WSU's Mike Leach still has issue with ASU stealing signs
— -- Remember that whole Arizona State signal-stealing controversy a year ago? Washington State coach Mike Leach certainly does.
For about three weeks last season, ASU coach Todd Graham came under fire amid accusations of stealing signs. It's a legal practice, and several Pac-12 coaches actually came to Graham's defense, either praising the practice or saying it's on each coach to protect his signals.
Leach, however, said the Pac-12 should launch an investigation. A year later, it's still a legal practice, and there was no investigation. But as Leach's Cougars (4-2, 3-0) prepare to travel to Arizona State (5-2, 2-2) on Saturday, Leach continues to go after the ASU coaching staff.
"I think they still steal signs, and we'll have to keep an eye on that," Leach said during his Monday meeting with the media. "That is a very unsavory practice they have, so we'll have to do what we can to defend against it."
When the accusations were flung last season -- remember Oregon protecting signals with giant white sheets? -- Graham defended the practice, saying: "Do we steal signals? Yeah, we do. Do people steal our signals? Yeah, they do. It's our responsibility to make sure our signals are safe."
Last year's controversy was prompted when Utah players first made the accusations against Arizona State, followed by similar intimations from Oregon coaches. It's worth noting this is the first time this season that ASU has been accused of stealing signs.
Leach took it to a new level on Monday, though, saying he has heard rumors of microphones and cameras.
"They have a whole command center," he said.
For what it's worth, Leach & Co. got the better of the Sun Devils last season, winning 38-24. And he even did a bit of trolling after the game. Asked what the difference was in the second half, when the Cougars outscored the Sun Devils 28-10, Leach said: "The first half we stole a bunch of their signals and that helped us a bunch in the second half."
Leach did not stop at taking issue with Arizona State. He also took a shot at UCLA and its apparent shouting over Washington State quarterback Luke Falk's calls at the line during the Cougars' 27-21 win Saturday night.
"They yelled our cadence the whole game, but how I addressed it will remain between me and who I addressed it with," Leach said, as quoted on Twitter by 710 ESPN Seattle.
WSU wide receiver Gabe Marks was also sharply critical of UCLA for warming up on the Cougars' side of the Martin Stadium field before Saturday's game.
"They kind of come off as bad guys when they do things like that," Marks said. "I don't know if they do that to everybody, but its just kind of, like, it's kind of douchey. Is that OK to say? Don't cut that."
Marks said the Cougars players felt disrespected by the Bruins' apparent attempt to throw them off their game by warming up on WSU's side of the field for the second straight season.
"It makes you look like you're trying to be tough because everyone thinks because you live in Westwood and you wear baby blue that you're not tough," he said. "It makes you look less tough because you're trying too hard. It's just weird. You don't have to do that."
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