Originally published Tuesday, December 2, 2008 at 12:00 AM
Cougars Football | "We'll be improved"
Paul Wulff didn't take a lot of time to review his first season as Washington State football coach Monday in a wrap-up teleconference call.
Seattle Times staff reporter
Paul Wulff didn't take a lot of time to review his first season as Washington State football coach Monday in a wrap-up teleconference call.
Why bother? The Cougars finished 2-11 after a loss at Hawaii and allowed 570 points, more than any Football Bowl Championship team in history. Still, the horrors of the 2008 season serve to couch what lies ahead for WSU in the road back to respectability.
"We'll be a lot more competitive, we'll be a much improved football team next year," Wulff promised. "No doubt about it. One, we'll have a number of players back who will be bigger and stronger, and they're going to understand the system. And, I pray to God we don't have five quarterbacks taking snaps."
That's what befell WSU this year. It happened partly because of an offensive line that couldn't protect, and that was in some measure due to its lack of beef. Wulff made it clear he expects players to have a big offseason in the weight room, saying, "That's going to be a huge emphasis for us."
Highlights of Wulff's review:
Help from redshirts: Wulff referred to more than a dozen players who caught his eye this season, naming offense linemen Zack Williams and Tyson Pencer, running back James Montgomery, tight ends Skylar Stormo and Andrei Lintz and wideout Jeffrey Solomon. On defense, he cited linemen Bernard Wolfgramm, Jesse Feagin, Dan Spitz and Cory Mackay (who might play tight end), linebacker Alex Hoffman-Ellis and defensive backs Brandon Jones, Jay Matthews, LeAndre Daniels, Terrance Hayward and Daniel Simmons.
Montgomery and Jones (an ex-O'Dea standout) are California transfers. Wolfgramm — expected to be back in the spring after back surgery — and Williams are JC transfers who redshirted. Pencer is a freshman about to have a shoulder procedure. Solomon is a former Ingraham High and Eastern Washington player.
Recruiting particulars: WSU has nine known commitments for February signing and Wulff says that number might total only 17 or 18, with 5 to 7 others that could include players "grayshirting," a four-year transfer or two and possibly a couple of JC transfers.
Wulff had previously ticketed Southern California offensive lineman Tim Hodgdon as a grayshirt. A JC defensive lineman, Josh Luapo, signed in February, didn't qualify over the summer but is expected in in January.
Attrition: Wulff said he "doesn't expect much" but conceded there will be some players leaving. Asked about running back Chris Ivory, Wulff noted his persistent hamstring injury and some academic issues and said, "There's a lot of things we have to clean up with Chris." He said he figures his coaching staff will "absolutely" remain intact.
Quarterback: WSU will enter spring with returnees Kevin Lopina and J.T. Levenseller, plus Marshall Lobbestael rehabbing a knee injury. Wulff says he believes Lobbestael will be among several team leaders, along with center Kenny Alfred, who is due to have arthroscopic shoulder surgery.
Wavering commitments: Two Seattle-area recruits who committed earlier, Geoff Meinken (Lynnwood) and Gino Simone (Skyline) have softened somewhat. Wulff, prohibited by NCAA rule from naming prospects, said, "In this day and age, you sure hope those individuals are mature enough to honor their commitment. If we're committed to them, by golly, you hope the same is back. We'll continue to recruit them."
![]()
Youth predominating: Wulff cautioned that WSU will be relatively young. Alfred, for instance, projects as the only senior offensive lineman. Said Wulff, "We're asking too many 18- and 19-year-old kids to make plays and win games."
Stepping up: Wulff said the move from Eastern Washington to a higher level "was no different from what I'm used to doing. That's not an issue at all. The issue is understanding your personnel, and where we need to go from here — what are our strengths and what do we need to fix."
The schedule: WSU has nonleague games with Notre Dame in San Antonio and Hawaii in Pullman but is looking to fill a third one. It has a tentative opener at home against Stanford.
Bud Withers: 206-464-8281 or bwithers@seattletimes.com
Copyright © 2008 The Seattle Times Company
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

general classifieds
Garage & estate salesFurniture & home furnishings
Electronics
just listed
***Stunning Akc POMERANIAN baby girl W/ FUL...
12 U Select Baseball Coach Wanted
1994 WIn 1901
More listings
POST A FREE LISTING
- 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
434 - Historic day for gay marriage as another fight looming
346 - Sheriff's office unhappy with 911 dispatcher in caseworker's call
282 - 3 big health insurers stockpile $2.4 billion as rates keep rising
235 - Source: NY, California to sign mortgage settlement
208 - Oregon live game thread
153 - Pac-12 picks ... including the UW game
140 - Lakewood cop accused of taking donations for slain officers' families
114 - Department of Justice owes the Seattle Police Department an apology
88 - Thursday morning links --- and a video!!!
72
- 3 big health insurers stockpile $2.4 billion as rates keep rising
- State Medicaid program to stop paying for unneeded ER visits
- One man's audacious pursuit of sailing history
- Darren Berg gets 18-year sentence for Ponzi scheme
- $25B settlement reached over foreclosure abuses
- A wandering gene's destructive path | Book review
- 'Gauguin and Polynesia': dazzling mix-and-match | Art review
- UW opening incubator facility for startups
- Controversial principal at Lowell Elementary takes job in Tacoma
- Lakewood cop accused of embezzling $150K meant for slain officers' families



