PULLMAN – The Washington State Cougars have three games left on their football schedule, and Paul Wulff is well aware that more than a few fans hope these are his last three games as coach.
“You’ve got to ignore the things that are out there, that people don’t know,” Wulff said. “It’s not easy to do, but you do the best you can.”
The Cougars, 3-6 this season and 8-38 in Wulff’s four years at the helm, carry a five-game losing streak into tonight’s game against Arizona State at Martin Stadium. Washington State may be headed to a third consecutive last-place finish.
Wulff points out that WSU still relies heavily on young players while rebuilding. The Cougars have played 20 freshmen this year, including 10 who redshirted.
“This was the worst FBS (Football Bowl Subdivision) program in America by a long, long ways when I got here,” Wulff said.
He added, “I know everyone wants it (rebuilding) to be done really quickly. It ain’t gonna happen. It will never happen when the situation is the way it was here.”
Most observers acknowledge that Wulff and his staff inherited little talent among returning players or recruits. Before Wulff coached his first game, the NCAA docked the Cougars eight scholarships due to academic shortcomings under the previous staff.
“Where it was at (when Wulff was hired) and where it’s at right now is unbelievable improvement,” Arizona State coach Dennis Erickson said.
Erickson, who coached Wulff at Washington State in 1987-88, calls Wulff “a great coach. Got a good staff there. … (and) the Cougars fans, they’re as good as there is.
“You’ve just got to have some stability for them. The only way to make improvement is to have stability.”
The Sun Devils (6-3) spent much of the season in the Top 25, but Wulff and his players are delighted to play anyone at Martin Stadium. The Cougars have played just three games in Pullman, and only one of them since Sept. 10. That was an Oct. 15 loss to Stanford, followed by an Oct. 22 loss to Oregon State in a home game in Seattle.
Wulff described the schedule as “very challenging” but said he’s happy to be at home tonight on Dad’s Weekend and next Saturday against Utah on Armed Forces Day. The Cougars must win both those games and the Apple Cup with Washington, set for Nov. 26 at Seattle’s CenturyLink Field, to become bowl-eligible.
“I thought this year we had a chance to go to a bowl game,” Wulff said, “and you know what? We still do. I thought number 10 (quarterback Jeff Tuel, who has been injured most of the season and remains out) had to be a catalyst.”
EXTRA POINTS
Former WSU star Steve Gleason, fighting for his life because of Lou Gehrig’s disease (ALS), will serve as honorary captain. … Rain and/or light snow is in the forecast. Temperatures will be in the 30’s. … Running back Logwone Mitz will wear No. 6 in honor of former WSU teammate Cory Mackay, who was paralyzed in a 2009 highway accident before he played in college. … ASU senior Bo Moos, a starting defensive tackle, is the son of WSU athletic director Bill Moos. Erickson, who knows that his good friend Bill was a standout football player for the Cougars, said he recruited Bo because “he had pretty good bloodlines.” Pause. “I’m talking about Kendra, his mother.”
COUGARS GAMEDAY
ARIZONA STATE (6-3, 4-2 PAC-12) AT WASHINGTON STATE (3-6, 1-5)
7:30 p.m., Martin Stadium, Pullman
TV: Versus. Radio: 770-AM, 1240-AM, 104.3-FM.
The series: Arizona State leads, 23-12-2. Sun Devils won, 42-0, last year in Tempe, Ariz.
What to watch: The Cougars, who have played in Pullman once in 62 days, must demonstrate far more intensity than in last week’s blowout loss to California. “We need to come together as a family and play as one heartbeat,” senior offensive tackle David Gonzales said. Arizona State, coming off a disappointing loss at UCLA, must avoid the temptation to look past the struggling Cougars to next week’s game with arch-rival Arizona. ASU is still in the hunt for the South Division crown and a spot in the Pac-12 title game. The Sun Devils lead the Pac-12 with 13 interceptions, 14 recovered fumbles and a plus-14 advantage in turnovers. WSU ranks fifth in turnovers at plus-1.
TNT pick: Arizona State 31, Washington State 20.
PRIME NUMBERS
ARIZONA STATE
No.Name (Pos.)Ht./Wt.Year
17Brock Osweiler (QB)6-8/240Junior
Kalispell, Mont., native passed for 9 TDs, 2 INTs in past 4 games.
6Cameron Marshall (RB)5-11/215Junior
Ran for 379 yards, 5 TDs past 3 games.
8Gerell Robinson (WR)6-4/222Senior
Three 100-yard receiving games in past four outings.
7Vontaze Burfict (MLB)6-3/250Junior
Has 51 tackles, including team highs of 7 tackles for loss and 5 sacks.
WASHINGTON STATE
9Marshall Lobbestael (QB)6-3/215Senior
Has thrown 1 TD pass, 3 INTs in past 4 games (2 starts).
86Marquess Wilson (WR)6-4/183Sophomore
Poised to become 2nd Coug with two 1,000-yard receiving seasons.
17Alex Hoffman-Ellis (OLB)6-1/231Senior
First in Pac-12 with 48 solo tackles; fourth with 66 total tackles.
6Dante Horton (CB)5-10/174Sophomore
Leads Pac-12 with four interceptions, has forced two fumbles.
Howie Stalwick, contributing writer
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