Live WSU chat
On Wednesday we held a live chat to discuss WSU athletics. A transcription of the chat is available after the jump.
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srchat: We'll be holding a live chat at 11 a.m. to talk about WSU athletics. -- Jacob
Dec 17 2014, 11:00 AM
srchat: Alright, let's get started. Got any WSU questions?
Dec 17 2014, 11:03 AM
Guest7404 (guest): DC news? I haven't even heard anything on Football Scoop or CoachingSearch.
Dec 17 2014, 11:03 AM
Guest197 (guest): what is the new DC list in your mind?
Dec 17 2014, 11:06 AM
srchat: The flow of news on that front really seems to have dried up. I was hearing some names early, but nothing for about a week. That could be an indicator that they have their short list and are simply waiting for the timing to be right, or maybe they aren't happy with the current candidates and are waiting to see who else becomes available. It doesn't appear that the rash of new defensive commits means they know who they're going to hire.
Dec 17 2014, 11:08 AM
srchat: So, my list hasn't really changed. I think Clancy Pendergast gets a call, but I also think he would want to at least keep the door open to any NFL opportunities (I'm not sure he's big on recruiting). Todd Orlando was somebody that I was hearing earlier. If it's Orlando we probably won't know until after Utah State's game on Saturday.
Dec 17 2014, 11:08 AM
Guest197 (guest): Who was the Arlen guy that CML recorded a voicemail for?
Dec 17 2014, 11:08 AM
srchat: I believe he was a student that won a contest.
Dec 17 2014, 11:08 AM
Guest4045 (guest): is it possible a dc has already been picked and the kids know it, but the person has not been named publicly because that person is coaching in a bowl game?
Dec 17 2014, 11:09 AM
srchat: It's possible but even if the coaches know who it's going to be I don't think they've told players/recruits, or at least not many of them.
Dec 17 2014, 11:09 AM
Guest7404 (guest): At the rate Wilson and Salave'a are going, I'm not sure we'd need Pendergast to be much of a recruiter if he's the guy.
Dec 17 2014, 11:10 AM
srchat: Fair point. Although I'd also point out that this is the time of year when kids typically start making their decisions if they haven't already because coaches have time to get on the road and visit players, and because spots are filling up.
Dec 17 2014, 11:10 AM
Guest1897 (guest): How does this recent run of commits play into the recruitment of other guys?
Dec 17 2014, 11:10 AM
srchat: It means they had better brush their teeth or exit the bathroom. WSU only has a couple spots left.
Dec 17 2014, 11:10 AM
BullMoos (guest): Who, in your opinion, would be the best hire of the names you've heard and who do think is most likely at this time?
Dec 17 2014, 11:11 AM
srchat: I think Pendergast would be the splashiest and Orlando would be the most likely.
Dec 17 2014, 11:11 AM
Guest111 (guest): Any chance if Clancy Pendergast can still jump on board ? I heard Bruce Feldman wrote an article about him excited to get back to coaching though
Dec 17 2014, 11:11 AM
srchat: When that article was written I expected Pendergast to be named shortly after, considering Feldman's relationship with Mike Leach, etc. But since that didn't happen, who knows?
Dec 17 2014, 11:11 AM
cubsfan7331: Any word on where Monroe is going? Wasn't he supposed to decide by yesterday
Dec 17 2014, 11:12 AM
srchat: Monday was the deadline his family established for him picking a school. That being said, he very well might have picked a school and it just hasn't been announced by that school yet.
Dec 17 2014, 11:12 AM
Kwall (guest): I know it all depends on who the DC is, but what percentage would you give us still landing Joyner?
Dec 17 2014, 11:13 AM
srchat: Maybe 35 percent chance.
Dec 17 2014, 11:13 AM
Guest4045 (guest): well whatever the scenario, it's amazing what the current coaches have been able to do the past few weeks recruiting.
Dec 17 2014, 11:13 AM
Guest7404 (guest): Diaz unlikely now? Or was that a longshot to begin with?
