THE CHEAP SEATS with STEVE CAMERON: Moore gets prime debut date at WSU

Exciting stuff for Wazzu football.

Debut coach Kirby Moore and his Cougs will show off in front of the whole nation on Sunday.

A TV appearance on the Sunday of Labor Day weekend is prime territory.

"Anytime you can get in front of millions of eyeballs without any other games that day, you want to take it," said Washington State athletic director Jon Haarlow.

So, what are those eyeballs likely to see?

How about Apple Cup No. 118? 

Sometimes, that's as good as it gets.

Or.

A long, dreary ride home.

Moore's tenure at Wazzu begins with a bout of history, as this is the first time the Apple Cup will open a season.

The Huskies, meanwhile, are ranked No. 17 in the AP preseason poll. 

U-Dub quarterback Demond Williams is a human highlight reel, as the Cougs know far too well.

THE COUGS were in a slugfest last year, a touchdown behind heading to the fourth quarter.

There was no stopping Williams, though, as the Husky QB threw four touchdown passes and ran for another score as Washington won 59-28.

That was just about a fair look at Williams' season numbers — 25 TDs against just eight interceptions.

It's no surprise that U-Dub is a 22 1/2-point favorite this weekend.

"That's not us," said Wazzu defensive tackle Kaden Beatty. "I've been waiting every second to play them again."

Beatty is part of a defense that looks to be the Cougars' strength, which really lights a fire heading into Sunday.

That seemed to be Wazzu's ticket last year, too, making those 59 points especially painful.

Besides the history of playing a season-opener. Moore and the Cougs are in the midst of a funky Apple Cup schedule.

Sunday will be the Huskies' sixth home game in their last seven matchups with Wazzu.

The Cougs' only win in that stretch, ironically, was a 40-13 walloping on Montlake in 2021.

AT FIRST glance, these are two programs heading in opposite directions.

UW shamelessly grabbed the prestige (and cash) with its move from the struggling Pac-12 to the Big Ten in 2023.

Wazzu thus became — with Oregon State — one of the pillar schools of a rebuilt Pac-12.  

The difference in income means opposite attitudes for the Apple Cup.

Actually, the attitudes are the same as always, only now propelled with rocket fuel.

This is the kind of game -- funny name and all -- that a TV network finds massively intriguing on a Sunday before the NFL gets rolling.

Fans will either get a look at a potential Heisman Trophy candidate strutting his skills for a team aiming at the playoffs or see a fun upset that lifts Wazzu's Kirby Moore era off and flying.

Both teams will arrive with all guns blazing.

Same as always.

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Steve Cameron is a longtime journalist who writes "The Cheap Seats" three times each week for The Press.