Change has a way of finding Washington State football - fast, and often when you least expect it. But for quarterback Zevi Eckhaus, that’s nothing new. He’s been in the eye of the storm before, and now, as the Cougars navigate yet another pivotal moment, he’s stepping up once again - not just as a player, but as a voice for the culture that holds Cougar Nation together.
Eckhaus, a veteran presence in the locker room, has already lived through one round of transition. When quarterback John Mateer left the program ahead of the bowl game and head coach Jake Dickert followed soon after, it was Eckhaus who found himself suddenly at the center of it all.
He didn’t flinch. Instead, he became one of the steadying forces trying to keep the team grounded amid the upheaval.
Now, even as his own time in Pullman comes to a close, Eckhaus is focused on something bigger than himself - preserving the spirit that defines Washington State football.
“Unfortunately, there's just been certain things that have been thrown at us that are unprompted or you just really couldn't have predicted,” Eckhaus said. “Every single time, I feel like this community, this organization, the people around, have found a way to stick together.”
That resilience - the ability to rally when the unexpected hits - is what Eckhaus believes makes Cougar Nation different. It’s not just about the games or the coaches or the wins and losses. It’s about a connection that stretches far beyond the field.
“That's why you go around the world and you hear 'Go Cougs' no matter where you're at,” he said. “Time and time again, we don't allow circumstances to define who we are as people or as a community or as a brand.”
That’s not just talk. Eckhaus has lived it.
And now, as he prepares to graduate, he’s making sure that message doesn’t get lost in the shuffle. He’s passing it on - to teammates, to fans, to anyone who wears Crimson and Gray.
“This college, this logo - it really is special,” Eckhaus said. “There is a very special bond that you really can't explain.
You really can't put into words. But if you're a part of it, you know it.”
While Eckhaus won’t be taking snaps for new head coach Kirby Moore, he’s already feeling optimistic about what Moore can bring to the program. Moore met with the team Monday, and the early reviews from players were overwhelmingly positive.
“Everybody was pretty excited,” Eckhaus said. “We got the news and a lot of guys were fired up. A lot of guys knew about him.”
Eckhaus, a Los Angeles native, had his eye on Moore back when he was coaching at Fresno State - a program that caught his attention during his high school days. That familiarity, paired with Moore’s track record, has sparked genuine excitement among the Cougars.
“A lot of good things to say about him and what he's accomplished over his career,” Eckhaus added. “So I think everybody's pretty fired up about him.”
Linebacker Caleb Francl, who’s also graduating, finds himself in a different position. Unlike Eckhaus, he hasn’t experienced a coaching change midseason before. But even with the uncertainty, he offered a brief but telling vote of confidence in Moore and the direction the program is heading.
Transitions are never easy. But at Washington State, they’ve become part of the journey - and so has the response.
Stay together. Stay proud.
Stay Cougs. That’s the message Eckhaus is leaving behind.
And if the locker room’s early response to Moore is any indication, it’s a message that’s already being carried forward.