Apple Cup
WSU notebook: Coach Doba worried about UW trick plays

By Craig Smith
Seattle Times staff reporter

JIM BATES / THE SEATTLE TIMES WSU defensive coordinator Robb Akey says he won't comment on the Weber State job until after the Apple Cup.

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PULLMAN — The fact that Washington coaches have nothing to lose worries Cougars coach Bill Doba, who has his team on alert for trick plays.

"I'm nervous, I'm scared," Doba said yesterday. "If I was at Washington and I was the offensive coordinator and I always wanted to try this formation or try this play — if I wanted to try a double-reverse pass with a kick at the end or something — this would be the time to do it. Because what are they going to do, fire me?

"If I was the defensive coordinator and I always wanted to try this blitz or I was the special-teams guy and wanted to try this fake ... I think anything could happen."

Cougars defender are instructed to yell "Daffy Duck! Duck Duck!" whenever they see an unconventional formation and then what Doba called some "basic rules" go into effect. An example is that cornerbacks are responsible for players nearest the sideline.

Weather update

National Weather Service forecasts indicate that it should be a fairly smooth weekend for travel to and from the Apple Cup except for the chance of a system moving into the Cascades late Sunday afternoon and night.

The Washington State Department of Transportation's improved Web site www.wsdot.wa.gov/traffic/seattle is useful for motorists.

The forecast for Pullman tomorrow is for partly cloudy skies with temperatures dipping into the high 20's during the game.

Weber State interested
 
in Cougars' Akey?

Cougars defensive coordinator Robb Akey is being mentioned as a candidate for the coaching vacancy at Weber State, his alma mater. Jerry Graybeal resigned this week after a 1-10 season.

Akey played for ex-WSU coach Mike Price at Weber State and later was an assistant at the Ogden, Utah, school.

After yesterday's practice, Akey said he hadn't been contacted by Weber State and didn't want to talk about the job until after the Apple Cup.

"My mind is on one thing and one thing only: the Apple Cup," he said.

Among the other names being floated for the job are UTEP defensive coordinator Eric Price (Mike's son), UTEP assistant Lawrence Livingston, New Mexico Highlands coach John Fassel and Greg Croshaw, Dixie State Community College coach.

Akey, 38, has made it clear in past interviews that he wants to be a head coach.

Graybeal was 32-46 in seven years at Weber State.

Notes

• The college-football career of Jevon Miller, a redshirt-junior wide receiver, has ended. Doba said Miller has a congenital wrist problem and continuing to play could result in early arthritis. Miller contributed on special teams this season.

• Here's an omen Cougars fans will like: The team runs a two-minute drill at every Thursday practice and each week this season that they have run it successfully, they have won. Each time they have botched it, they have lost.

Yesterday, they took no chances. No one covered Jason Hill when he went out for a pass and the result was an easy touchdown.

"That one count?" a grinning Hill said to reporters when he passed by after the catch.

• The biggest unresolved injury question for the Cougars is whether No. 3 defensive tackle Odell Howard (back) will be able to play. Akey said it will be a game-time decision. Starter Aaron Johnson (knee) is out and Steve Cook and Ropati Pitoitua will start.

• KOMO-TV's clever Apple Cup cartoon video with Doba and Keith Gilbertson taking potshots at each school was drawing plenty of laughs in the WSU athletic department yesterday.

The video, similar in style to the popular Bush-Kerry cartoon video of the presidential campaign set to the song "This Land is Your Land," is at www.komotv.com.

The Web site says sports director Eric Johnson and editor Wayne White were the primary movers behind the project.

The cartoon was off line for a while yesterday because of technical glitches.

Craig Smith: 206-464-8279 or csmith@seattletimes.com