I love the Northwest.
I understand the “who we hate”. Cougars clutter our eateries with top-to-bottom crimson jumpsuits and the Spokane/Cheney area is now and then belittled as a rundown, boorish shamble.
But the region, its university sports and fans are absolutely phenomenal. It’s essentially a melting-pot of sports devotees who may argue and quarrel occasionally, but still recognize each other as regional family.
Nowhere better is this regional fusion of devotion illuminated than on the campuses of Northwest universities. It’s an ordinary sight now in addition to the throng of apparel bearing the golden I — purple W’s screen-printed on black Nike shirts, “Cougars 1889” hoodies and almost surprisingly, loads of green-outlined, yellow O’s plastered on sweaters and t-shirts.