Cougar Football 2003-2004
Preseason Reports

News Flash!

Seventh?

Cougs picked to finish SEVENTH in the Pac-10!

Sports Illustrated

USC gets the nod

Arizona State picked a close second in Pac-10 ballot

LOS ANGELES (AP) -- Despite having limited experience at quarterback and tailback, Southern California was picked to win the Pacific-10 Conference championship by a narrow margin over Arizona State in the annual preseason media poll.

"We accept it. That's recognition and respect from last season," USC coach Pete Carroll said at Pac-10 media day Wednesday. "We welcome that challenge."

The Trojans, 11-2 last season, received 10 first-place votes and 227 points from the 25 media members who took part. ASU had nine first-place votes and 224 points.

Washington finished third with four first-place votes and 198 points and Oregon State was fourth with the remaining two first-place votes and 172 points.

Oregon finished fifth with 139 points, followed by UCLA with 138, defending champion Washington State with 107, California with 68, Stanford with 57 and Arizona with 46.

The media poll has selected the conference championship 20 of 42 times including the last three years, when Washington, Oregon and Washington State were picked.

"Since I've been here, this conference has been extremely difficult and evenly matched," said Carroll, beginning his third year as USC's coach. "That's what I expect again this year."

The Trojans have 14 returning starters, but Heisman Trophy-winning quarterback Carson Palmer is gone along with tailbacks Justin Fargas, Sultan McCullough and Malaefou MacKenzie.

Third-year sophomore Matt Leinart, who hasn't thrown a pass at USC, enters preseason practice as the starting quarterback.

"He's been through our program, he's well-schooled and ready to take over," Carroll said. "It's his job to lose right now."

Sophomore Hershel Dennis, USC's third-leading rusher last year with 198 yards on 49 carries, is the first-string tailback.

The Trojans finished last season as one of the country's top teams, winning their final eight games capped by a 38-17 victory over Iowa in the Orange Bowl.

Arizona State, a narrow 34-27 loser to Kansas State in the Holiday Bowl last December, returns 17 starters including quarterback Andrew Walter, who passed for 3,877 yards and 28 touchdowns.

"We're excited the folks in the media picked us a lot higher than last year," ASU coach Dirk Koetter said, noting the Sun Devils finished third after being picked to finish ninth.

Keith Gilbertson was hired this week as the new coach at Washington to succeed the fired Rick Neuheisel, giving the Pac-10 four new coaches this year. The others are Mike Riley at Oregon State, Karl Dorrell at UCLA and Bill Doba at Washington State.

Dorrell said he believes being picked sixth will motivate his players.

"They think they're better than that, I think we're better than that," Dorrell said.

WSU and USC were 7-1 in the Pac-10 last season, but the Cougars won the title because of a 30-27 overtime victory over the Trojans.

"As a coach, you'd like to be picked last and sneak up on people," Doba said. "As far as recruiting is concerned, you'd like to be picked first."

Meanwhile, commissioner Tom Hansen said non-conference records will no longer be a factor in deciding the Pac-10 Rose Bowl representative and there's no interest right now in creating a conference championship game following the regular season and before the bowl games.

Team Roster - Courtesy Cougfan.com

And this is interesting (edited here), from:

 http://www.collegefootballnews.com/2003/Rankings/Preview26_50.htm

Preview 2003 - Top Teams

Preseason Rankings ... some teams from the Pac-10.

7. USC - Does any team have lines as good as USC has? The offensive line has the best offensive tackles in America, while the defensive line, known as Wild Bunch II modeled after the great line of 1969, has five NFL caliber players. These lines will have to dominate until many of the young and talented players are able to fight through their inexperience. .
Relative strength: offensive and defensive line  Relative Weakness: running backs 
Star of the team: Sophomore WR Mike Williams  Key game: Oct. 4 at Arizona State.

18. Oregon State - This isn't the most physical team in college football, but it's athletic and they can flat out fly. Steven Jackson is the type of franchise back you design a whole offense around. Quarterback Derek Anderson has raw skills and could be an All-Pac 10 performer this season with one of the fastest receiving corps in college football. The defense needs to avoid injury and must find a way to equal the run defense of last year.
Relative strength: receivers  Relative Weakness: secondary 
Star of the team: Junior RB Steven Jackson  Key game: Nov. 11 at Oregon.

20. UCLA - The offense will be balanced and might not be looking for the home run on every other play. The defense will be the opposite with an attacking scheme using various blitzes. Many might not be paying attention to the Bruins, but this has to be considered one of the sleeper teams for the Pac 10 title.
Relative strength: running backs  Relative Weakness: quarterbacks 
Star of the team: Senior DE Dave Ball  Key game: Oct. 4 vs. Washington.

29. Arizona State - After a couple of good recruiting years and with the players learning the schemes and systems, there's no reason to think the Sun Devils can't make a big jump this year. Forget what might have been had Terrell Suggs and Shaun McDonald decided to come back for a final season, this ASU team is still loaded with experience and has some superstar players returning.
Relative strength: quarterbacks  Relative Weakness: running backs 
Star of the team: Junior QB Andrew Walter  Key game: Sept. 27 at Oregon State.

32. Washington State - There might not be the star power on this year's Cougar team, but there's enough talent on both sides of the ball to come up with a big season. While a Pac 10 title isn't a total impossibility in Bill Doba's first season, it might be a little out of reach. That's not to say a team with a good defensive front seven and an explosive offense can't still make some noise and build for the future. Expect the same fireworks, and the same tough defense that was so fun to watch under Mike Price.
Relative strength: quarterbacks  Relative Weakness: defensive line 
Star of the team: Junior OT Calvin Armstrong  Key game: Sept. 27 at Oregon.

