WSU football hit by injury bug again

A few days of spirited practices have produced some new injuries as Washington State prepares to play at UCLA on Saturday, coach Paul Wulff said Thursday.

"We're fairly banged up," he said.

Backup running back Chris Ivory is questionable with a hamstring injury, and third-stringer Logwone Mitz is slowed by a turned ankle, Wulff said. That leaves Dwight Tardy and Chantz Staden to carry the rushing load.

Offensive line starter Steve Ayers may miss the game with a sore neck, while receiver Daniel Blackledge is questionable with an injured shoulder, the coach said.

On defense, linebacker Cory Evans is slowed with a hamstring injury, so Myron Beck will start. Freshman Louis Bland may also start at linebacker.

Injuries have been a problem all season for the Cougars, who have seen 15 different starters go down at one point or another.

Washington State (1-4, 0-2 Pac-10) is looking to end a string of four blowout losses to major college teams this season. UCLA (1-3, 0-1) has lost three in a row after opening the season with a win against Tennessee.

Washington State always has a large contingent of players from Southern California who are anxious to spend time with family and friends.

Wulff, who said he used to feel the same pull when the Cougars played teams near his northern California hometown, said players need to remember this is a business trip.

"We need to go down there and come back with a victory," Wulff said.

He figured players might get an hour or two of personal time before the game with family and friends, and then can visit postgame before the team departs.

Freshman quarterback Marshall Lobbestael continues to impress, Wulff said.

"He's making good mental decisions early in his career," the coach said.

Notes:

-Once dominated by UCLA, the Cougars have won six of the past seven meetings to close the series deficit to 18-35-1. They have won the past three games played in the Rose Bowl versus the Bruins.

-UCLA coach Rick Neuheisel is 5-0 in his career vs. the Cougars.

-UCLA ranks among the lower tier of rushing teams in the nation, averaging only 96 yards per game. That's good because WSU is second to last in the nation against the rush, allowing 269 yards per game. Both teams also are terrible in giving up the ball on turnovers.