Incoming Cougs make pilgrimage to Pasadena

THE ROSE BOWL is iconic for any football fan on the West Coast. But when you live in the backyard of the fabled old stadium, it's really something special. Seven incoming members of Mike Leach's first recruiting class at Washington State, all hailing from the Los Angeles Basin, made a pilgrimage to Pasadena on Sunday for a unique Cougfan.com photo shoot.

They'll soon be in Pullman to start their careers -- careers they believe will one day bring them back to Pasadena on a January day rather than in June.

The symmetry of it all -- a critical mass of athletes in one class from one area, coupled with their proximity to the ultimate destination -- made the idea of a one-day coming together too much to pass up.

Not everyone could make it, but seven of them did: Jeremiah Allison of Dorsey High, Robert Lewis of South East High, Brett Bartolone of La Habra High, Theron West and Niu Sale of L.A. Harbor College, Kache Palacio of Junipero Serra High and Gabriel Marks of Venice High.

Here are the results ....