Trufant name back in Apple Cup, this time at UW

Desmond Trufant grew up in a house where everything was crimson and gray.

"We had jerseys, sweat shirts, sweats, we were Cougar all the way," Trufant recalled. "Nothing but the Palouse at the Tacoma house."

Now almost everything in the Trufant household is purple and gold. Even his dad now drives around in a purple car.

"Everything kind of switched over when I came here," Desmond said.

Seven years after his brother Marcus last played in an Apple Cup for the Cougars, Desmond Trufant will suit up in the Huskies' purple on Saturday afternoon. A true freshman, Desmond Trufant inserted himself into the Huskies starting lineup almost immediately and has developed into their most consistent defensive back.

He's made seven starts, had 38 tackles and is tied for the team lead with two interceptions.

It seems only natural that Trufant would develop quickly considering his blood lines. Marcus Trufant was a four-year starter at Washington State and an All-America his senior season when the Cougars went to the Rose Bowl.

But there doesn't seem to be any sibling rivalry. Earlier this week, Desmond spent time at his brother's house getting a haircut from Marcus and said the pair barely talked about Saturday's game.

"He's doing great - even though he's a Husky," Marcus said.

Added Desmond, "We were just hanging out, chilling with each other. We have good talks every time I go over there."

Desmond Trufant also gets a chance to one-up his brother in just his first Apple Cup opportunity. Marcus was 0-4 against the Huskies during his time at WSU. And while it would be another loss for the Cougars, a Huskies victory would also be a first for the family.

"We're just trying to go out there and bring the Cup back to our side of the state," Desmond said.

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WULFF'S DEN: Washington State coach Paul Wulff has a special connection to the Apple Cup. He was a star offensive lineman at Washington State and played in four games in the late 1980s.

"It's an emotional game, a game you always remember," Wulff said. "It's not even the outcome of the games, but all the things that go on during the game."

Wulff was asked about the importance of winning for his team, which is 1-10 and winless in the Pac-10.

"It takes the sting out of the season a little bit," Wulff said.

"Does it make a difference when you are lifting weights in January, February or March? Probably not," Wulff said. "But it makes you feel good in the offseason."

Wulff is a student of WSU football history and the night before last season's game he showed his players videos of past Apple Cups.

"I'm a big believer in history and tradition," Wulff said. "It's important to bring that to the forefront all the time."

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MORA CHIMES IN: For the first time in more than a decade, the coach of the Seattle Seahawks has a rooting interest in the Apple Cup.

Jim Mora was a linebacker and later a graduate assistant at Washington back in the early 1980s. He said this week that while the Seahawks will be traveling to St. Louis on Saturday he hopes to get a few glimpses of the game.

Mora was 2-2 as a player against the Cougars, the losses coming in his junior and senior seasons and costing the Huskies a trip to the Rose Bowl both times.

"It's always a great week, though, in the state of Washington. Maybe nationally it doesn't get the recognition, but it's a fun week. Great memories from those games. Seniors standing up in the team meeting on Thursday and talking about what it meant to play Washington State and to win that game. It's going to be a heck of a game."

The last Seahawks coach with a significant connection to the Apple Cup was Dennis Erickson, the former coach at Washington State.

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AP Sports Writer Gregg Bell and Associated Press Writer Nicholas K. Geranios contributed to this report.