Trice Comes to Apple Cup Well Prepared as Pregame Quipster
Apple Cup week always brings out the most clever observations from those involved. By far, the wittiest quotes. Truly funny stuff.
It's almost as if the players on both sides spend the entire football season creating and sitting on a memorable parting shot for their cross-state rival.
Consider University of Washington edge rusher Bralen Trice who, when asked on Tuesday to describe what Washington State means to him, leaned back in his chair, stretched a little and then let it rip.
"I'd say Oregon is our rival, but Wazoo is our little brother, that's the best I can put it," Trice said, just warming up. "It's a little brother that's always talking, making noise, being annoying. You want to smack 'em — so that's what we're going to come out and do."
The first shots officially have been fired in the 115th rendition of this college football rivalry that stretches from Puget Sound to the Eastern Washington wheat fields, and, with an agreement announced over the weekend, it won't be the last time these schools meet.
However, it will be a farewell appearance for the 6-foot-4, 274-pound Trice, a major defensive disrupter and a potential NFL first-round draft pick who confirmed he's facing the Cougars and playing at Husky Stadium for the a final time this weekend, leaving another year of college football eligibility sitting on the table.
"For me, it's huge because it's going to be my last game especially at home with these dudes," Trice said. "I honestly can't put it into words the feeling I'm probably going to feel after this game because it's been a long time coming. It feels like time has just flown by for real. It's going to be an emotional game for sure."
The fifth-year junior is every reason why people need to show patience with college players. Although he was. a touted recruit, Trice didn't play a down in his first two UW seasons and then he was used as a sub in 2020 for all but two games.
Once Kalen DeBoer's staff took over, Trice became a full-fledged starter and first-team All-Pac-12 selection in 2022 and has now opened 23 games in 36 appearances for the Huskies. He has career totals of 86 tackles, 24.5 tackles for loss and 15 sacks.
A victory over Washington State would put the Huskies at 12-0 for just the second in program annals, matching the Don James' national championship team that played more than three decades ago.
"We're making history with these games, these wins," Trice said. "I think the last time we had a 12-0 season I think it was 1991. It's been a while. To make our own legacy with this team I've got now is a special feeling."
It should rank right up there with putting annoying little brother in his place, too.
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