THE CHEAP SEATS with STEVE CAMERON: Dating news, breakfast with the Zags, and other stuff

Yes, yes, it’s time for this week’s notes and quotes, but…

Before we wade into the wacky world of sports, there’s a real-world item I’ve just got to share because it’s so wonderful.

According to the lifestyle website EverydayCarry.com, which surveyed over 3,200 singles to find out exactly how they would handle dating in this Age of the Coronavirus, we’re not giving up.

In fact, the survey found that in Idaho, the average single person would be willing to spend 2.9 hours traveling for a date.

Sorry, but that’s not much.

My partner Melissa (who has a home in the Kansas City suburbs) and I commute 1,600 miles each way to get together.

So there.

ITEM: You’ve probably seen the news that the entire NCAA basketball tournament next March will be held in one location — almost certainly Indianapolis.

Games will be played at various sites in that metro area.

At first glance, the news doesn’t seem so bad, since we’ll all have to watch every round on TV, anyhow.

However…

If you know your U.S. geography, you’re probably aware that Indy is in the Eastern time zone — which means that tip-off times for viewers out here in the West will be three hours earlier than the live event.

Ah, well, you can get used to it next week, when Gonzaga faces Kansas at 10:30 a.m., our time, on Thanksgiving — and then comes back for an 8 a.m. start against Auburn the next day.

Hey, what goes better together than coffee and basketball?

ITEM: Wazzu fans will have heard by now that one more player, edge rusher Will Rodgers III, has entered the transfer portal and intends to bolt from the Palouse.

The news comes from Rivals.com, and assuming it’s correct, Rodgers would be the third player in two months to transfer out.

Yes, Rodgers was a key cog at a position where the Cougars are light.

A redshirt senior who would have one more year of eligibility, Rodgers started 19 games for WSU.

In his 33 games, Rodgers had 53 tackles, 13.5 tackles-for-loss and eight sacks.

Frankly, though, I wouldn’t panic or start worrying that there’s something wrong with Nick Rolovich’s coaching staff.

Players routinely move around (especially under the loose new rules), and especially when there is a coaching change.

Rodgers’ departure won’t help this season, obviously, but the Cougar staff has shown solid recruiting chops so far, and there will be plenty of good athletes heading this way.

ITEM: We all know it’s tough to win at U-Dub.

But it’s even more difficult when you simply get cheated.

Ask Oregon State.

The Beavers should have walked out of Husky Stadium with a win last weekend, but were victimized by an officiating blunder that had a little hint of home cooking to it.

Oregon State trailed 24-21 late in the fourth quarter of a slugfest, when the Beavers drove nearly the length of the field — mostly on the ground.

They wound up with a third down and less than a yard to go at the Washington 4-yard line.

Since neither team had shown any real ability to pass the ball successfully, a lead at that point probably would have allowed the Beavers to snap their nine-game losing streak to UW.

On the third down, OSU power back Jermar Jefferson slammed ahead and seemed to get enough for the first and goal.

The officials, though, decided to measure and OSU was deemed to be inches short.

Now, fourth down.

This time, Jefferson hammered off the right side and gained at least a yard, maybe two.

But definitely enough for the first down.

Except…

Another measurement.

And, hey…

Inches short again, Oregon State gets screwed and Washington ultimately wins 27-21.

The Pac-12 has suffered some hideous officiating blunders in recent seasons, and now here comes another one.

Wait until they look at the tape and see Jefferson’s forward progress.

Like I said, it’s tough to win on Montlake.

Email: scameron@cdapress.com

Steve Cameron’s “Cheap Seats” columns appear in The Press on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays. “Moments, Memories and Madness,” his reminiscences from several decades as a sports journalist, runs each Sunday.

Steve also writes Zags Tracker, a commentary on Gonzaga basketball, published every Tuesday.