33. Washington - This is still a young team with several talented players needing time, but they have to win now with star quarterback Cody Pickett graduating after this season and receiver Reggie Williams a near-lock to leave early for the NFL. Can the Huskies win the Pac 10 title? If they can take it one game at a time again like they did at the end of last year, it's possible.
Relative strength: receivers  Relative Weakness: running backs 
Star of the team: Senior QB Cody Pickett  Key game: Oct. 25 vs. USC.

35. Oregon - Forget the billboards and the hideous new uniforms, this is a program that might be better when everyone is disrespecting it, and could explode when no one is looking. This is a team full of talent and full of athletes. All it needs is something to pull it all together, and then it should be among the Pac 10 elite again.
Relative strength: defensive line  Relative Weakness: secondary 
Star of the team: Senior LB Kevin Mitchell  Key game: Oct. 11 at Arizona State.

64. Stanford - The defense might not be a whole bunch better, but it's more athletic and should be very, very fast. The offensive backfield should be tremendous with a great pair of running backs and several good quarterback prospects. There are still several problems, like the offensive line, but there's too much talent to expect another season like the last one. 
Relative strength: running backs  Relative Weakness: offensive line 
Star of the team: Senior WR Luke Powell  Key game: Oct. 18 vs. Washington State.

75. California - Even if the Bears have some problems this season, don't assume it's back to the old days. There's little to no experience on the defense and several top players have to emerge on offense. There isn't a Kyle Boller, but players like running back Adimchinobe Echemandu, receiver Jonathan Makonnen and a good line should help keep the offense rolling. Hopes for the defense aren't so optimistic.
Relative strength: receivers  Relative Weakness: secondary 
Star of the team: Junior DT Lorenzo Alexander  Key game: Sept. 27 vs. USC.

Let me toss in Idaho ... (I didn't write this, nor did I make the picks ...)

112. Idaho - Head coach Tom Cable will be looking to do anything to slow down opposing offenses to give his own offense time to shine. With a quarterback like Brian Lindgren and a great offense, the team will be involved in some shootouts and will give defenses more than their share of the problems. The talent still isn't there on the defense, but it's more experienced.
Relative strength: quarterbacks  Relative Weakness: defensive back seven 
Star of the team: Senior QB Brian Lindgren  Key game: Sept. 13 vs. Boise State.

I leave it to you to figure it all out. There are a few more teams that made the "also ran" list. Note: WSU here outranked Washington by one notch. Yet, Washington emerged as the ruler of WSU in other picks.

Bite me, Dawgs. We shall see. 

Lewiston Tribune Online - 01/08/03

Doba brings Greene back to his roots; Former Cougar All-American named defensive-backs coach

PULLMAN -- Ever since Ken Greene left the business world and plunged into collegiate football coaching in 1995, he has been loosely connected to the Washington State constellation.

He solidified those ties Tuesday, accepting a job as defensive-backs coach for new Cougars coach Bill Doba.

Greene, 46, a Lewiston native and a former All-American safety for the Cougars, has spent five of the last eight years coaching for ex-WSU coaches: Jim Sweeney at Fresno State and Joe Tiller at Purdue.

His ties to the area run deep.

He spent the first four years of his life at Lewiston, and his parents and several other relatives live there now. He is an uncle of former Lewiston High and Lewis-Clark State basketball player Charlie Walker.

One of his three daughters, Melanie, recently completed her rookie season with the WSU volleyball team.

"It will be nice to get back to my family," Greene said. "It's all-around a great opportunity for me, to go back to my alma mater, work for a great man in Bill Doba and follow my daughter's volleyball career. They lose five seniors and are expecting big things out of her next season."

Greene replaces Chris Ball, who is accompanying ex-Cougars head coach Mike Price to Alabama.

He has been assisting Tiller at Purdue for three seasons, coaching against the Cougars in the 2001 Sun Bowl.

Before that, he coached at Fresno State, first for his old WSU coach, Sweeney, then for Pat Hill when Sweeney retired.

Greene had played for Sweeney for the first two years of his career as a WSU defensive back. He was named All-America as a senior in 1977 and was a first-round draft choice by St. Louis in 1977.

He played for the Cardinals and the San Diego Chargers before retiring from the NFL in 1985.

Greene then spent several years as a construction contractor in the Boise area and made his coaching debut as a volunteer assistant in 1994 at Vallivue High in Caldwell.

He enjoyed coaching so much that he agreed to take a humble graduate-assistant's position on Sweeney's staff at Fresno in 1995. He was made a fulltime assistant the following year.

Doba, who took over for Price after the Cougars' loss to Oklahoma in the Rose Bowl last week, gave several reasons for hiring Greene.

"First of all, Ken Greene is a good coach," he said. "Everyone we checked who has worked with Ken or who he worked for has nothing but good things to say about him. He is an excellent recruiter and he is a Cougar. We want to get those Cougars back in the program."

Greene is also a close friend of WSU offensive coordinator Mike Levenseller, a former WSU teammate.

"That will make for good chemistry in the staff room," Doba said.

Lewiston Tribune Online - 01/08/03

Cougars bring Rosenbach back into the fold; Former WSU quarterback will return as QB coach, Doba hires Burtnett as linebackers coach

PULLMAN -- Washington State added another familiar name to its football coaching staff Wednesday, hiring Timm Rosenbach as quarterbacks coach.

New head coach Bill Doba also hired Leon Burtnett to coach linebackers.

Rosenbach, 35, the quarterback who led the Cougars to an Aloha Bowl win in 1988, became the second former WSU standout to join Doba's staff in two days. The Cougars had hired Ken Greene to coach the secondary Tuesday.

That gives Doba four ex-Cougar players on his staff. The others are Mike Levenseller and Mike Walker.

