NEWSWIRE: Martin, Walden and more

FROM THE STATUS of the proposed Phase III remodel of Martin Stadium to Jerome Harrison's rising stock in Cleveland, there's Cougar news galore in cyberspace these days. And for those of you who were around in the early 80s, you won't want to miss a thoughtful salute to Jim Walden.

Time might be right to finish Martin upgrade
With the severe economic slump, the popular perception of Washington State's proposed, dramatic "Phase 3" remodel to its football facility is that it might be deader than the Cougars' prospects when USC came to town last fall. Not so, say WSU's athletic executives, who are exploring whether the downturn might just provide a prime opportunity to take advantage of an accompanying drop in construction costs. For the full story, click to the Seattle Times.

Walden No. 29 among Pac-10’s best over last 50 years
Jim Walden doesn’t have a win-loss record anywhere near the greats in Pac-10 history. Doesn’t even have a winning record, to be honest. But sometimes it’s about perspective. When Walden arrived at Washington State in 1978 for his first gig as a head coach, it was more about making Cougar football relevant. For the full story, click to BusterSports.com.

Injured Cougar hopes to be back on campus in fall
Cory Mackay, the Washington State football player seriously injured in a truck accident in Eastern Washington on May 7, is due to go home to Redmond June 10. But he has bigger goals in sight, among them a return to school for fall classes if his rehabilitation from a broken back allows. For the full story, click to the Seattle Times.
To donate to the fund assisting the Mackay family with medical bills and other related expenses, CLICK HERE.

Breakout season in store for Jerome Harrison?
Former Cougar All-American running back Jerome Harrison shapes up as a big beneficiary of the coaching change in Cleveland. For the full story, click to Bleacher Report.