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Mel Hein, who starred for the Cougars in the early 1930s, became the NFL's first-ever NFL Most Valuable Player in 1938 -- as a center. / Photo by Washington State University
Prior to the 100th renewal of the Apple Cup in 2007, the (now defunct) Seattle Post-Intelligencer selected its all-time Apple Cup team. This is that team (notable performances since 2007 are listed below):
| Pos. | Player | School | Years | Skinny |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| WR | Spider Gaines | UW | 75-78 | Averaged 24 YPC in 3 Apple Cups; caught 78-yard winning TD in ’75 |
| WR | Hugh Campbell | WSU | 60-62 | Caught 10 passes for 178 yards and scored a 75-yard TD in 1962 |
| OT | Lincoln Kennedy | UW | 89-92 | 1992 All-America allowed only 2 sacks in his 4 years with the UW |
| OT | Glen Edwards | WSU | 29-31 | 1930 All-American later voted to College and Pro Halls of Fame |
| OG | Max Starcevich | UW | 34-36 | Consensus All-America in 1936 when UW finished 5th in AP vote |
| OG | Dan Lynch | WSU | 81-83 | Unanimous All-Pac-10 selection as junior and senior |
| C | Mel Hein | WSU | 28-30 | Member of all-time teams in college football and professional football |
| TE | Aaron Pierce | UW | 88-91 | Only UW tight end to catch 2 TDs in one Apple Cup game (1990) |
| QB | Drew Bledsoe | WSU | 90-92 | In 1992, threw for 259 yards, 2 TDs in a Pullman snow storm |
| RB | Hugh McElhenny | UW | 49-51 | Had 3 100-yard rushing games, including 296 yards, 5 TDs in 1950 |
| RB | Rueben Mayes | WSU | 80-82 | Cougar star ran for 165 yards in 1984 and 167 yards in 1985 |
| DL | Steve Emtman | UW | 89-91 | Won Outland Trophy and Lombardi Award as a junior in 1991 |
| DL | Vic Markov | UW | 35-37 | Named first-team All-America by Walter Camp and Liberty in 1937 |
| DL | Kai Ellis | UW | 01-02 | 4 tackles for loss, caused key fumble in 2002 triple-overtime game |
| DL | Keith Millard | WSU | 81-83 | All-American set 12 WSU records for tackles for loss and sacks |
| LB | Rick Redman | UW | 62-64 | Made All-America 3 times; averaged 12 tackles per game |
| LB | Michael Jackson | UW | 75-78 | In the 1977 Apple Cup, matched own school record with 29 tackles |
| LB | Gary Larsen | WSU | 72-74 | Had 10 tackles in 197 Cup and danced over prone Sonny Sixkiller |
| DB | Lamont Thompson | WSU | 97-01 | Picked off 3 passes in Rose Bowl clincher at Husky Stadium in 1997 |
| DB | George Wilson | UW | 23-25 | In 1925, ran 40 yards for a TD, returned an INT 90 yards for a TD |
| DB | Eric Johnson | WSU | 71-73 | Intercepted 3 passes in 1972 in Washington State’s 27-10 victory |
| DB | Al Burleson | WSU | 73-75 | 93-yard INT TD set up Washington’s 1975 Apple Cup victory |
| P | Channing Wyles | UW | 89-90 | Averaged 52.0 yards on 4 punts in 1990, including 65 yarder |
| K | John Anderson | UW | 99-02 | Kicked a record nine FGs in 4 Apple Cups, including 5 in 2002 |
| Return | Ernie Steele | UW | 39-41 | Only player with 2 80+-yard scoring plays in the Apple Cup |
Since the Post-Intelligencer selected its 100th anniversary Apple Cup team, these players have most distinguished themselves:
WASHINGTON
– Chris Polk has rushed for 414 yards in two wins over the Cougars — 130 yards in Washington’s 30-0 shutout in 2009, and 284 in Washington’s 35-18 win in 2010. His 284 yards in 2010 are the second-highest, single-game rushing total in Apple Cup history.
– WR Jermaine Kearse caught six passes for 178 yards in Washington’s 35-18 win in 2010.
WASHINGTON STATE
– Quarterback Alex Brink produced two, 300-yard passing games against Washington: 328 in 2006 and a game-record 399 in 2007. Brink is the only quarterback in WSU history to beat the Huskies three times (2004, 2005, 2007).
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