Rosenbach (pronounced ROSE-en-baw) has been offensive coordinator at Eastern Washington the past two seasons. He took up coaching in 1999, several years after completing a pro career that included four seasons with the Arizona Cardinals of the National Football League.

"Timm is an excellent young coach," Doba said. "I know he was a very fierce competitor and I think that carries over into coaching. He has paid his dues and at Eastern Washington his offense ranked among the best in the nation the past two years."

Doba said he waved off interviews with other candidates after talking to Rosenbach.

"I think he will fit in our program very well and I think our kids will like him. He establishes instant credibility with our players, having played at the next level."

Rosenbach set WSU single-season records in 1988 for total offense, passing yards and touchdown passes. He also had the highest quarterback rating in the nation that year, completing 218 of 338 passes with 11 interceptions and 24 touchdowns.

He turned pro after his junior season that year. After his career with the Cardinals, he spent the 1994 season with Hamilton of the Canadian Football League. He then spent several years in private business before becoming quarterbacks coach at Ambrose University in Iowa.

When former Cougar teammate Paul Wulff was named Eastern Washington's head coach in 2000, Rosenbach joined the staff as a parttime coach for one season, then moved into a fulltime role as offensive coordinator and quarterbacks coach in 2001.

In his first season as offensive coordinator the Eagles led the nation in total offense.

Burtnett, 59, will be making his second appearance at WSU, having coached the secondary for Jim Sweeney in 1971. He was head coach for five years at Purdue and also was with the Indianapolis Colts for five seasons, including one as offensive coordinator and quarterback coach.

"Leon adds a lot of maturity and experience to our staff," Doba said. "He's recruited guys like Rod Woodson and Jim Everett. Leon has been on both sides of the ball, so he will be a valuable asset to us both offensively and defensively. He has an excellent football mind."

Burtnett hired Doba for his Purdue staff in 1983.

Born in California, Burtnett grew up in Meade, Kan., and graduated from Southwestern College in Kansas.

"I have always said, even before this opportunity, Washington State's coaching staff does the best job of anyone coaching football," Burtnett said. "I am excited about being a part of continuing that success."

Lewiston Tribune Online - 08/07/03

Tribune/Steve Hanks
WSU quarterback Matt Kegel tosses a warmup pass during the team's first official workout of the season.

Doba, Cougs get into the swing of things; Injuries already an issue as team holds first workout

PULLMAN -- Washington State clicked through its first preseason football workout without a hitch Wednesday, but that doesn't mean the Cougars are injury-free.

Several backups reported to camp with injuries in tow as the Cougars began preparation for Bill Doba's debut season as head coach.

Washington State opens its season Aug. 30 in Seattle against Idaho.

The injury list includes Bryan Boyer, the sophomore defensive tackle from Lapwai, sidelined indefinitely with a disc bulge in his lower back.

A similar injury is hounding sophomore receiver Thomas Ostrander, who underwent surgery last month and may be out for the season.

Conditioning, however, will theoretically be an asset for the Cougars. All but one of their 85 scholarship players purportedly spent much of the summer working out in Pullman.

The team is scheduled to practice once a day until Monday, when a series of double-day sessions begins. Full contact will be avoided until Sunday.

Ira Davis, the linebacker who missed three games last year on a disciplinary suspension, is now shelved indefinitely with a foot injury sustained in a household accident. The senior was on the field coaching younger players Wednesday.

Robert Franklin, one of the club's more promising freshman receivers, is out four weeks with a sprained knee.

One player has left the program: freshman defensive tackle Aaron Ware.

Cougfan.com - Posted Aug 9, 2003

Akey high on defense
D-coordinator likes what he sees in defensive leaders, newcomers

STEPHEN A. NORRIS
CF.C Correspondent

PULLMAN – When Washington State defensive coordinator Robb Akey talks, people listen. And what he's saying lately is music to the ears of a Cougar Nation.The vocal coach has nothing but praise for his crimson-clad defenders,as he should, considering their game has been air tight the entire spring and so far this fall camp.

“(Genatone) doesn’t talk much but when he gets in the huddle he just gives me this look like he is ready to go,” Akey said. “When he talks, people listen.”

As for last year’s recruiting class that includes guys like Mkristo Bruce, Scott Davis and Brian Hall - - who are all redshirt freshmen now - - Akey said they were a very close group off the field and they held their own every day in practice last year going up against a Pac-10 champion offense.

Akey also spread plenty of praise to the new crop of guys coming in, such as defensive end Reyshawn Bobo, defensive back Husain Abdullah, defensive back Christian Bass and linebacker Paul Stevens.

“I’ve liked what I have seen in terms of pass rushing with Reyshawn Bobo. Husain Abdullah has been moving well. Christian Bass is a great looking kid; I’m excited for his future. Paul Stevens has done a good job.”

He cautioned not to worry about the smaller size of some of the players right now because standouts like Isaac Brown and D.D. Acholonu were just as small when they joined the team four years ago.

“You want to look at the kind of work ethic and courage a kid shows right now,” Akey said.

 The general consensus about JC transfer corner Omowale Dada currently is that he is a wait and see player. Neither head coach Bill Doba nor Akey were ready to make a definite statement on how he will be used during the season, but it is certain that the Cougs need to shore up some depth at that position. Said Akey: “I’m anxious to see what he will do in pads.”

Doba said the same thing but also mentioned that he hopes Dada can step in soon to be a backup for Jason David or Karl Paymah. The head coach said he hopes to get Dada up to speed by the third or fourth game of the season.

“We recruited him because he had good burst and break on the ball,” Doba said. “But we’ll wait and see how he responds when the bullets start flying.”

