SAN ANTONIO — "Like Peyton always says, it’s just been a blessing,”
That is Peyton Pelluer's mother Kim.
Friday will be Pelluer’s 54th, and final, game as a Coug.
“He has fun all the time, but they’ve really enjoyed this year. They’re all really close, they all do things together,” his dad Scott Pelluer said.
Friday also marks the last time Peyton’s mom and dad will see their son don a Cougs jersey.
“Just really proud. Very proud of him. Very proud of the way he holds himself. Very proud of the way he’s a leader on that team. He wears the same number I wore which is even more amazing. I just feel extremely blessed. This is a bonus year and he’s been healthy the whole year, knock on wood. We’re just very, very thankful and very, very fortunate to be a part of this,” Scott said.
The Pelluers are a big WSU football family, with Peyton being in the fourth generation of Pelluer’s to play for the Cougs.
But he has a chance to do something on Friday that no Pelluer has ever done.
“Chance for 11 wins is even more special. It’s amazing. Never been done,” Scott said. “It’d be the ending of an amazing, amazing career and a great year for the Cougs. It’d be an awesome way to end it. We’re just hoping and praying that that’s the way it ends so we’ll see what happens.”
What could be a record breaking season is just one of the things his family hopes is a part of Peyton’s WSU legacy.
“Just that he’s seen as a leader and he’s part of the team that’s won the most games ever played here. The most games in a season that nobody else has ever done and he’s part of that team, and a leader on that team. He’s been a die-hard, great Coug,” Scott said.
“Yeah, I think so too,” Kim added. “Just a fiercely loyal Coug who loves his school and his team. Meant the world to him to be a part of it. It really did.”
When Peyton leaves the field Friday night, he’ll be the last of this generation of Pelluers to wear the Crimson and Grey.
That, above anything else, makes this loyal Coug family emotional.
“I’m trying not to think about it truthfully because I get teary,” Kim said as she welled up. “It’s been a long time and we’ve enjoyed it so much and a lot has happened, good and bad, and sad and happy, but here we are. We get to enjoy this one last time with our boy, his friends, our dear friends that we’ve all made over this last six years.”