10 T. Rochestie picked him up and Tanner is in most of the parents' group picture of the seniors. It was absolutely hilarious!)

The fans rushing the floor after the big upset!

Abree, Ashtyn, Ash's friend Madison, and Gunnar

We had to get a picture with the silly Kangaroo...Aussie, Aussie, Aussie, Oy, Oy, Oy! This was a common coliseum chant when Baynes would make a tremendous play!

The big 6'8" senior from Cannes, Australia, is Aron Baynes. He is great fun to watch! Many members of his family attended the games this week and came to Pullman for their first time. (They left Australila in 100 degree weather on Tuesday..imagine how cold they've been since arriving, and will return tomorrow!) The entire group brought this lovely blow-up kangaroo with Aussie flag, two blow up blue #1 hands decorated in Austrilian flag decor and other fun things to fly high when Aron would dunk, block shots, or make an exciting play. While we were all on the floor, Aron's sister came over to Gunnar and Ashtyn and gave them each the blue hands you see Ashtyn holding up. (Gunnar let his friends play with his, so it is missing from this picture!) Then the family member introduced us to his entire family, then kept in contact with us throughout the afternoon to make sure Aron signed each of the hands once he came back out of the locker room. What neat people they were!

Aron, obviously crouching, to take a picture with Abree and Gunnar who came to his knees.

I'm sure she didn't want to pack them in her suitcase and take them back with her tomorrow! She probably has plenty of new WSU Cougar attire and souvenirs to pack. This guy was the one that kept in contact with us and made sure they got Aron's autograph and picture once he came out of the locker room. So much fun to talk to, LOVE THE ACCENT! Very friendly people! When I asked Aron's parents (who've been here for 2 weeks now) when they were going to return to Australia. His dad quickly spoke up, "Maybe not for awhile!" I'm sure hoping the Cougs might slip into a tournament slot!

Oh, Taylor...how can you not love this kid! Thank you, Taylor for making the game winning shot today at the buzzer from, say, near half court! :) And, most of all thank you for being such a great asset to the Cougar team over the past 3 years. Wow...what a ride you've taken us on!

Abree knows she is way too young to have a boyfriend and we've had the talk many times. She always says her daddy is her boyfriend, and we all think that is just fine! Well, last week watching the Cougs play on TV, she whispered in my ear, "I love Taylor Rotchestie, Mom! Don't tell Dad, but I'm going to marry him!" All said with just a big grin on her face.

And, look at this today! Here she is with the current love of her life!

I whispered the story to Taylor and he just grabbed her and told everyone to step back so I could get this picture. The smile on her face says it all!

Tanner, Taylor, Trey and Gunnar. The boys quickly jumped in after Abree had her photo op!

"Kool" Klay Thompson

This is the Cougar's magnificent freshman who shows no emotion, good or bad! He is quiet, focused, and calm. He doesn't like attention at all. Today he even tried to sneak off the floor to avoid fans, but I CAUGHT HIM! (Poor guy!) The kids were thrilled. Look, he didn't even smile for the picture. After signing an autograph for Ash, she turned to me and said, "Mom, I didn't know he had braces!" I just laughed and told her it was because we hadn't seen him smile this year. She reminded me that yes, he did smile once in an early season game when he dunked over a guy...it was huge, and he knew it was AWESOME! We look forward to watching this kid lead our team in the 3 years to come.

And, now the Cougs are on to their last seaon game...TO BEAT THE HUSKIES!

GO COUGS!