Originally published August 28, 2008 at 12:00 AM | Page modified August 28, 2008 at 8:38 AM
PrintNotebook | For Paul Wulff, there's no place like home
It wasn't exactly a ringing endorsement, but coach Paul Wulff said he has warmed to the idea of starting the Cougars' "home" schedule in...
Special to The Seattle Times
PULLMAN — It wasn't exactly a ringing endorsement, but coach Paul Wulff said he has warmed to the idea of starting the Cougars' "home" schedule in Seattle — approximately 300 miles from the Washington State campus in Pullman.
"When I was on the outside looking in, I wasn't a big fan of it," Wulff admitted. "But I do see, now that I'm on the inside, the amount of fans that are in the [Seattle] area and the importance of them."
The annual Cougar Gridiron Classic started in 2002. The Cougars are 5-1 at Qwest Field.
The football game highlights a weekend of activities for the university, which has a strong alumni and student-body presence in Western Washington.
"There's too many reasons to do it in Seattle," Wulff said. He then conceded that once the game starts, "It's just not the same home-field advantage."
Approximately 42,000 tickets have been sold for Saturday's game. When WSU hosted Nevada in 2002, 63,5888 were sold. Attendance remained above 50,000 the following three years, but has been below that mark each of the last two.
"It exposes our team to some of the young Westside recruits," Wulff said. "It's something that seems to be successful."
Notes
• The Cougars spent most of camp without starting wide receivers Daniel Blackledge and Jeshua Anderson, and Wulff said they're likely to start the season without them, too.
Blackledge is still "a week or two away," though Wulff said he still may suit up against Oklahoma State. Anderson won't see any action for "at least two more weeks." Freshman Jared Karstetter will start Saturday.
• WSU will take a committee approach with its fragile backfield. Both Dwight Tardy and Chris Ivory have been limited in camp, and neither enters the season at "full strength."
"They're not in the shape to carry the ball 15 times or 20," Wulff said.
Wulff said to expect a platoon of running backs, which figures to include Tardy, Ivory and JC transfer Chantz Staden. Staden has impressed coaches with his burst thus far in camp and has taken a bulk of repetitions.
• Wade Penner will kick field goals and extra points Saturday. Patrick Rooney will be handling kickoffs.
Copyright © 2008 The Seattle Times Company
Print
Digg
Newsvine
UPDATE - 8:27 PM
UCLA extends win streak in Pullman to 18
UPDATE - 8:00 PM
Florida football recruits couldn't wait to get started at Washington State
Washington State women lose to No. 9 UCLA
Bud Withers: WSU star Klay Thompson shows serious lack of judgment, leadership
Cougars' star Klay Thompson arrested, charged with marijuana possession
911 audio: Caseworker reports Josh Powell has locked children inside his home
911 audio: Caseworker reports Josh Powell's house on fire with children inside
911 audio: Sister of Josh Powell reports disturbing emails
Chuck Cox reacts to Powell home fire, death of his grandsons
Sheriff's update: Josh Powell spread gasoline in home fire, sent goodbye emails
Don Bateman, inventor of Ground Proximity Warning System
Pierce County sheriff reacts to Powell home fire
Price of Protection: A victim speaks out
Price of Protection: Inside the Special Commitment Center
Open Houses
|
Find all open houses.
|
nwautos
Turismo upgrade "Gran Turismo 5: XL Edition" for PlayStation 3 has features such as new car-tuning settings, new NASCAR vehicles, better replay video...
Post a comment
- Lakewood cop accused of embezzling $150K meant for slain officers' families
- 3 big health insurers stockpile $2.4 billion as rates keep rising
- Agency set to investigate handling of 911 call about Josh Powell
- Quick decisions: How Washington hired its new football staff
- Historic day for gay marriage as another fight looms
- Justin Wilcox's versatile defensive style is the right fit for Huskies | Jerry Brewer
- It's Terrence Time: Enigmatic Ross leads Huskies
- Social worker recounts minutes before Powell fire
- $25B settlement reached over foreclosure abuses
- Club promoter convicted in brutal 2010 murder of Des Moines prostitute
- Gay-marriage bill passes House, awaits Gregoire's signature
457 - Historic day for gay marriage as another fight looming 352
- 3 big health insurers stockpile $2.4 billion as rates keep rising 239
- Wanted in Seattle classrooms: more teachers of color 234
- Source: NY, California to sign mortgage settlement 228
- Oregon live game thread 155
- Pac-12 picks ... including the UW game 140
- Council members get briefing on arena proposal, minus details 101
- Worker: Josh Powell told son he had 'surprise' 96
- AP Source: Obama to change birth control rule 84
- State Medicaid program to stop paying for unneeded ER visits
- 3 big health insurers stockpile $2.4 billion as rates keep rising
- Wanted in Seattle classrooms: more teachers of color
- One man's audacious pursuit of sailing history
- Darren Berg gets 18-year sentence for Ponzi scheme
- $25B settlement reached over foreclosure abuses
- 'Gauguin and Polynesia': dazzling mix-and-match | Art review
- A wandering gene's destructive path | Book review
- Economy, blogs give survivalists new reason to look to Northwest
- Navy fliers' love-hate relationship with water-crash survival class
