No Cougars on TV Saturday, but maybe that's a good thing

Dubious distinctions, recorded and unrecorded, will be a part of Washington State's football game today at Arizona State.

For the third straight game, the Cougars (1-9) will not be televised, something of a rarity in today's exposed climate. By contrast, Oregon State hasn't missed TV this season.

But when you're setting standards for futility, is that necessarily a bad thing? The question gave first-year coach Paul Wulff pause. Then he said, "Where we're at right now, I don't think it's critical [recruits] see us on TV, no."

WSU showed improvement offensively last week against Arizona, scoring 28 points. But where the Cougars are defensively is not a good place to be: They've allowed 502 points, and are bearing down on the NCAA Football Bowl Subdivision (Division I-A) record of 566, set by Eastern Michigan in 2002, a team coached by ex-Washington assistant Jeff Woodruff.

The Cougars ought to be able to prolong that indignity today, because this Sun Devils team is not overly talented, a 3-6 club with a relatively easy finishing schedule that hopes to become bowl-eligible.

ASU is seventh in a lot of categories in Pac-10 statistics, including scoring (22.1) and defense (25.8).

The most glaring statistical difference between the two is ASU has an even turnover margin, and WSU is 119th and last in FBS standings at minus-2.22 a game.

Quarterback Kevin Lopina got most of the work last week in the Arizona game, but freshman J.T. Levenseller figures to get increased snaps this week. They'll work behind an offensive line still under construction.

This week, the starters, left to right, project as Vaughn Lesuma, Steven Ayers, Kenny Alfred, B.J. Guerra and Micah Hannam.

"We feel there's a flickering of light going on," said Wulff, referring to signs of improvement.

ASU has had offensive-line woes the past two seasons. But it's questionable whether WSU can take advantage.

The game matches Wulff against one of his college coaches, ASU's Dennis Erickson, who said this week he believes it's the first time he has faced a former player who is a head coach.

"He's the right guy for that job," Erickson said this week. "He'll do a great job. Like all of our places, it takes some time."

WSU's injury list is seemingly endless, but tight end Devin Frischknecht, who suffered a high ankle sprain Oct. 11, should play. Running back Chris Ivory tried to practice this week and strained his hamstring again, which clouds his availability for next week's Apple Cup.

Bud Withers: 206-464-8281 or bwithers@seattletimes.com