Going into 2017, it felt like the stars had aligned for the Washington State Cougars.
Luke Falk slinging the rock, All-American Cody O’Connell opening running lanes for the three-headed monster of James Williams, Jamal Morrow and Gerard Wicks, and Hercules Mata’afa wreaking havoc on the defense. Even other coaches felt — as told in the annual “anonymous coach” post by Athlon — that if WSU was ever to make noise and push for a championship under Mike Leach, last season was the season to do it.