WSU Notebook | Doba concerned about recruiting

Washington State coach Bill Doba admits he is "concerned some" that the Cougars don't have any commitments for their 2008 recruiting class.

"Because of the Internet and all the negative stuff, we have some kids we have offered and I think they want to commit but they want to wait and see if the Internet is going to fire me," Doba said Tuesday.

The Cougars are the only Pac-10 team without a commitment, according to recruiting Web sites.

Doba has become a target for unhappy Cougars fans who use Web sites and message boards to unleash their frustration. There even is a Web site dedicated to getting him fired.

WSU athletic director Jim Sterk has said no decision about whether Doba returns for 2008 will be made until after the season.

Doba is taking less heat this week after the Cougars' convincing 27-7 win over UCLA snapped a four-game losing streak.

Doba reminded reporters the Cougars didn't have a lot of early commitments last year.

He added, "I wish there was some way that we could say you can't offer a kid until at least October of his senior year and let the kid be a high-school player and not worry about all the recruiting and all that other kind of stuff."

Cal regrouping

The Cougars (3-5, 1-4) play at California (5-3, 2-3) Saturday night, and Cal is dealing with its first three-game losing streak since 2001.

Coach Jeff Tedford said this was the pitch to the team:

"We still have some very positive things to get done. The season is not over. ... We're not going to win the national championship now, but there is still a winning season ahead, bowl games, things like that. Not to mention just the pride in the program and [playing] for the seniors and that type of thing."

Tedford also said he reminded players they are playing "just for the love of the game because we love to play the game."

Tedford said, "I have great confidence in the leadership and that they are hungry to bounce back."

Notes

• Here are Cougars who have made the most third-down catches that resulted in first downs: Brandon Gibson, 14; Jed Collins, 12; Michael Bumpus, 8; Jeshua Anderson, 2.

• Bumpus needs five catches Saturday to become the WSU all-time leader with 177, passing Hugh Campbell (1960-62). WSU quarterback Alex Brink, who has broken most Cougars career passing records this season, needs two passing TDs to pass Jason Gesser's mark of 70.

• Brink leads the Pac-10 in total offense with an average of 300.5 yards a game. Gibson leads the Pac-10 in receiving yards per game, with an average of 88.4.

• This week marks the first time since Dec. 22, 2005, the Bears haven't been ranked in The Associated Press Top 25.

• Cal junior Anthony Felder from O'Dea High School is second in the Pac-10 in tackles with 90 (45 solo).

• Cal senior wide receiver Robert Jordan has caught a pass in a school-record 37 consecutive games.

• Asked for a Pullman consumer tip, Brink praised the meat-only goulash at the Old European Restaurant.

Craig Smith: 206-464-8279 or csmith@seattletimes.com