Dec 17 2014, 11:14 AM
srchat: It was always somewhat of a longshot, although I think working w/ Leach would intrigue him.
Dec 17 2014, 11:14 AM
Guest7404 (guest): I know scholarship math is tricky, but Monroe leaving does free up for one more recruit, right? Or can we only take 25 scholarship recruits per cycle?
Dec 17 2014, 11:14 AM
srchat: You can only take 25, although there are ways to count early enrollees toward the previous class. It's all pretty convoluted.
Dec 17 2014, 11:14 AM
Guest4444 (guest): Do you have thoughts on whether we're directly competing with OSU's new coach for DC hires? Saw rumors about him trying to hire Utah's DC...
Dec 17 2014, 11:15 AM
srchat: I think they're directly competing with Oregon State, Nebraska, and will eventually be competing with Michigan, etc. for both coaching hires.
Dec 17 2014, 11:16 AM
Guest4045 (guest): in your opinion, how many of the new verbals could you see playing right away? seems like we could see a completely different secondary and lb corp.
Dec 17 2014, 11:17 AM
srchat: I think all of the junior college kids should be expected to compete for spots in the two-deep. I don't see any of the true freshman playing significant snaps except perhaps Abramo, the kicker.
Dec 17 2014, 11:20 AM
Guest7404 (guest): Considering 5 JUCO's on D, hopefully we are getting to the point where we don't need true freshman to start, right?
Dec 17 2014, 11:21 AM
srchat: That's my opinion. Last year's youth should mean a veteran group in 2015. Even if a guy like Xavier Cooper were to leave early, and I'm not saying he will, I'd think a guy like Hercules Mata'afa would be able to step in.
Dec 17 2014, 11:21 AM
Guest4045 (guest): Is Barry Ware someone who can step in and replace what Mayle was able to provide offensively?
Dec 17 2014, 11:22 AM
srchat: Well, he's not going to have 106 receptions, 1,500 yards and 9 touchdowns, but he can be a big receiver who is a threat. I'd expect Gabe Marks to be the guy making up most of the lost production.
Dec 17 2014, 11:22 AM
srchat: I'm going to toss the mic to recruiting expert Britton Ransford of WazzuWatch.com for a sec.
Dec 17 2014, 11:22 AM
BKRansford: Scholarship math is extremely tricky, but as I understand it, Monroe, and whoever else leaves, would only mean that it opens up a scholarship for the overall 85, not the 25 scholarship recruits.
Dec 17 2014, 11:24 AM
Fab (guest): Do you know if any of the early enrollees are able to count towards last year's class? How many spots were left open in that class?
Dec 17 2014, 11:24 AM
srchat: If I recall correctly they added 24 recruits last year, so one player (Hilinski) could be counted toward that class.
Dec 17 2014, 11:24 AM
Guest7849 (guest): Who wins the starting qb job in your opinion? Does falk have it locked up?
Dec 17 2014, 11:24 AM
srchat: Yes, I expect Falk to be the starter next season.
Dec 17 2014, 11:25 AM
Guest1197 (guest): Why not go with a young High Quality/experienced guy with local ties and plenty of Pac 12 experience. PETE SIRMON. He's lighting in the bottle and we should grab him now!
Dec 17 2014, 11:26 AM
srchat: Yeah, he's a Walla Walla guy that's known to be a good recruiter and I've always assumed wanted to be a defensive coordinator someday. However, he's always been tied with Justin Wilcox, a very capable coordinator. Coaches may want to see what he can do managing a defense on his own before turning over a Pac-12 defense to him.
Dec 17 2014, 11:26 AM
Guest4045 (guest): Is Singleton on campus?
Dec 17 2014, 11:28 AM
srchat: Unless he's gone home for break. But he's on the roster.
Dec 17 2014, 11:28 AM
Guest7404 (guest): Any indication/mention of Descalo or Tyler Baker being put on scholarship?
Dec 17 2014, 11:28 AM
srchat: That will just depend on if they've got enough scholarship spots. I don't expect they will.
