PULLMAN – Paul Wulff feels Bobby Hauck’s pain.
Of course, that doesn’t mean Wulff is not eager to add to Hauck’s suffering.
Hauck and Wulff, highly successful football coaches in the Big Sky Conference, renew acquaintances Saturday at schools in the midst of massive rebuilding jobs.
Wulff, in his fourth year at Washington State after leaving Eastern Washington, has seen the Cougars make steady gains in depth, speed, strength and experience. The progress was obvious Saturday in a season-opening, 64-21 rout of Idaho State.
Hauck came to UNLV last season and matched the 2-11 record Wulff posted his first season at Washington State. Like that 2008 Cougars team, this year’s Rebels are too young and/or inexperienced in many positions, and it showed in a season-opening, 51-17 loss at then-No. 11 Wisconsin last Thursday.
“Any time you’ve got no seniors in your depth chart on the offense line, it’s cause of concern,” Hauck noted.
Hauck said the Rebels played three redshirt freshmen on the offensive line most of the game. UNLV’s defense is also young, and youth was served a heaping helping of humble pie when Wisconsin piled up 499 total yards.
“We certainly need to make vast improvement this week,” Hauck said.
The Cougars gave up 453 yards to a young and inept Idaho State squad, but much of the damage came against WSU’s reserves. Besides, the Cougars could afford to relax on defense on a day when their offense racked up 64 points (third in the nation) and 590 yards (fifth).
The Rebels, who visit WSU at 2 p.m Saturday (no TV), have youthful speed and athleticism at the skill positions. Sophomore quarterback Caleb Herring is a first-year starter in UNLV’s one-back, spread offense.
NEW QUARTERBACK
Fifth-year senior Marshall Lobbestael, who turned in a stellar performance Saturday when starting quarterback Jeff Tuel was ill and later injured, has continued his sharp play in practice this week.
Lobbestael, who said Tuesday it briefly “crossed my mind” to transfer from WSU in search of more playing time, has always spoken highly of Tuel as a quarterback and a person. The respect is mutual, which is one reason Lobbestael said he finds it “bittersweet” to regain his old starting job while Tuel nurses a broken collarbone.
“Playing is definitely more fun than not playing, because we’re all competitors,” Lobbestael said.
EXTRA POINTS
The flu bug that nailed Tuel has spread among several teammates and other students. A few Cougars have missed practice. “It seems to be a 24-hour flu,” Wulff said. … Lobbestael and Wulff were among those complimenting WSU’s offensive line on a strong performance Saturday. It’s worth noting, however, that Idaho State had only one defensive starter who weighed more than 234 pounds. … The Cougars played nine true freshmen and 10 redshirt freshmen in the opener. … Saturday’s 64-point performance ranks fourth in WSU history for a season opener, and the best since 1924. The record was set in a 74-0 win over Puget Sound in 1909. … Ted Miller, who covers the Pacific-12 for ESPN, moved WSU ahead of No. 11 Colorado and No. 12 Oregon State in his weekly Pac-12 rankings.
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