To "Coug it" is a tendency of the Washington State University Cougars football team to lose games via late-game collapses,[1] odds-defying losses, "snatching defeat from the jaws of victory",[2][3] and otherwise choking.[4][5]
The tendency has been observed since at least the 1983 season and the phrase appeared in the 1984 edition of Chinook, the WSU yearbook.[6] The concept was then popularized as "to Coug" by sportswriter John Blanchette in his Spokesman-Review column following the 1985 Cougars' 16–21 home loss to Arizona State in which they outgained the Sun Devils 445 yards to 217.[4][7][8]
Couging it has been a part of WSU athletics culture for decades[1][8] and the concept is frequently referenced in Pacific Northwest news media following a particularly embarrassing or surprising loss by the Cougars.[1] Washington State University administrators have run internal and external campaigns to downplay the concept,[8] and coaches, fans, and players have sought to reclaim the phrase via on-field success.[9]
The Cougs were said to have Coug'd it by media outlets in the following college football games.
Season | Opponent | Result | Notes |
---|---|---|---|
1975 | Washington[5] | L 27–28 | WSU led 27–14 with three minutes to go, then gave up a 93-yard interception return and 78-yard touchdown pass. Head coach Jim Sweeney resigns after the game.[10] |
1983 | UCLA[6] | L 14–24 | "heart-breaker loss" that "took the joy out of being a Cougar."[6] |
1984 | UCLA[11] | L 24–27 | Botched snap on a late-game field goal bounced deep into Cougar territory and allowed the Bruins to win the game with their own field goal.[11] |
1985 | Arizona State[4] | L 16–21 | Phrase "to Coug" popularized. |
2001 | Washington[12] | L 14–26 | 2001 Apple Cup. WSU entered the game with a 9-1 record and #9 ranking. Lost 14-26 that included three first and goal opportunities that resulted in zero points (Turnover on downs, fumble and interception.) |
2003 | Notre Dame[13] | L 26–29OT | First ever game vs. Notre Dame. Led 19–0. Allowed 26 unanswered points in second half. |
2005 | California[14] | L 38–42 | Losing 28–10 at halftime; scored 28 unanswered points to lead 38–28. But then allowed two Cal touchdowns in final minutes.[15] |
2012 | Colorado[1] | L 34–35 | Led by 17 points last seven minutes, then gave up 3 touchdowns. 1–11 Colorado's only win of the season. |
2013 | Colorado State[1] | L 45–48 | 2013 New Mexico Bowl. WSU led by 15 points in the final minutes of the game. |
2014 | California[16] | L 59–60 | QB Connor Halliday sets NCAA FBS single-game passing record with 734 yards. Missed 19 yard go-ahead field goal with 15 seconds remaining. |
2015 | Portland State[17] | L 17–24 | Loss to an FCS team. |
2016 | Eastern Washington[17] | L 42–45 | Second consecutive loss to an FCS team. EWU's official Twitter account posted that their team "Eaged it." |
2019 | UCLA[1] | L 63–67 | Led 49–17 in the 3rd quarter. Gave up 50 second-half points. |
2020 | Utah[1] | L 28-45 | WSU led 28-7 at halftime. Gave up 38 unanswered points in the second-half. |
2022 | Oregon[1] | L 41–44 | Led 34–22 with 4 minutes remaining, then allowed 22 unanswered points. |
The phrase is also used for embarrassing actions outside of game results, such as naming Martin Stadium after a Husky.[18]
WSU fans, players, and coaches have sought to reclaim the phrase.[7][19]
In 1997 quarterback Ryan Leaf said "It's fun to change the definition of something that was supposed to be so negative."[19] in the week prior to losing their first game of the season to Arizona State by blowing a 24–0 lead and giving up two fumbles for touchdowns in the final 3 minutes of the game.[20]
In 2005 head coach Bill Doba defined "Coug it" as "scoring at the end and winning the ballgame" in response to a reporter's question following a 38–42 loss to Cal in which the Cougars "came from behind to lose".[14][15]
At the Pac-12 Football Media Day in 2014, team captain Darryl Monroe said "I don’t understand where this impression of Coug'd it means you did something in a negative light" when asked about the team's collapse in the final minutes of the 2013 New Mexico Bowl.[9] "Coug'd it means completely dominated your opponent."[9]