First Year of Football: 1894 All-Time Record: 494-484-45 All-Time Pac-10 Record: 247-320-25 All-Time Bowl Record/Appearances: 6-4 Last Bowl Appearance: 2003 (def. Texas in Holiday Bowl)
HEAD COACH PAUL WULFF (Washington State 1990) Second Year at Washington
Record at Washington State: 2-11 (.154) Overall Career Record: 55-51 (.519, 9 years)
Coaching Experience Entering his second season as head coach at his alma mater ... prior to returning to Pullman, spent 13 years at Eastern Washington, the last eight as head coach ... led EWU to a tie for the league crown in back-to-back years in 2004 and 2005.
A QUICK LOOK AT THE COUGARS OFFENSE: Key injuries and youth had a lot to do with a rough start for coach Paul Wulff in his initial season at WSU last year. Among the things Wulff hoped to install was a no-huddle offense, but a series of injuries to Cougar quarterbacks forced Wulff to remove that package from the WSU arsenal. It should be revived in 2009 and eight returning starters on offense give the Cougs optimism for an improved offensive unit. WSU could not keep its quarterbacks healthy last year and the hope is that will not be the case in 2009. Senior Kevin Lopina had eight starts last season and gets first look as the starter going into this season. He will be challenged by Marshall Lobbestael, who showed promise in three starts as a freshman last year. Sophomore QB J.T. Levenseller also returns and the Cougs’ top four rushers return, led by veteran RB Dwight Tardy and sophomore RB Logwone Mitz. WR Jeshua Anderson emerged as a receiving threat last year. WSU hopes the offensive line will be a strength as four starters return led by senior C Kenny Alfred.
DEFENSE: The Cougars need to shore up a defense that allowed 43.8 points and 443 yards per game last year. Replacements must be found for some departed standouts on the line and at linebacker. The strength of the unit should be in the backfield where veteran safeties Xavier Hicks and Chima Nwachukwu return to starting duty.
THE SCHEDULE: In addition to its annual non-conference game at Seattle’s Qwest Field (vs. Hawai’i this year), Washington State takes on Notre Dame in a neutral site game at San Antonio. Pac-10 play finds the Cougars on the road for USC, Oregon, California and Washington
