Halloween at Martin Stadium: Trick or Treat?

Nov. 23, 2012; Pullman, WA, USA; Washington State Cougar fans and players celebrate after a game against the Washington Huskies at Martin Stadium. The Cougars would go onto beat the Huskies by a final score of 31-28 in overtime. Mandatory Credit: James Snook-USA TODAY Sports

Trick or treating was a staple for most of us through Junior High, when mischief became the mark of Halloween rather than candy. College made Halloween into something else entirely. Candy took a back seat to fermented sugars and costumes were meant to either hide or entice, depending on the amount of weight you had gained from partaking of said sugars.

The parties were legendary, in that you remember the legend more than the truth. A better activity, especially if you live in a neighborhood heavily populated by undergrads, is November 1, around 8 am. The walk of shame in Pullman can be epic, but after Halloween, well, I won’t spoil the surprise.

Halloween would seem to be a great time for football games. Costumes, parties, a game that happens to be started well into the evening? Sign me up. Wazzu has not been victorious on Halloween since 1959 (in Corvallis) and haven’t won at home since 1947 (the University of Portland who soon disbanded their football team). 1959.

Cougar Halloween futility was prophettically embodied by Charles M. Shultz, as the Cougs played Charlie Brown to the Pac’s Lucy. (Watching this stuff as an adult is strange, almost surreal. Lucy is a sociopath.)

The Cougs should not let this five decade lapse in success bemoan their effort, as Arizona State’s road woes are notorious in the annals of the Pac. Traveling to the North will not be easy for the Sun Devils, Tempe will be thirty-five degrees warmer then Pullman today. The Sun Devils will show up in layers with game plans to keep themselves warm, and with precipitation likely, we will be treated to some miserable guests.

That being said, the Cougar Defense needs to dominate this Halloween. ASU is sixth in scoring offense, and fifteenth in passing yards. Kelly is capable, but can be rattled. A complex, erratic blitz plan and a tight secondary early can shake confidence. More importantly, 3 and outs will be key. Do not let their offense warm up and they will succumb to the elements.

That is where the crowd and Halloween comes in. I implore you, patrons of Martin, come costumed, come early. Stay until the clock hits 0:00. Be loud, be Cougs. I will not encouraging breaking the rules, but contraband may be easier to get through in a costume.

Just remember, we are not waiting for a Great Pumpkin. Friday morning we will not be screaming about next year (remember how bitter the Huskies sounded after the Apple Cup last year?). No more rocks in our trick or treat bags!

Go Cougs!