EXTRA POINTS

The team worked on most of the same material today as they did Friday, practicing with shoulder pads and helmets. After the injuries from yesterday it appeared they might have been taking it a bit easier on the hits. Doba did mention that they probably were too aggressive yesterday.

With the addition of Aaron Wagner and Hall to compete for the middle linebacker position with Don Jackson, one of the Cougars’ former weak spots looks to become a strength for them this year.

All three quarterbacks performed exceptionally better today. Chris Hurd looked the sharpest of the three today hitting Scott Lunde and a sliding Troy Bienemann while on the run. The offensive line had a better day protecting the signal-callers and Matt Kegel was able to use his height as an advantage on several passes. As for Josh Swogger, he was congratulated a few times by QB coach Timm Rosenbach after completing some well-executed passes, however Swogger’s biggest enemy seemed to be mental mistakes.

Running back Chris Bruhn continues his crash course on the Cougar playbook, especially learning how to run routes. Running backs coach Kelly Skipper had to correct him a few times.

People we’re still talking about the highlight film catch by Don Turner on Thursday. The Spokane native made a one-handed, behind-the-back, no-look, oh-my-God-I-can’t-believe-it, grab during coverage drills.

With receivers Thomas Ostrander (out for the season) and Robert Franklin (out 4 weeks) on the injury shelf, the late pick-up of JC transfer Tramaine Murray is looking to be more and more a God-send for offensive coordinator Mike Levenseller.

• Sammy Moore and fellow receiver Chris Jordan have changed their numbers to 3 and 2, respectively.

• When asked if practicing in pads made the team a little more light winded, offensive lineman Calvin Armstrong said it was not a burden because of the conditioning the team did in the summer. Armstrong noted that they used weight vests to improve speed.

• Monday is the first day for two-a-day practices, but new NCAA rules do not allow teams to hold them on consecutive days. Wednesday will be the first scrimmage at 7:30 p.m. in Martin Stadium.

• Kicker Drew Dunning has been named to the 2003 Lou Groza Collegiate Place-Kicker Award Preseason Watch List.

INJURY REPORT
• Freshman defensive lineman, Jon Conlin could be out for the entire season after injuring his knee. He’ll  have an MRI on Tuesday to determine the injury and severity of it.

• Moore sat out practice with a hamstring injury and will be evaluated Monday.

• Running back Blair Hawkins suffered a broken scapula and will miss four-to-six weeks.

Cougfan.com - Posted Aug 11, 2003

Coug O comes out fighting
Tempers flare as offense starts to click

STEPHEN NORRIS
Cougfan.com Correspondent

PULLMAN -- With Chris Hurd leading the way, the Cougar offense picked up Monday morning where it left off Sunday afternoon, making for a dynamic start to the first round of two-a-day practices on the Palouse.

In fact, for the first time since the waning moments of the Crimson and Gray game in April, the offense seemed to be running on all cylinders. And with the defense playing like its usual intense self, the combination was electric -- so much so that a fight ensued at the end of practice between opposing linemen, drawing the ire of head coach Bill Doba.

“We are not going to fight,” he said. “We play football out here. If this were a real game, both of those players would be put on the bench and suspended. We are not going to tolerate it.”

Aside from some OL letdowns picking up the blitz, there was little else to complain about.

All three QBs played well, with Hurd looking exceptionally sharp. He had zip aplenty on his passes and pulled the trigger on a nifty 20-yard aerial to Trandon Harvey that sailed just over the top of defenders.

Hurd, a redshirt sophomore from Northern California, completed nearly all of his passes and made few, if any, miscues.

All three quarterbacks looked somewhat sluggish in earlier practices, largely due to new information they're trying to digest. But this morning, Hurd, Matt Kegel and Josh Swogger each looked to have reached a comfort zone.

And it may have had something to do with the rush of full contact, said Hurd. “I really liked getting out here and being able to hit. It’s more of a game tempo. I love how the intensity picks up.”

Making the signal calling easier is a stout offensive line and four healthy running backs. The OL opened up one hole for running back Jonathan Smith that looked like a page out of Ohio State's book of execution: A picture-perfect carry right up the gut for 10-yards.

“Our offensive line is really, really talented,” Hurd said. “We’ve got a lot of guys with experience. And there's a lot of talent at running back, especially with Allen Thompson healthy. Having so much depth just gives you so many more weapons. You know the line will block and you know your running backs will put some yards on the ground for you.”

The top four RBs figure to be all-Pac-10 contender Jermaine Green, Smith, Thompson and JC transfer Chris Bruhn.

On the flanks, redshirt freshman receiver Chris Jordan continued to impress this morning. Like yesterday, he grabbed pretty much anything thrown anywhere near him.

Notable Notes:
• Wide receiver Sammy Moore did not practice this morning because of a sore hamstring. He could be back for tonight’s 7:30 practice.

• In assessing the state of his offensive and defensive lines, Doba said, “We’ll know more after Wednesday’s scrimmage, how much more tackling we need to do and how crisp we are.”

• Tight end Troy Bienemann has looked good over the last week and this morning made several catches for short yardage.

• DE Adam Braidwood blocked a Kegel pass during practice.

• Hurd and Josh Swogger are receiving an equal amount of time with the second and third string offenses.

Lewiston Tribune Online - 08/11/03

WSU football: Vet receivers set to move up the ranks; Lunde, Moore try to keep passing game from sliding

PULLMAN -- It's no mystery why Washington State plummeted from No. 1 to No. 7 in the preseason Pac-10 football media poll this year: The darlings of the 2002 pollsters lost their quarterback and two of their three top receivers from that mostly charmed season.

Something of an onus, then, is being placed on Sammy Moore and Scott Lunde, two contrasting senior receivers who are being ushered toward the fore of WSU's offensive attack.

