Notes: Swogger might transfer

Washington State coaches are concerned that quarterback Josh Swogger might transfer and plan to meet with him after Thanksgiving break.

"That's something we need to talk to him about," coach Bill Doba said Monday.

Swogger lost his job as starter in fall camp to Alex Brink and played in only three games this season, completing 9 of 18 passes for 147 yards and one touchdown. He had been the starter for the first six games of 2004 before suffering a season-ending foot injury that also limited him in spring football.

Redshirt sophomore Alex Brink started every game this season and finished the campaign by becoming the first starting quarterback in Cougars history to beat Washington in back-to-back games. He is entrenched as the No. 1 starter for next season.

The No. 3 quarterback is redshirt freshman Gary Rogers, who played in four games this season.

Swogger, who will be a senior next fall, can transfer to a lower division — such as I-AA Eastern Washington or hometown I-AA Youngstown State in Ohio — and be immediately eligible. Eastern's star quarterback, Erik Meyer, is a senior this season. The two-year starter for Youngstown State (9-2) is sophomore Tom Zetts.

Hill's future

Another Cougar with an uncertain future is star junior wide receiver Jason Hill, who is considering turning pro.

Doba said, "My gut feeling is that I think there is a chance he will stay."

Hill plans to test the water and get various readings on where he might be drafted. He has said he definitely will return if it is lower than the second round.

Doba said the last two Cougars to leave early — defensive tackle Rien Long (after 2002 season) and receiver Devard Darling (after 2003) "haven't surfaced yet" in the NFL, where both are reserves.

Husky game aftermath

Doba reiterated that if Cougars players danced on the Washington "W" at midfield after Saturday's 26-22 victory in Husky Stadium, "that's not right."

Some Cougars were seen dancing on the "W" but Doba said he didn't see it because he was looking for Washington coach Tyrone Willingham.

He said he spotted Willingham "running into the middle of the pile. And I thought, 'What the heck, I might as well join him.' Neither one of us should have been in there to be honest with you."

Doba said, "I had a chance to talk to Tyrone afterwards. He was upset and so was I. If we did come across and jump on their W or whatever it was, that's not right. That's not being a class act. We have to learn how to win, too."

Some Huskies rushed toward midfield when they saw Cougars dancing on the "W."

Doba said the people who appeared to him to be "going nuts" at midfield were WSU students rather than players and that "the majority of them smelled of alcohol."

After the game, Doba had said that dancing on the opponent logo started after the 2002 Apple Cup in Pullman, when the Huskies won in triple-overtime. Doba said after Saturday's game that his players never again will dance on the Husky "W."

"I can promise you that," he said.