‘Oregon State is not our buddy. They would have left us as fast as we would have left them,’ says WSU head man
PULLMAN — As Washington State prepares to face Oregon State on Saturday, the dominant narrative revolves around the two schools’ intertwined histories in conference realignment. However, head coach Jake Dickert distanced himself from that storyline during a press conference on Monday, emphasizing that this rivalry is anything but friendly. “I’ve never bought into the idea that they’re our friends. Oregon State isn’t our friend. They would have left us just as quickly as we would have left them,” Dickert asserted.
He highlighted that Oregon State has become one of WSU’s biggest rivals.
“That’s how I see it, and it’s not meant to be bulletin board material. I just hope they feel the same way,” he said. “We’re eager to compete; we’ve both faced challenges, and it’s going to be an energized matchup. It should be great.”
The two schools left out of realignment will face off on Saturday at 4 p.m. in Corvallis (TV: The CW). Both teams are coming off disappointing losses: Oregon State was shut out by a struggling Air Force team, while Washington State let a 14-point halftime lead slip away in a 38-35 loss to New Mexico. The Cougars’ defense faltered in the second half, allowing New Mexico to accumulate 360 rushing yards, with the decisive touchdown coming with just 21 seconds remaining.
“We need to make sure we’re putting our players in positions where we can adapt,” Dickert said. “I felt we were too static on Saturday. The quarterback run game requires us to flatten out the defense, play quarters coverage, and execute crack replays. Their offense effectively forced our safeties to come down from depth to make plays. We needed to adjust more quickly and utilize the defensive line in varied roles, which I realized watching the film.”
DICKERT STATED AFTER the loss that John Mateer had not practiced all week due to a foot injury he sustained during the game against Utah State, where he fumbled on a big play. As a result, Zevi Eckhaus took all the first-team reps during practice last week.
“Zevi was prepared to step up,” Dickert said. “Once we confirmed that it wasn’t a fracture, we knew we could expect John back at some point, even if it wasn’t this week. John’s a tough competitor. He did everything he could right from the start. It was challenging to watch him practice, but it was great to see him stay engaged and mentally support his teammates. Zevi was competing and ready, knowing he could step in and perform if called upon.”
COMMUNICATION CONTINUED to be a challenge for the Cougar defense on Saturday, affecting not just the players but also those on the WSU sideline. Coach Dickert has expressed frustration throughout the season regarding inconsistent communication, particularly in the secondary, and on Saturday, the defense also struggled with late play calls that prevented them from getting properly set.
“These are issues we’ve been working on as a coaching staff,” Dickert explained. “When you’re out there in a high-pressure situation, it’s crucial to receive those calls earlier so players can react and communicate effectively. We believe addressing this is vital for our future success. The best calls are the ones our players can understand and execute, which applies to all three phases of the game, not just defense. There are times when we seem to be searching for the perfect call.”
DICKERT FACED QUESTIONS from fans about why he didn’t use any of his three timeouts as New Mexico advanced down the field and scored with just 21 seconds left. He addressed the issue again on Monday.
“We reviewed the situation, analyzed it, and spoke with the team,” Dickert said. “I need to improve my decision-making once the ball crosses the 20-yard line and start using the timeouts more effectively. I should have called one on that third-and-one play. Once we get inside the 10, it’s crucial to call timeouts and manage the clock.”
An emotional Dickert began his Monday press conference with the heartbreaking news that Zion Bischoff, a 13-year-old boy from Pullman, tragically lost his life in a car accident over the weekend. Dickert shared that Zion was a friend and classmate of his daughter, Rylee.
In a clarification regarding his previous comments to PFF, Dickert explained that Esa Pole was injured, which is why he was absent during the final drive, leading to Christian Hilborn playing left tackle and Rod Tialavea stepping in at left guard. He anticipates Pole will be ready to play on Saturday.
On the injury front, Dickert mentioned that Andre Dollar is expected to return only after bowl game preparations. Devin Kylany left the game with a hobble but should be fine, and they will monitor Buddah Al-Uqdah’s progress throughout the week as he recovers from a shoulder injury.
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