Editor’s Note: The following story is part of a series highlighting the members of the 2024 Washington State Athletic Hall of Fame Class. The Hall of Fame induction will take place, Sept. 6-7, at the Washington State University campus.
DeWayne Patterson approached Brent Musburger with a request.
Patterson and the Cougars were preparing to face the USC Trojans for an early November nationally televised game at Pullman in 1994.
“My mom always looked for me on TV,” Patterson said. “On the Friday before the game, I told Brent, ‘My mama going to be watching me on the game, so if I get a sack tomorrow, I want you to say hi to my mama, Brent.'”
According to Patterson, Musburger, the legendary broadcaster who was in Pullman for the ABC broadcast, said, “No problem DeWayne, I got you. I got you.”
On a 3rd and 6 in the first quarter, USC quarterback Rob Johnson goes under center, the ball is snapped, and Musburger takes it from there.
“Johnson changes up at the line….and he is sacked by Dewayne Patterson from Oakland, Calif. The Sackmaster!”
“He came up to us the other day, make sure you say hello to my mom,” Musburger continued after broadcast partner Dick Verme il’s analysis of the play. “She’s back home watching in Oakland and Mom has to be really happy.”
The Sackmaster made countless Cougar football fans happy throughout his career at WSU.
Knack for rushing the passer
When asked what comes to mind when he thinks of DeWayne Patterson, his coach Mike Price said, “A character. A tremendous leader.”
And Price adds: “He had a knack for rushing the passer.”
The Washington State defensive end utilized his knack to wreak havoc on opposing offenses throughout Patterson’s his career at WSU.
“It was a game that he was playing and he really enjoyed it,” Price said of Patterson’s approach to football. “Some guys do it because they are mad or some guys do it because they want to hit people. He did hit people like crazy and he enjoyed it. He was having fun out there. He had fun before the game. He was a fun guy to be around.”
Ironically, Patterson began his career as a tight end and, as a freshman, arrived at Pullman intent on playing that position.
And he was catching passes from a fellow Cougar legend during the first days of fall camp.
“Rookies come in three days early,” Patterson said. “It was me and Drew (Bledsoe). I’m catching all of Drew’s passes.
“It was going to…
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