PULLMAN - As Paul Wulff headed to the Washington State practice field on Wednesday, he was asked if he felt a little better about seeing Kevin Lopina in full gear tossing passes around the field.
Wulff didn’t say a word, instead flashing a wide grin – something he hasn’t shown too often this season.
Enough said.
Lopina was cleared by team doctors to participate in practice. Wulff assumed that Lopina being cleared to practice means he is also cleared to play in Saturday’s Apple Cup game against Washington.
Whether Lopina plays the entire game remains to be seen. Wulff has brought in freshman quarterback J.T. Levenseller the past three games, and will probably allow the youngster a few series against the Huskies as well.
While Lopina learned he was going to start as long as we was cleared to play, he was adamant on Tuesday that he needed some repetitions to get used to the game plan.
“I want to get out there and practice,” he said. “I really thought we moved the ball well in the first half against Arizona State when I was in there.”
Lopina, buzzed by reporters on Wednesday, was eager to get in some early throwing and not wanting to waste time with interviews.
Mattingly moves just fine
Scout team quarterback Peter Roberts might have thought his yellow, no-contact jersey meant hands off to everyone, but it turned out to be hands off to everyone but defensive end Andy Mattingly. Roberts was running free down the sideline when Mattingly came through at full speed and popped Roberts from the side, knocking him off his feet.
Whoops and hollers and yells of “Apple Cup week!” filled the air from his defensive teammates.
Mattingly gave out a bit of a scream, but quickly offered his hand to pull Roberts up from the ground and offered him a pat on the helmet.
Mattingly showed little to no ill effects from the ankle sprain he suffered last Thursday in practice.
Wulff called him questionable before practice, but after seeing him move with ease through practice, Wulff said he “expects him to play on Saturday.”
Battle of turnover kings
Forget the six games WSU has allowed more than 50 points, the 266.5 rushing yards per game allowed by the defense, the six touchdown passes for the offense. One stat clearly irks Wulff more than any other – turnover ratio.
“The only stat that to me typifies our season is not the win-loss column or the yards allowed, it’s the turnover ratio, which we’ve gotta be last in the country in,” Wulff said. “Whoever holds that honor at the end of the year is going to have a not-so-great record.”
He’s right. The Cougars are last in the Football Bowl Subdivision in turnover margin, and they have a 1-10 record. They’ve forced just 11 turnovers (three fumbles and eight interceptions) while committing 35 turnovers (20 interceptions and 15 fumbles) for a difference of minus-24.
“When you are minus 24, my Lord, you are going to struggle,” he said. “A year ago, we were at one time first in the country in turnover ratio when I was at (Eastern Washington).
“I think we finished in the top six or seven.”
That EWU team made it to the semifinals of the Football Championship Subdivision playoffs.
Wulff can take some solace in the fact the Huskies are 116th of 119 teams in turnover ratio, just three spots ahead of the Cougs. UW has turned the ball over 22 times, while forcing just nine turnovers.
Extra points
Another player missing from practice was senior wide receiver Brandon Gibson. The Rogers grad was excused from school so he could attend his great grandfather’s funeral in Arizona. Gibson has been a nemesis for the Huskies in the past couple of Apple Cup games. … An MRI confirmed that running back Chantz Staden has a torn anterior cruciate ligament in his knee and will need reconstructive knee surgery. … Linebacker Myron Beck, who broke two bones in his hand, has been cleared to practice and is sporting a huge tape club encompassing his whole hand. It looks like a giant Q-tip.
Ryan Divish: 253-597-8483
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