Washington State Football: Cougars' Revival Under Mike Leach Is a Big Deal

Nearly a month after officially returning to the sidelines, Mike Leach got a chance to show the folks in Pullman, Wash. what he and the Cougars have been cooking this spring.

As the anticipation for the spring game built going into the weekend, there was a feeling of excitement for what The Pirate would bring to the table. Looking quite svelte this weekend, Leach most certainly delivered, both on and off the field.

We'll talk football first, as the much-anticipated offense showed that it's going to be fun to watch in 2012. Jeff Tuel has the nod as the starting quarterback through the spring, and stud wide receiver Marquess Wilson is back in the fold as well.

Those two connected four times for 149 yards, including an 84-yard touchdown, a sign that Leach is as daring as ever with his play-calling. Tuel to Wilson is something Pac-12 fans should get used to, as the duo is going to be working together big time.

Dominique Williams, a redshirt freshman who stands at 6'4", also put on a show by making five catches and scoring a touchdown.

The offense was not the only star of the show, as the defense was able to force some turnovers and get stops against its counterparts. Leach's offense is going to be explosive, but defense has long been his bugaboo as a head coach, so progress on that side of the ball is a big positive.

Off the field, Leach's impact was quite tangible too.

The Cougars put 10,713 people in the stands to watch this debut in the Crimson and Gray Game. While that isn't the 80,000-plus that Ohio State saw in Urban Meyer's debut, it is a school record for Washington State, and that's a great start—just 5,000 less than BCS champion favorite Southern Cal had at its spring showcase a few weekends ago.

Not only is Leach doing what he's supposed to do on the field, but the Cougars' big investment—$11 million hangs on Leach's contract—is paying off in excitement. Fans are excited about their team for the first time since early in Bill Doba's tenure.

It is great for Washington State as a program and an athletic department. It is great for the Pac-12 both on and off the field, and it is great for the sport of college football as a whole.

Mike Leach is back, and he's bringing the Cougars with him.