PULLMAN – Ernie Kent began Washington State’s game against Idaho in unfamiliar surroundings, seated next to Vandals coach Don Verlin on the UI bench.
But after the game’s first shot went up, he ambled back to his own seat at the head of the Cougars’ bench, which was surely a much happier place to spend the rest of WSU’s 61-48 win.
Both coaches won before the game even began by coming together to raise awareness for Coaches vs. Cancer, and Kent donated $2,000 to sit by Verlin at the start of the game. The pair talked before the game and reflected on their fathers, both of whom died because of cancer.