One of them strives for flash, the other for unerring consistency, but both believe the WSU receiver crew is in better hands than you think.

Moore, the sporadically electrifying transfer who somehow stretched his seven receptions last season into a 30.4-yard average, hopes to supply some of the big-play punch that Mike Bush provided the past two years.

Lunde, the former walk-on who caught 30 passes last year as an entrusted but overshadowed backup, will try to a fill a void at slotback left by Jerome Riley.

The only returning starter at the Cougars' all-important wideout positions is Devard Darling, the laconic junior who made 54 receptions last year after transferring from Florida State.

The veterans' roles are further magnified by the fact that two young receivers -- Robert Franklin and Thomas Ostrander -- are sidelined with injuries for at least a few weeks. Moore himself is bothered by a pulled hamstring -- the left one this time. He was hounded by a sore right ham last season.

But Lunde, in a tone as convincing as he could make it, said this group of receivers is more experienced and better prepared than fans might expect.

"Every year, there's a different attitude that develops within the receiver corps," he said Sunday after the Cougars' first fully padded workout of preseason camp. "This is my fifth year, and the camaraderie and the potential are greater than any other year.

"We're so much further ahead than previous years," said Lunde, who finally earned a scholarship last year after four years of unpaid toil, some of it as a special-teams terror. "It's really going to show early in the season. We received a big lesson at Ohio State last year, just not being mentally ready that early in the season. I felt we didn't play to the best of our ability."

He was referring to a 25-7 loss at Columbus on Sept. 14 that grew only more agonizing when Ohio State finished the season undefeated and won the national title. The Cougars went 10-3 and finished 10th in both major national polls.

Moore, smooth and fearless as a returner, took a kickoff 89 yards for a touchdown in the Cougars' otherwise dead-on-arrival performance against Oklahoma in the 2003 Rose Bowl, and he now wants to distinguish himself as a punt-returner. "That's my motto this year -- make big plays," he said.

Yet the Cougar offense, at least for the moment, is placing more emphasis on consistency than spectacle. That should play into Lunde's hands.

"In the past we've attacked deep, but now our big thing is keeping the football," Lunde said. "We're going to march down the field with short plays -- outs, crosses, hitches. Last year we got three-and-out, first down, three-and-out. We don't want to be that kind of team."

The improvement of the receivers, of course, depends largely on the performance of Matt Kegel, who assumes the No. 1 quarterback's job after three years of apprenticeship to Jason Gesser. His experience level, like that of the receivers, is higher than a casual observer might believe.

"Kegel's really coming around -- I'm really impressed with him," Moore said. "He doesn't just look at one receiver; he scans the field more. Today -- I don't know if it was because his girlfriend was in the stands, and his mom and dad, but he was really getting it done."

Lunde described Kegel as "a warrior."

"That's good, because it's going to rub off on his teammates," he said. "When it comes down to it, we're not going to fold. I'm not saying we folded in a couple of games last year. But when the going gets tough, we're going to kick it into high gear. Because we've worked harder than we ever have before.

"Even though this is dinky ol' Pullman," he said, "our expectations are sky-high. A lot of people will laugh at us, but our goal, if you ask us, is the national championship. It sounds silly to a lot of people because they don't know what we have. But we're ready for it. We're ready."

NOTES -- Freshman defensive lineman Jon Conlin will be evaluated Tuesday for a possible torn ACL.... Coach Bill Doba liked the Cougars' intensity Sunday, as well as the first-week performances of Kegel, tailback Jermaine Green, the offensive line and the defensive backfield, especially cornerback Jason David.

Cougfan.com - Posted Aug 12, 2003

The Joe Cougfan Report
An average Joe's insights and observations of Cougar fall camp

By BRENT WIGEN
aka: Joe Cougfan

PULLMAN - - Let it be known, I begin my journalism “career” with clear goals: No painstaking reporting for me, I’m much too lazy and the CF.C writers already take care of those things far better than I could ever hope to. No, I’d like to make my mark with some biased, totally unqualified and ill-informed opinions. God knows there aren’t enough of those on the Internet.

Cougfan.com - Posted Aug 14, 2003

The Joe Cougfan Report 8/14
Our man in the stands is back with his observations on Good (Cougs) and Evil (Dogs)

By BRENT WIGEN
aka: Joe Cougfan

PULLMAN - - Here it is, column No. 2. I’m feeling cocky already. I’m thinking about ending a few sentences with prepositions and using some borderline curse words just to see how far I can go. I’m all about testing limits, as long as those limits aren’t physical. For those limits, I prefer to sit on my rear and watch others, which makes me a fan.

Cougfan.com - Posted Aug 20, 2003

Cougfan.com - Posted Aug 21, 2003

Lewiston Tribune Online - 08/25/03

Apprenticeship finally over for Cougars' Kegel; After three years watching Gesser, well-schooled senior gets his crack at the conrols

PULLMAN -- Matt Kegel has started only two collegiate football games, and none since 2000. Yet he has endured drills, meetings and video sessions beyond number. Does this count as experience?

It's a key question for Washington State, since the modern-era Cougars have rarely seen much success without the benefit of a highly experienced quarterback.

After three years of understudying Jason Gesser, Kegel (rhymes with regal) will take over as starter when the Cougars open their season Saturday night at Seattle against Idaho.

For the record, Ryan Leaf's less-notorious cousin displays the same Leafian confidence he did three years ago when he led Washington State to a late-season win at USC. In other words, he doesn't seem to be brooding over such things as the 2002 Apple Cup, when he replaced an injured Gesser and the Cougars blew a 20-10 lead in the final five minutes, losing in triple overtime.

