PULLMAN – The Washington State Cougars celebrate Senior Day this afternoon against Utah, and offensive guard B.J. Guerra is excited about playing his final home game.
Mind you, there was a time when Guerra wasn’t so sure he wanted to play his first home game – or any game – for the Cougars.
Guerra is one of five players remaining from Bill Doba’s final season as coach. All five redshirted as freshmen under the genial Doba, who was replaced after the 2007 season by Paul Wulff, a no-nonsense sort who was shocked by the lack of discipline and character on the team.
Conversely, Guerra and many of his teammates were shocked by Wulff.
“He definitely was not here to make friends with any of the players,” Guerra said. “He was here to do a job. He was here to – I guess you would say – change the culture of the team.
“A lot of guys struggled with that. There were guys that want to be rebellious and guys that don’t want change, especially those ones that were recruited by Doba’s staff.
“It was tough.”
Guerra immediately clashed with Wulff – “I definitely considered transferring” – after being asked to move from the defensive line to the offensive line for spring drills. Guerra, an all-state defensive tackle at Moses Lake High School, had never played on the offensive line and had no desire to learn a new position.
“I was very bitter with that whole ordeal,” Guerra said.
To his surprise, Guerra fell in love with his new position and gave up any thoughts of transferring when he became a part-time starter as a redshirt freshman in 2008. The Cougars, 2-11 that season, often went through the motions while suffering some of the most lopsided defeats in school history.
Guerra fairly shudders at the memory of the worst loss that season, a 69-0 drubbing to USC, even though Trojans coach Pete Carroll tried to hold the score down.
“After that game,” Guerra recalled, “a couple seniors got up in front of the team and were basically saying – how should I put this? – ‘Forget about the coaches. Play for us, don’t play for them,’ that type of thing.
“That was hard, because you look up to those guys as a young player, but you definitely knew it was the wrong way to approach it.”
Guerra is joined on the offensive line by one other senior starter. Left tackle David Gonzales missed out on the misery of the 2008 and 2009 (1-11) seasons, since he was playing junior college ball back home in Fresno, Calif.
Even though the Cougars finished 2-10 last season, they were far more competitive, partly because of the play of Gonzales and Guerra (an honorable mention All-Pac-10 selection). Both players have NFL aspirations, and scouts have them on their radar.
WSU needs to beat Utah today and Washington next Saturday to qualify for a bowl. Like Guerra, Gonzales said he is convinced the Cougars have turned the corner in the rebuilding process, in no small part because of the discipline Wulff and his staff have instilled.
“I love the coaching staff now,” Guerra said.
“You build a really good friendship with everybody on the team,” Gonzales said. “Great camaraderie out here.
“It’s been an awesome experience. I’m going to make these last few games count for every second I get out there on the field.”
EXTRA POINTS
The weather forecast calls for possible snow showers and an afternoon high of 29 degrees. … Utah is favored by 31/2 points. … The Cougars will honor 14 seniors. … In addition to Senior Day, it’s Armed Forces Day at Martin Stadium. The Cougars donated 100 tickets to U.S. veterans and active duty soldiers, also offering discounts to fans wishing to donate tickets to military personnel. … As expected, the WSU Board of Regents on Friday approved the construction of approximately 1,900 premium seats (including suites) and a new press box on the south side of Martin Stadium. A WSU press release said construction will begin Monday “with the goal” to have the project “largely completed” for the 2012 opener. The $80 million price tag is double that of one recent estimate. A football operations building is also in the plans.
COUGARS GAMEDAY
UTAH (6-4 OVERALL, 3-4 PACIFIC-12 CONFERENCE) AT WASHINGTON STATE (4-6, 2-5)
2 p.m. Martin Stadium, Pullman.
TV: Fox College Sports Atlantic. Radio: 770-AM, 1240-AM, 104.3-FM.
The series: Tied, 5-5. WSU won the last meeting, 38-21, in 2000 in Salt Lake City.
What to watch: The Utes, riding a three-game winning streak, have one of the Pac-12’s best offensive players in running back John White and one of the league’s best defensive players in tackle Star Lotulelei. Two of WSU’s top players, wide receiver Marquess Wilson (hip) and strong safety Deone Bucannon (ankle), are questionable after doing little in practice all week because of injuries. The Cougars will be down to their third-string offensive right tackle if redshirt freshman Jake Rodgers has to play for Dan Spitz (ankle), who replaced Wade Jacobson (back). The Utes are big, physical and aggressive on defense. Rocket-armed WSU quarterback Connor Halliday, a redshirt freshman, admits he’s still learning how to read defenses. Halliday’s first start comes against a blitz-oriented team that leads the league in interceptions (14).
THE pick: Utah 24, Washington State 21.
PRIME NUMBERS
UTAH
No.Name (pos.)Ht./Wt.Year
15John White (RB)5-8/186Junior
Workhorse averaging 32 carries and 160 yards in past three games.
9Jon Hays (QB)6-0/212Junior
Less than 15 pass attempts for less than 70 yards in two of past three games.
92Star Lotulelei (DT)6-3/325Junior
WSU coach Paul Wulff says Lotulelei, who has 32 tackles, is Pac-12’s best defensive lineman.
4Brian Blechen (SS)6-2/230Sophomore
Big, bruising safety had eight tackles in light snow in 31-6 win over UCLA last week.
WASHINGTON STATE
12Connor Halliday (QB)6-4/179Freshman
Came off bench last week to pass for 494 yards and 4 TDs in win over Arizona State.
86Marquess Wilson (WR)6-4/183Sophomore
Sore hip could be problem; 5 short of school record of 72 catches in one season.
17Alex Hoffman-Ellis (OLB)6-1/231Senior
Fifth in Pac-12 with 72 tackles; leads in solo tackles with 54.
6Dante Horton (CB)5-10/174Sophomore
Tied with star Utah CB Conroy Black for Pac-12 lead with 4 interceptions.
Howie Stalwick, contributing writer
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