THE CHEAP SEATS with STEVE CAMERON: Departing Pac-12 schools can't have it both ways

It was like winning a doubleheader.

First off: Washington State had a great, great Saturday, pounding out a 31-22 triumph over Big Ten bully Wisconsin.

Students and fans stormed the Martin Stadium field after the victory.

But you could argue that Wazzu had an even better Monday in Whitman County, as Superior Court Judge Gary Libey delivered a temporary restraining order against the Pac-12 on behalf of the Cougs and co-plaintiff Oregon State.

Whew!

What a way to start a crazy “Notes and Quotes” column for this week.

The legal issue debated in the Colfax courthouse, as most observers know by now, involves the 10 schools that are departing the conference for new homes.

Commissioner George Kliavkoff, who has failed at everything he’s touched in the job, notified Washington State and Oregon State that he was calling a Pac-12 “board meeting” for this coming Wednesday.

The two remaining survivors feel that the fleeing schools have forfeited their board seats and voting rights — and that the meeting this week likely would end with a vote to dissolve the conference and split its assets 12 ways.

YES, IT takes some serious gall to abandon a conference and then hope to loot the treasury on your way out the door.

It’s like somebody breaking into your house, stealing all the valuables, and then wanting to sue you for falling over a lawnmower during their escape.

If you had any doubt over the greed and selfishness of the departing universities who were “partners” in the Pac-12, here’s your look behind the curtain.

Judge Libey’s ruling is not a final declaration, but it means that whoever gets to make decisions on behalf of the Pac-12 beyond the spring of 2024 will be decided in court.

Conference attorneys claimed that the planned meeting was necessary for matters of staff retention (read: payoffs) and other issues going forward.

The judge, perhaps slightly tongue in cheek, ruled that the Pac-12 could handle any outstanding business with written and unanimous votes.

“I’m pleased with today’s decision,” Oregon State president Jayathi Murthy said on social media.

“As the two remaining Pac-12 members, Oregon State and Washington State must be able to chart a path forward for the Pac-12 — not the members that have chosen to leave it.”

The two remaining schools want the right to rebuild the Pac-12, assuming the conference assets make that a feasible direction.

There is value in the brand of a famous, 108-year-old competition that is — currently, at least — considered one of the five autonomous (Power Five) conferences.

The two schools’ strongest argument in court involved precedent.

When USC and UCLA told the conference they were leaving, their presidents were removed from the board and lost voting rights.

Same thing with Colorado.

It only makes sense, WSU and OSU argued, that future members of a competing conference would have a conflict of interest if given any say in Pac-12 affairs.

The judge agreed, at least to the point of refusing to let this week’s meeting go ahead.

Now the court must decide exactly how to handle the situation over the long term.

Meanwhile, Kliavkoff and the departing 10 schools could try to have the case moved to a federal court — rather than see things decided just up the road from Washington State.

For now, though, the Cougs and Beavers are winners.

On the field, too, as both are 2-0 and ranked in the AP top 25.

The two teams play in Pullman on Sept. 23.

UGH: It’s hard to pick a word for the Seahawks’ performance in that 30-13 defeat Sunday at Lumen Field.

Stinker, maybe?

It’s actually hard to believe that Seattle led the Rams 13-7 at the half, and could have had three more if Jason Myers hadn’t clanked a field goal try off the goal post.

But that second half?

OMG!

The Hawks gained a total of 12 yards after the break, and nine of those came on the final play of the game.

They managed one first down, and that was via penalty.

Meanwhile, the Rams waltzed up and down the field, with Matthew Stafford finding wide-open lanes to those unstoppable Hall of Fame receivers — Puka Nacua and Tutu Atwell.

Yes, that was sarcasm.

Both wideouts had more than 100 yards in catches, Nacua in his first NFL game.

Atwell, a grizzled veteran in his third season, had a total of 18 receptions prior to Sunday.

If you’re looking for a ray of light — a reason not to panic as the Seahawks visit the sizzling Lions next week — well, it’s true that Pete Carroll’s team was terribly shorthanded.

The offense ground to a halt with the loss of BOTH tackles, Charles Cross (toe) and Abe Lucas (knee).

On the other side of the ball, rookie corner Devon Witherspoon was held out with a healing hamstring, and we’re still not sure when safety Jamal Adams will return.

Without those two, Stafford was never under pressure and he had open spaces while throwing away from star corner Tariq Woolen.

To be competitive in Detroit, the Hawks’ offensive line (no matter who plays) will have to provide a bit of a running game — not to mention keeping Geno Smith alive.

That last item was in question Sunday, as Aaron Donald and friends threatened to chase Geno to Tacoma.

The REALLY bad news is that the Rams, without stud receiver Cooper Kupp, are not an NFL powerhouse.

There are far tougher teams on the schedule.

In other words, the Seahawks’ situation should be considered grim until proven otherwise.

Cover your eyes.

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Steve Cameron’s “Cheap Seats” columns appear in The Press four times each week, normally Tuesday through Friday unless, you know, stuff happens.

Steve suggests you take his opinions in the spirit of a Jimmy Buffett song: “Breathe In, Breathe Out, Move On.”