‘I didn’t come here to lose’ ... WSU introduces Rogers as Cougar football coach

From KREM2 and local reports 

PULLMAN — Washington State officially introduced Jimmy Rogers as the 35th head football coach in school history Thursday at a news conference. 

"I look forward to tirelessly working this program into becoming a national contender,” Rogers said. “I didn't come here to lose and nor did this coaching staff. I believe in this. We are going to do everything we can to get on the top of college football. It just happened last year with a (future) conference opponent (Boise State) making the college playoff and I told the team last night, don't think that can't be you. I have been a winner and a part of a winner my whole life and I don't plan to stop any time now." 

Rogers, head coach at FCS power South Dakota State the past two seasons, replaces Jake Dickert, who left last month to become head coach at Wake Forest.

 Rogers said he first knew he saw something special in Pullman while watching this year's team play in the Holiday Bowl against Syracuse. 

"Honestly, it was pumping life into me watching (quarterback) Zevi (Eckhaus) and this offensive line that is returning and a defense that has a spirit to them,” Rogers said. “I think if you have the spirit to want to win and want to be a part of a program that is bigger than yourself, that is half the battle right there."  

Rogers said he did not want to leave South Dakota State, but the opportunity to take over the Cougar football program and change his family's life was too good to pass up. 

"I am about people and I am about as loyal as it gets,” Rogers said. “I know that word has been thrown around here and people don't want to hear it, but I don't know if you can show that more than being 19 years in one place and building a national championship program day after day. I do plan to do that here."  

Washington State has been a pass-happy team in recent years. South Dakota State has been a run-first program. 

 "On all three phases, we will be physical and will strike you and everybody is going to be running and hitting come Saturdays,” Rogers said. “This team will have toughness and we will raise finishers in this program."  

Several South Dakota State players and a few Jackrabbit coaches have followed Rogers to Pullman. 

Eckhaus, whose first start of the season was in the Holiday Bowl after starting QB John Mateer entered the transfer portal following the regular season, later withdrew from the portal. 

 "This is the next chapter of Washington State football,” Rogers said. “We will rise and we will be a national contender and we will have a coaching staff in place to achieve that aspiration."