Surely that qualifies as a dose of experience. Kegel believes waiting and watching for nearly half a decade should count for something, too.

"Every team that's successful has to have great play by the quarterback," he acknowledged. "Everybody knows that. I've been here four years and I know the offense as well as anyone has. That's all I need."

At 6-foot-5 and 235 pounds, with top-shelf arm strength and pugnacity, the senior from Havre, Mont., comes far closer than Gesser ever did to the ideal dropback quarterback that the WSU one-back offense has generally preferred. But can he approach Gesser's fluidity, his adaptability?

He has already emulated Gesser's role as offseason workout shepherd, overseeing a WSU summer routine that he says is now "built into the system." He took that mantle shortly after the Cougars' loss to Oklahoma in the 2003 Rose Bowl.

"Kegel has been a great leader for us since the bowl game," new head coach Bill Doba said. "He's taken charge, organized the offseason workouts. ... It's not that he's never going to make mistakes. But he's vastly improved and has a great amount of confidence."

Behind Kegel, however, the experience level drops off drastically.

With sophomore Chris Hurd nursing an ailing femur and possibly out for the season, the backup job goes to 6-5, 243-pound Josh Swogger, a second-year freshman from Youngstown, Ohio.

Coaches have also been delighted by the play of Alex Brink, a true freshman from Eugene, Ore., whom the Cougars had pursued only when Carl Bonnell left the program late last year. They would like to redshirt Brink and build his arm strength, but they like his vision and instincts. Consider him on the brink.

RUNNING BACKS -- Jermaine Green and Jonathan Smith were injury-shadowed last year, and Green has waged a constant battle with his flexibility in the offseason. Yet the two backs are talented, in complementary ways.

Green is solid mass, and Smith seems light as air, but both seniors are cat-quick and have the type of hands that will facilitate WSU's new emphasis on ball-control passing.

If Green's credentials are a matter of record -- he rushed for 829 yards last year -- Smith's promise is implicit in the vocal tones of admiring teammates and coaches. He has gained nearly 20 pounds, to 195.

"Smith has worked hard all winter and summer and shown great improvement," Doba said. "We can put him in the slot and he can catch the football, and he's running the football really well."

Allen Thompson may be lost for the season with his ongoing shoulder problems, but the Cougars have finally confirmed the existence of Chris Bruhn, the 6-3 junior who signed with the Cougars three times and finally arrived in Pullman this summer after a series of academic trials.

"He's progressed a lot," new running-backs coach Kelly Skipper said. "Because of the injuries (to other backs), he's gotten a lot of reps, and he's gotten better."

If Green, Smith and Bruhn stay relatively healthy -- and that's a big if -- the Cougars could have, for them, an extraordinary ground game.

Lewiston Tribune Online - 08/26/03

Tribune/Kyle Mills
During his first season at Washington State, receiver Devard Darling specialized in short-to-medium-range routes. This year, the junior and his fellow pass-catchers will need to fill the big-play void left by the graduating Mike Bush and Jerome Riley.

Wanted: a range warrior; Sticky-handed receivers are telented enough, but Cougars won't see as many big gainers

PULLMAN -- It might be time to curtail the use of the word "rangy" in regard to Washington State receivers. Oh, they're not exactly waterbugs this year, but none of them has to shop at Penney's Big and Tall.

It's still tempting to invoke basketball terms to describe them, but different ones. "Rugged," for example.

Devard Darling, the top returner, is 6-foot-3 but seems to do his best work with his back to the goal line. Chris Jordan, a second-year freshman, blocks out defenders with the best of them. Scott Lunde, the heir apparent at slotback, can resemble an aggressive post rumbling across the key.

So maybe it's just as well that WSU's semi-new coaching staff prefers to deploy the school's spread offense somewhat more conservatively than Mike Price did. The Cougars may be hard-pressed to duplicate the deep-passing attack they've brandished in recent years with targets like Mike Bush and Jerome Riley.

Darling, the hard-working Florida State transfer, caught 54 passes last season, second on the team only to Riley's 57. And he led the squad with 11 touchdown receptions. But downfield catches in traffic weren't a strength with him. Maybe they still can be: He's only a junior.

"He knows what he needs to do," offensive coordinator and receivers coach Mike Levenseller said. "People keep trying to make him a senior. He's done pretty well for a guy who's played only one year."

A more obvious long-ball target is 6-foot senior Sammy Moore, climbing to an apparent starter's job after catching seven passes last year. With every takeoff route he runs, though, his touchy hamstrings threaten revolt.

Lunde, a 6-2 senior, proved his reliability as possession receiver last year, making 30 catches as a backup. But his rib injury may sideline him for WSU's opener Saturday night at Seattle against Idaho, leaving Jordan and Trandon Harvey vying for his starting role.

The 5-11 sophomore Harvey, with his solid mental grasp of the game, made an immediate splash when he arrived as a true freshman in 2001, but since then has battled injuries and a touch of inertia. His stock is rising again.

Jordan, a 6-0 freshman, lost ground with an injury early in preseason camp but has impressed in recent days, particularly with his knack of placing himself between the defender and the ball. "I don't know if I've ever had a player as good as him at doing that," Levenseller said.

The biggest surprise of the receiver crew, though, is Jason Hill, a 6-2 true freshman from San Francisco who showed enough talent and enough special-teams chutzpah to thwart coaches' plans to redshirt him. "He picked up the offense faster than we thought he would," head coach Bill Doba said.

Still shelved with significant injuries are sophomore Thomas Ostrander (spine) and freshman Robert Franklin (knee).

The tight-end crew, after reaching near-depletion a year ago, is now deeper then ever, led by 6-4, 244-pound sophomore Troy Bienemann, who made 15 receptions last year as a true freshman.

