COUGAR NOTES: Washington State reassigns football sidelines, puts visitors directly in front of student section

NCAAF College Football News, Photos, Stats, Scores, Schedule & Videos...

Jul. 24—COUGAR NOTES

The Washington State football team is moving its home sideline from the north side of the stadium to the south side, beneath the press box and adjacent to the team's locker room, while visiting teams will use the south sideline, directly in front of the student section, the school announced this week.

That's no accident.

"This is about creating the best home-field advantage," first-year WSU coach Kirby Moore said in a statement. "Our student section is now behind the visiting team. An electric student body that energizes the whole stadium. That's college football."

Live sporting events, particularly college football games, can be rowdy environments. WSU seems to be counting on this element to further foster a home-field advantage.

Of course, schools are generally expected to control their crowds, and acts such as throwing Fireball shooters at opposing players are generally not tolerated in most live sporting venues.

The 2022-23 edition of the Pac-12 Conference compliance manual details as much.

"The Pac-12 Conference strongly discourages abusive or unreasonably disruptive behavior, including but not limited to throwing objects, using abusive, hostile or threatening language, or making obscene gestures. Pac-12 Conference institutions are expected, at a minimum, to establish frameworks and operations for Pac-12 events that uphold and achieve the Pac-12's value-based goals in accordance with their own institutional policies as well as all relevant laws and regulations," Chapter 5, Section 9 of the manual reads.

A more current version of the manual was not readily available on the Pac-12's website.

"With the new era of the Pac-12, updated conference policies allow us to enhance the game day experience," WSU athletic director Jon Haarlow said in a statement. "Our students are a vital part of the atmosphere, and this change will help create even more energy at Gesa Field alongside our new fan enhancements."

Those fan enhancements include new turf, a video board, sound system and LED lights at Gesa Field. Each has been or is actively being installed over the summer with the goal of being complete by the Cougars' home opener at 12:30 p.m. Sept. 19 against Duquesne (Pa.).

Haarlow said that fans seeking to alter their season tickets based on this layout change can contact the ticket office via phone at 1-800-GO-COUGS from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Monday through Thursday or email athletictickets@wsu.edu.

Since the addition of the Cougar Football Complex in the mid-2010s and the locker room within, WSU teams have had to cross the field to get to and from their home sideline, while the visitors emerge from the northwest tunnel near Bohler, where their locker room facilities remain.

The sideline swap eliminates a potential crossing of the teams at halftime and postgame, which, in games against Idaho and Oregon State in particular, led to verbal and physical disputes.

While it is nearly impossible to eliminate all such interactions, the ability to walk down the sideline directly to the locker room rather than having to cross the field will likely reduce them. One team usually had to wait for the other to fully cross the field before they could make their way to their locker room at halftime.

Collectable turf for sale

WSU football fans can own a "piece of the Palouse."

In collaboration with "The Realest," WSU is selling pieces of Gesa Field's former turf, marketed as "upcycled memorabilia."

The turf, which had been in place at Martin Stadium since 2014, will be turned into collectibles, some of which will include pieces of the crimson end zones and the midfield Cougar head logo.

A new playing surface was installed following WSU's spring game and will be used for the upcoming 2026 football season.

Fans can purchase the collectible turf via therealest.com starting July 23.

"We're always looking for creative ways to build authentic connections with our fans," Haarlow said. "This limited release gives Cougs the opportunity to own a piece of Gesa Field and celebrate the memories, traditions and moments that make Cougar football special."

The Realest has collaborated with teams across the NFL and NBA, organizations such as FIFA and the PGA, films such as "Wicked For Good" and "Gladiator II" and artists such as Snoop Dogg and Usher to develop and distribute memorabilia.

"We're grateful to our partners in the Washington State athletic department for embracing our vision, and together we hope to set an example for how others throughout the college sports ecosystem can eliminate waste while helping bring their fans closer to the university and their favorite college teams," The Realest founder and CEO Scott Keeney said.

Cougar swimmers to compete internationally

WSU alum Emily Lundgren and rising junior Darcy Revitt each made their respective national teams for their respective international competitions set to begin today.

Lundgren, a four-time NCAA Nationals qualifier and WSU record holder in multiple events, will represent Team USA in the FISU America games in Lima, Peru. The San Diego native will race the breaststroke and individual medley.

She will leap into the water at 7 a.m. Pacific today on the FISU America YouTube channel.

Revitt, who joined Lundgren at Nationals in each of her first two collegiate campaigns, will represent Team England at the Commonwealth Games.

Revitt's 400 free relay race is set for 4:33 a.m. today.

Taylor can be reached at 208-848-2260, staylor@lmtribune.com, or on X or Instagram @Sam_C_Taylor.

More at NCAAF College Football News, Photos, Stats, Scores, Schedule & Videos