PULLMAN – The 17th-ranked UCLA Bruins were challenged but overcame Washington State, 44-36, late Saturday night at Martin Stadium.
Not that it mattered.
The Cougars’ stirring comeback attempt was overshadowed by inflammatory comments made by all-time Cougars receiving leader Marquess Wilson.
Prior to the game, which WSU trailed 37-7 at the half, Wilson released a statement in which he charged that “physical, emotional and verbal abuse (is) being allowed in the locker room and on the field.”
Wilson, who said he has quit the team, did not hide his feelings: “The new regime of coaches has preferred to belittle, intimidate and humiliate us. This approach has obviously not been successful and has put a dark shadow on this program.”
Wilson’s statement also said: “It is not ‘tough love.’ It is abuse. This abuse cannot be allowed to continue.
“I feel it is my duty to stand up and shed light on this situation by sacrificing my dreams, my education and my pride.
“I resign from this team. I am deeply sorry to those I am letting down. I am not a quitter.”
Wilson expressed thanks to his teammates and to “Washington State University for giving me the opportunity to do what I love most, to play football and receive a quality education for the past three years. I’m grateful to the athletic department for the coaching, care and encouragement I have received prior to this season.”
The Cougars announced Monday that Wilson had been suspended for violating team rules. Wilson walked out of a grueling team conditioning workout last Sunday, barely 24 hours after Utah pounded the Cougars, 49-6.
Due to the 7:30 p.m. kickoff for UCLA, Cougars coach Mike Leach and players were not available for comment at press time. Athletic director Bill Moos released a statement during the game in which he expressed disappointment that Wilson chose not to have a second meeting with him this week “as we discussed last Tuesday.
“I was hopeful to provide additional guidance if he was willing to meet the standards that have been set by Mike Leach and his staff in their effort to establish a competitive football program at Washington State.”
Wilson is the 18th player known to have quit or been dismissed from the team since an entirely new coaching staff was hired last winter.
“Unfortunately, during times of coaching transitions, departures are not uncommon,” Moos said.
The Cougars’ seventh straight loss dropped their records to 2-8 overall and 0-7 in the Pacific-12 Conference. The Cougars played miserably in a mistake-filled first half, but performed much better in the second half after UCLA scored all 30 points of the second quarter to take a 37-7 lead at halftime.
WSU quarterback Connor Halliday performed admirably in relief of Jeff Tuel, who left the game late in the first quarter with an apparent collar bone injury.
UCLA (8-2, 5-2) blocked two field goals and two punts in the first half. Most of the 28,110 spectators left during or after the second quarter on a Dad’s Weekend night with temperatures in the 20’s.
Washington State finishes the season with games next Saturday at Arizona State (time and TV network to be announced) and Friday Nov. 23 against visiting Washington (12:30 p.m., FOX/FX). Approximately 650 tickets remained for the Washington game as of late Friday.
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