PULLMAN, Wash. — Washington State’s new coach Paul Wulff will make his home debut today, leading his injury-riddled Cougars against California’s high-flying offense.
Cal (1-0) beat Michigan State 38-31 in its season opener last week. Washington State (0-1) stumbled to a 39-13 loss to Oklahoma State in Seattle in a game that laid bare the Cougars’ lack of depth and poor special teams play.
But Cal coach Jeff Tedford is worried about taking on a historically tough opponent with a new coach, in Cal’s earliest Pac-10 game since 1993.
“There are a lot of unknowns playing a conference game so early, especially against someone you don’t have a lot of history with,” Tedford said. “That makes it more difficult to play a conference game that early when there’s a new coach.”
Washington State has won 14 of its past 16 home openers, including seven in a row.
“They always played us tough,” Tedford said, although has won three straight in the series.
Wulff played for the Cougars from 1986-89, and today’s game marks his first return to the Martin Stadium sideline as a participant. He’s the first WSU graduate to coach the team since Phil Sarboe in 1949.
“It’s the first time I will be able to experience that,” he said.
Cal got 111 rushing yards from Jahvid Best and 101 from freshman Shane Vereen last week. Quarterback Kevin Riley, in only his second start, completed 17 of 24 passes for 202 yards with two touchdowns. The Bears piled up 467 yards of offense.
Washington State, meanwhile, struggled to move the ball behind senior quarterback Gary Rogers, a Kamiak High School alum who was making his first start. They managed only 196 yards in the debut of the no-huddle offense Wulff brought over from Eastern Washington.
Wulff said his players are still struggling with the offense.
“We don’t have seasoned players,” Wulff said.
But Tedford is wary of the scheme.
“It’s hard to simulate in practice,” Tedford said of the no-huddle.
The WSU defense looked fairly solid against Oklahoma State, despite giving up 39 points. They were left in poor field position much of the game by the sputtering offense.
Cal’s defense was able to hold Michigan State tailback Javon Ringer, who had nearly 1,500 yards last season, to just 81 yards on 27 carries. Bears’ linebackers combined for 34 tackles, led by senior Anthony Felder’s 12 takedowns.
Washington State continues to struggle with depth. The Cougars, already down from loss of scholarships and training camp injuries, will have defensive tackle A’i Ahmu only in the second half. A council of teammates ruled Ahmu must sit out the first half for skipping a court date on a minor-in-possession charge, Wulff said. He turned himself in to police on Wednesday.
Senior Adam Hineline will make his first career start in Ahmu’s place.
Freshman cornerback Tyrone Justin may start in place of the injured Alfonso Jackson. Senior cornerback Markus Dawes is questionable, after returning to practice following shoulder surgery.
Receiver Daniel Blackledge, still recovering from a hamstring injury, will play but won’t start. Freshman Jared Karstetter will start in his place, Wulff said.
Left guard Andrew Roxas, who injured his knee in practice Tuesday, will miss three to six weeks.
Special teams remain in flux at WSU. The good news is that punter Reid Forrest is expected to play after breaking his ankle in July. But three players are still fighting for the placekicker job, as Wade Penner, Nico Grasu and Patrick Rooney have been inconsistent.
Numerous Cal players noted that fans in Pullman can be very loud, but center Alex Mack said he was looking forward to the trip.
“Road trips, I kind of like them,” Mack said. “It’s relaxing, almost. You don’t have family members to bother you, and you don’t have friends around. It’s a business trip.”
Washington State has scored in 274 consecutive games, second-longest active streak in the nation among major college teams. Michigan is first with 299 straight games. The Cougars were last shut out 44-0 at Ohio State in 1984.
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