WSU's Cougar Flag Goes Worldwide... But Why? - NBC Right Now/KNDO/KNDU Tri-Cities, Yakima, WA |

by Blake Jensen | bio

If you have tuned in to watch any college football game in the last nine years, chances are you have seen the Washington State flag flying high. Since 2003 a die-hard group of Cougar faithful has made sure the WSU logo makes an appearance on every single ESPN College Gameday broadcast.

That simple and symbolic tradition has turned into something much more. Director of Athletics Bill Moos took the idea and ran with it, kickstarting a marketing campaign appropriately dubbed "Wave Your Flag".

"No matter where you go, whether it's on vacation, whether it's for work, whether it's just a

unique location or in your backyard with your family, send us pictures – that's all we're looking for," said Marketing Director Casey Fox.

Since the Wave Your Flag movement started Fox estimates he has received more than 700 pictures from Cougs waving the flag all over the world. The pictures feature landmarks worldwide, from the pyramids in Egypt, to Moscow's Red Square, overlooking Machu Pichu, and from the Eiffel Tower. Fans have taken pictures under the sea and high above in the air. And most recently the Cougar flag made a national appearance during the Green Jacket ceremony at the Masters golf tournament.

"It was great to see but that is exactly what we wanted to see," said Fox. "We, as a [marketing] department can't do those things. Our fans can do them."

This week the Cougar flag will fly above Spokane's Joe Albi Stadium, a city Fox believes is crucial to the Cougs if they want to make a Rose Bowl run like they did in the late 90s.

"We can't fill the stadium without our fans getting in the car, getting on a bus, getting on a plane and coming to Pullman."

In an effort to bring the game to fans in Spokane, the University is holding its annual Crimson & Gray scrimmage in Spokane again this year. The spring game, this Saturday at Joe Albi Stadium, can also be seen on SWX-TV and SWXRightNow.com beginning at 1 p.m. (PT).