Behind him are two sophomores who were injured last season, Adam West and Jesse Taylor, followed by an attention-catching freshman, Cody Boyd, whose speed belies his 6-7 frame.

As a group, these tight ends are more polished at catching than blocking, and they reinforce the notion that the Cougar passing game will place more stress on pluck and precision than range.

Lewiston Tribune Online - 08/27/03

Cougs expecting continued success in the trenches; Senior-laden cast should make the difference for WSU

PULLMAN -- Until Billy Knotts took a helmet to the thumb Saturday night, Washington State could make an unusual claim: Seven of its nine starters on the offensive and defensive lines were seniors. The other two were juniors with 27 starts between them.

Now, with Knotts knocked out of his offensive-tackle role for four to six weeks with a broken thumb, the Cougar linemen will have one relative neophyte in their midst when they open against Idaho at 7:30 p.m. Saturday at Seattle.

Still, that's not bad. Barring further injuries, the Cougars will bring a high degree of savvy to the trench intrigues, not to mention a fair amount of girth.

The defensive line is especially well-schooled: All four starters are seniors who have appeared in at least 35 games in three years -- that's unusual to the point of weird -- and three of them have spent at least one season as a full-time starter.

"If we can keep those guys healthy, that can be a strength of our defense," said Robb Akey, the defensive-ends coach promoted to defensive coordinator this season.

This experience level is one reason nobody jumped into the Snake River when Outland Trophy winner Rien Long suddenly renounced his senior season and joined the NFL. The remaining players could use his game-breaking ability, but some of them boast more knowledge and more polished skills than he.

Long's tackle position has been bequeathed to the huge Tai Tupai (6-foot-5, 320 pounds), who started 12 games in 2001 and played an underrated backup role last year. He shed some unneeded weight last winter, then added "good weight" this summer, according to Akey. "He's almost on a mission to accomplish something this year."

At the other tackle spot is Jeremey Williams (6-4, 288), a returning starter who, like defensive end Isaac Brown, should improve on his honorable-mention status on the All-Pac-10 Conference team last year.

With the graduation of Fred Shavies, the D-end roles are left to the speedy Brown (6-2, 229) and D.D. Acholonu (6-3, 245), who have basically shared a job for two years, combining for 33 1/2 sacks in the process. They will be asked now to play as staunchly against the run as they do against the pass.

Promising sophomore Adam Braidwood (6-5, 264) will back up at end, and junior Steve Cook (6-3, 293) offers experience inside. In addition, senior tackle Josh Shavies and freshman end Mkristo Bruce have emerged during preseason camp.

"They take some pride in the fact they've led the Pac-10 in sacks the last two years," Akey said of the defensive line. "In regard to the Pac-10 (statistics), our rush defense was very good last year, but that's something we're paying attention to -- we think it needs to be better."

On the offense line, the Cougars look stellar on the left side, where junior Calvin Armstrong (6-7, 311) reprises his tackle spot after winning first-unit all-conference status last year, and tenacious senior Josh Parrish (6-7, 324) moves inside to guard.

The right side is a little greener.

Long-limbed junior tackle Sam Lightbody (6-9, 319) has been limited by injuries the past two years, but "is everything you want in a football player -- great flexibility, great power," new O-line coach George Yarno said.

With the recent thumb surgery on Knotts (6-7, 282), the Cougars temporarily lose a senior guard with 17 starts to his credit, yet his replacement won't be starting from scratch. Contending for the the job are two sophomores, Riley Fitt-Chappell (6-6, 314), who started five games last season, and Nick Mihlhauser (6-3, 287), who made one start, and they are trying to fend off junior-college transfer Keola Loo (6-1, 285). Also vying for playing time are junior Patrick Afif and senior Steve Nelson.

The Cougars, though their pass-protection was strong last year, often foundered in short-yardage running situations. But Yarno hints at vast improvement in that area.

"We've addressed the issue and they've worked extremely hard at it," he said. "I'm looking forward to short-yardage and goal-line. I think it's going to be a fun experience for us and the fans."

Two sophomore linemen -- defensive tackle Bryan Boyer of Lapwai and offensive guard Norvell Holmes -- are nursing back injuries and have doubtful prospects of playing this season.

The Cougars' center is new, but he doesn't play that way. Senior Mike Shelford (6-2, 269) has already assumed a leadership role on the offensive line and "is the ultimate overachiever," Yarno said.

NOTES -- Backup quarterback Chris Hurd has withdrawn from school this semester and returned to his home near San Francisco in order to undergo treatment for his leg injury. Cougars coach Bill Doba said the sophomore's injury is congenital. Several years ago he underwent treatment for a similar problem in his other leg, and he has now decided to retain the same doctor. He is expected to return to Pullman for the spring semester.... Backup tailback Allen Thompson is scheduled for major shoulder surgery Sept. 9.... Wide receivers Jevon Miller (hand) and Thomas Ostrander (back) are out until at least October.

Lewiston Tribune Online - 08/28/03

School's in session: Cougars look green in the middle but not on the outside

PULLMAN -- For the first few games this season, Washington State's linebackers may operate with less decisiveness and confidence than the other members of the defense. Maybe that's OK. The linemen and secondary might be good enough to accommodate the backers' learning curve.

Besides, WSUis never too worried about its linebackers as long as they have sure instincts and mobility at the two outside positions.

They appear to have those qualities in Will Derting (6 feet, 237 pounds), a sophomore who may emerge as one of the Pac-10 Conference elite, and Al Genatone (6-0, 229), a senior who has started 16 games over three seasons and is basically the quarterback for the Cougars' defensive front seven.

"With Will and Al at the two corners, I feel very confident we're in good hands," new linebackers coach Leon Burtnett said.

