WSU Athletics Director Jim Sterk knows emotions run high when talking about the annual rivalry game between WSU and the University of Washington.

At the WSU Athletic Council meeting on Friday, Sterk spoke about his reactions when representatives from First & Goal Inc. approached him about moving the annual rivalry game to Seattle’s Qwest Field.

“Initially,” he said, “there’s no way in hell.” After taking his emotions out of the process and focusing on the perceived benefits, Sterk said he felt it would be fiscally irresponsible if he didn’t at least consider the proposal.

WSU has recently been in talks with First & Goal Inc., the company that operates Qwest Field. The Cougars have played an annual game in Seattle, but the contract will expire after the game against Hawaii this fall.

Sterk said he approached the company to ask how WSU could maximize its game in Seattle, and they proposed moving the Apple Cup to Qwest Field. The deal, as currently negotiated, would be for six years. In exchange for losing three Apple Cups in Pullman, the Cougars would move the annual Seattle game back to Martin Stadium.

Sterk said the Athletics Department was facing a $1.5 million to $2 million shortfall and was focusing on ways to create a balanced budget. If the deal goes through, he said WSU stands to make $10 million through the six-year period.

Concerns were raised about student seating and general admission pricing, but Sterk said those things have been considered.

Student sports passes, which allow admittance to every home game, would still be valid for the Apple Cup in Seattle. Sterk said they could accommodate about 7,000 WSU students; 6,767 attended last year’s Apple Cup in Pullman.

General admission tickets would increase slightly, to around $60, Sterk said. WSU would not have control over the sale of those tickets, nor any of the advertising for the game.

Not everyone at the meeting was ready to take emotions out of the equation.

Sarah Driscoll, ASWSU director of academic affairs and a council representative, said she had received several letters from students expressing their desire to keep the game in Pullman.

“You can’t put a price tag on tradition,” she said.

Rian Emmerson, an alumni representative whose husband played football for WSU, said the comments she received echoed those statements.

“I know you need to look at the financial part of it, but from what I’'m reading and what I’m hearing, I’m just heartbroken,” she said.

Psychology professor Tom Brigham, a faculty representative, reminded the council of what would be lost by moving the game.

“I understand the arguments, but I remember the first Apple Cup back on Pullman, beating the Huskies and the goalposts going down the river,” he said. “They’re something you can’t really trade.”