Slow-starting Cougars football team needs help fast vs. Irish

The Cougars — 1-6 overall and 0-5 in the Pac-10 — won't find any easy answers Saturday in San Antonio, where they'll face Notre Dame at the Alamo Dome in an off-campus home game for the Irish. Oddsmakers have established the 5-2 Irish as a 30-point favorite in the nationally televised game.

By Vince Grippi

Spokane Spokesman-Review

PULLMAN — Washington State players know it, Cougars fans know it, the coach's wife knows it.

"When I got on the bus, my wife [said to] me, 'We've got to do something about starting off faster,' " WSU football coach Paul Wulff said Sunday. "I'm like, 'I know, everybody knows.' "

They know, yes, but they don't know how to change it.

Wulff had to admit that to his wife Sherry and everyone else after Saturday's 49-17 loss at California. Helped by WSU's poor special-teams play, defensive lapses and offensive mistakes, the Bears jumped out to leads of 21-0 and 35-3.

"Our kids talk about it, we talk about it," Wulff said of the slow starts that have plagued WSU all season. "We talk about what we've got to do different, what we can do to start faster."

The Cougars — 1-6 overall and 0-5 in the Pac-10 — won't find any easy answers Saturday in San Antonio, where they'll face Notre Dame at the Alamodome in an off-campus home game for the Irish. Oddsmakers have established the 5-2 Irish as a 30-point favorite in the nationally televised game.

"They're a good team," Wulff said, "but I like the opportunity for our team and our program right now. This is a great stage for our young football team."

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I'm a Husky but I'll be rooting for the Coug's against the Irish. The only team that comes close to the hate I have for ND is... Posted on October 26, 2009 at 10:07 AM by SnohomishRick. Jump to comment

This should be a blow-out. Not such a big deal, really. The Cougars are young and gaining valuable experience that will help them in the... Posted on October 26, 2009 at 3:53 PM by bandofcougs. Jump to comment

So you are saying the Cougs are 1-6 cuz of lack of coaching pay? Last I heard it was talent that wins ball games... I personally dont think the... Posted on October 25, 2009 at 11:41 PM by Its only sports!. Jump to comment

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