Smart play on the outside may allow Don Jackson (6-0, 231) time to learn the inside position. He's a senior whose combination of speed and strength is unequaled among this crew. But his progress since transfering from a junior college last year has been hampered by injuries, most recently a sore hamstring that has soured his preseason work.

Jackson did appear in 12 games last year, and he's expected to make his second start Saturday night when the Cougars play Idaho at Seattle.

The major surprise of the backer corps is Scott Davis (5-10, 225), a second-year freshman who hails from Genatone's old high school, Kamiakin of Kennewick, and displays a ball-hawking knack similar to Derting's. He appears capable of relieving any of the three starters.

"I'm telling you guys," WSU head coach Bill Doba told reporters, "you're going to enjoy watching him. He just makes plays."

Another rookie making waves is Steve Dildine (6-1, 212), backing up Genatone on the weak side and meanwhile distinguishing himself on special teams.

Two other linebackers are on the back burner.

Ira Davis (6-0, 213), who started seven games on the outside last year, is making a fast recovery from the offseason foot injury that at one point threatened to his quash his senior season. His recent return to practice proved premature, but the foot may be more cooperative next week. And junior Pat Bennett (6-0, 231) is nursing a shoulder injury that could restrict his play against Idaho to special teams.

Inside backups include freshman Brian Hall (6-2, 243) and sophomore Aaron Wagner (6-2, 248), the latter returning from a Mormon mission.

Burtnett won't be surprised to see some jittery nerves among the linebackers in the opener at Seahawk Stadium.

"Other than the first two guys -- Will and Al -- nobody's really played," the coach said. "That can be good and it can be a little scary. They're going to be tight, you know that."

A likely exception would be Derting, who shared a coming-out party with Seahawk Stadium a year ago when the Cougars beat Nevada in the first official game at the stadium. As a freshman with less than one full game under his belt, Derting intercepted three passes and returned one of them for a 98-yard touchdown.

He should be very much in his comfort zone.

NOTES -- Prior to the Cougars' game Sept. 6 at Notre Dame, the College Football Hall of Fame is staging a WSU tailgate party from 9 to 11:30 a.m. at the Hall of Fame in South Bend, Ind.

Lewiston Tribune Online - 09/05/03

This kid is from CLARKSTON HIGH SCHOOL, my old stomping grounds. GO BANTAMS!

Tribune/Kyle Mills
Steffan Blume has the size, strength and quickness of a big-time linebacker. The coaches at Washington State obviously agree: Blume has made a verbal commitment to the Cougars and will pesumably make it official in February when he signs a letter of intent.

Born to hit hard; Although Steffan Blume hails from family rich in baseball tradition, football has always been his calling

The first time Dave Curtis ever coached him, it was in a Little League baseball game. And he was kicked out for bashing the bat on the ground.

Doug Blume, his dad, remembers that he didn't quite understand the rules of flag football in third grade. Or was it that he didn't agree with the rules? He usually opted for tackling ballcarriers; pulling the flag didn't really interest him.

So before Steffan Blume ever played a down for Clarkston High, it was obvious that he was, through and through, a football player. It was even clear that he had the classic disposition of a linebacker.

It's only been within the last few months that the world at large has taken notice. In late June, he made a verbal commitment to the Washington State program. And before the start of this season, his senior campaign, he was a first-string selection on the Seattle Times' all-state team.

Blume must save his roughneck act for the field. In interviews, he is talkative and wears a sunny smile, but tends to be a bit skittish.

Nerves during a game are no problem. For example, let's say that Cougars coach Bill Doba pops into a Clarkston contest this season.

"I'm sure I will be nervous," Blume said. "But I almost feel that when people come to watch, I'll do even better. I kind of get even more intense."

For opposing running backs, that must be a scary thought. At 6-foot-2 and 225 pounds, Blume has the size and strength to fight through the beefiest offensive linemen. But he's nimble enough -- he runs 40 yards in 4.6 seconds -- to track down the most elusive ballcarriers.

"He put in the time to get there," said Curtis, who is beginning his 15th season as Clarkston's coach. "Some kids have the potential, but they don't work to get there. ... After college, he could go to the NFL -- I've always said that -- if he will continue to do what he needs to do."

Blume has a regal athletic pedigree, although most of it centers around baseball. Bill Blume, his grandpa, pitched at Kansas State. His dad and uncle, twins Doug and Dave Blume, were stars at Lewis-Clark State during the late '70s and early '80s.

The youngest Blume's talent shined through early. Doug Blume said that when his son was 5 or 6, he could perform gymnastic tricks with almost no instruction.

His earliest football lessons came courtesy of his older brother Jace and his friends. They let him play, and they never took it easy on the younger boy.

While Blume does play basketball and baseball for the Bantams, he's always had an unmatched passion for football. Here's how he explains it: "If you get mad in basketball, you can't do anything. If you hit somebody, it's a foul. That's the good thing about football. You can use that as motivation."

Blume's first exposure to WSU came before his sophomore season when he attended a summertime camp there. That's when he met and took a liking to Doba, the defensive coordinator at the time.

Blume has been a regular at the Cougars' camps since then. When he was there for a recruiting trip earlier this year, he saw the players receive their Pac-10 championship rings. "I really want one of those," he said.

During his final prep season, Blume said he hopes to keep the focus away from his WSU commitment. But it's still in the back of his mind.

"People talk about it like it's some big deal, but it hasn't really happened yet," he said. "I know it will, but I can't let that get to my head.

"I do kind of use it for motivation," he added. "Like if I feel myself starting to slack, I just think about that. And if you don't work hard, you might throw it away."

End of 2003 Cougar Pre-Season

ON WITH THE 2003 SEASON! - Idaho