Being born in Pullman, WA, doesn’t officially make you a Coug, but starting in 2025, babies born at Pullman Regional Hospital will head home as unofficial new members of the Cougar family. Each newborn will receive a Future Coug bundle, giving them a crimson and gray head start. The bundle includes a copy of Butch’s Game Day and a cuddly stuffed cougar, making their first steps into Coug Nation extra special!
The idea for this project originated from Tony Poston, WSU alum, current Executive Director of CougsFirst!, and Pullman Regional Hospital Foundation Board Member. “Both my sons were born at Pullman Regional Hospital- actually in the same BirthPlace room that overlooks the WSU campus,” says Poston. “As a proud Coug, I’m excited to share the Cougar spirit with them and watch them grow up on Cougar Football Saturdays, gamedays in Pullman, and as proud members of the Cougar family.”
Poston had the idea to write Butch’s Game Day in 2020 when his first son, Jack, was born. Because of the COVID-19 pandemic, there were no fans allowed at college football games that year, which meant no Cougar Football Saturdays. While taking care of his newborn son, he found himself making up rhymes and stories while rocking him back to sleep- many of which centered around cheering on the Cougs. The book was published in 2021.
At a CougsFirst! show this year, Poston saw a booth displaying stuffed cougars and the idea for the Future Coug bundles was born. These bundles are currently being funded through the Poston family, College Hill Custom Threads, and CougsFirst!. If you’d like to contribute to the project, please email tony@cougsfirst.org
Interested in reading Butch’s Game Day to your future Coug? The book is currently for sale on Amazon, at Diane’s Gift Garden located inside Pullman Regional Hospital, and at a variety of local stores on the Palouse. All proceeds from sales of Butch’s Game Day help fund the Butch Scholarship Fund to provide students who ‘play’ the beloved Butch with funding. To date, over $43,000 has been raised so far for the endowment through the WSU Foundation.
Go Cougs!