WSU Football | Paul Wulff looking to build unity

Spring football got under way at Washington State on Monday with a padless practice and coach Paul Wulff said a priority is developing a "team atmosphere."

"We want an atmosphere where the players trust each other and trust the coaches," he said at a news conference.

Wulff went through three coaching changes when he played at WSU from 1986-89. He said changes produce "a lot of apprehension and not knowing what to expect" but that players seem to adjust quickly once practices begin.

Wulff said he has instituted a "Unity Council" of respected players and the council works with him on team issues, including discipline. He said defensive tackle A'i Ahmu and safety Xavier Hicks, who got in trouble with the law in the offseason, have gone through team "penalties" and "a series of work" and have earned reinstatement.

Tight end Trevor Mooney (arrested for minor in possession in February) still is fulfilling council requirements but is being allowed to start spring practice.

Wulff, who spent part of the recent spring-break week moving his family into its Pullman house, also said:

• All offensive linemen will be required to wear knee braces this spring. He said the policy will be reviewed before fall camp.

• A junior-college kicker he declined to identify will join the team in the fall to compete for the job. The No. 1 kicker now is sophomore-to-be Wade Penner, who did kickoffs last fall.

• Running back Chris Ivory, the team's best healthy running back, won't practice some days because he needs to work on his grades.

• The tempo will be faster and practices will last longer than in the past.

• Wide receiver Michael Willis and linebacker Jason Stripling, who were ineligible last season because of academics, "have done a nice job academically" and have made "great strides."

• The starting quarterback job belongs to senior-to-be Gary Rogers and "it is his to lose."

• The moves of Andy Mattingly from linebacker to defensive end and Andy Roof from offensive line to defensive line are intended to improve a deficient area. He said the best Cougars defenses in the past have had good lines and said that has been lacking the past four seasons.

Note

• Former WSU running back Rueben Mayes and former Cougars coach William "Lone Star" Dietz are candidates for the 2008 class of the National Football Foundation's bowl subdivision College Football Hall of Fame.