Dec 17 2014, 11:29 AM
Guest1197 (guest): He is not "tied" to Wilcox. He has just had better opportunities following him until he has his own opportunities. I think being with Wilcox is only a bonus. Pete has strong ties in the South for national recruiting too. Just like passing up on Tinkle in hoops this will come back to haunt us.
Dec 17 2014, 11:29 AM
Fab (guest): Are the Cougs recruiting USC decommit DeSean Holmes?
Dec 17 2014, 11:31 AM
srchat: They've reportedly offered him a scholarship.
Dec 17 2014, 11:31 AM
Fab (guest): Also, with limited spots remaining (I guess they have 3-4 more schollies to give), which recruits would WSU hold a spot for? Joyner, Settle & Lewis? Paulo?
Dec 17 2014, 11:31 AM
srchat: I think all four of those guys they would make room for. If all of them wanted to commit to WSU at the same time they'd probably ask someone else to grayshirt.
Dec 17 2014, 11:32 AM
BullMoos (guest): There's only a couple spots left in this class, what position is the coaching staff likely trying to shoot for to fill the last spots?
Dec 17 2014, 11:32 AM
Guest7404 (guest): Britton, I know we are nearing a full class, but know there are a few names (Joyner, Settle, Lewis, etc.) we would probably take and make arrangements later, but what do you see them still targeting? A WR and a RB?
Dec 17 2014, 11:32 AM
srchat: Britton, you still around?
Dec 17 2014, 11:34 AM
BKRansford: I think they're pretty well set on the defensive side. They may want to take a RB with Williams coming off an ACL and depth an issue there. Also, a WR wouldn't be shocking and I'd almost expect that. Like Jacob said, they'd make room for the right player, but RB and WR seem like priorities. Maybe one more OL, too, in case grades become an issue or a de-commit.
Dec 17 2014, 11:34 AM
srchat: Thanks, Britton!
Dec 17 2014, 11:34 AM
DawsonJones (guest): Have the Cougs ever landed four recruits in a day before? Yesterday was wild
Dec 17 2014, 11:35 AM
srchat: I'm sure it's happened before, particularly back in the pre-internet era when more recruits were instate guys. But yesterday was obviously a big day.
Dec 17 2014, 11:36 AM
BKRansford: Technically, Tago and Sakaria committed back in April.
Dec 17 2014, 11:37 AM
srchat: Yes, the two recruits from American Samoa apparently told the coaches they were coming months ago. The news just became public yesterday.
Dec 17 2014, 11:37 AM
Guest1197 (guest): I hope Joyner for sure. We need a big in state win
Dec 17 2014, 11:37 AM
Philip Pallette: Whatever happened to Olito Thompson. He was more highly regarded than Wicks or Morrow and needed to make up some classes.
Dec 17 2014, 11:37 AM
srchat: I don't believe Mr. Thompson ever made it to WSU. This was before I began covering the Cougars, so I don't have all the details, but I believe he ended up at a junior college after failing to get a qualifying test score.
Dec 17 2014, 11:39 AM
Guest7404 (guest): Heard he was a backup RB at Scottsdale CC, only 1 yard last season.
Dec 17 2014, 11:39 AM
Fab (guest): I see Taeon Mason still hasn't scheduled an official to USC. Has USC cooled on him and is WSU still a decent bet to land him? Also, is Scrappy Norman still in the mix for WSU?
Dec 17 2014, 11:41 AM
srchat: USC is a school that is always in the mix for a bunch of the 5-star types that declare with hat ceremonies during All-Star games and such. So, they always have to slow-play recruits toward the end of the year while they wait for the big fish to decide. It's not so much that they've "cooled" on guys, they just don't want to fill up their class. I haven't heard much about Norman.
Dec 17 2014, 11:41 AM
JakeGWyler: Lars Hanson said his "source" informed him wsu already had their DC and are just not saying anything. Do you see this as a possibility?
Dec 17 2014, 11:42 AM
srchat: It's always been a possibility that Leach has a handshake agreement with somebody and that they're waiting to announce. But in that situation there would still be a lot of contract details that could derail a hiring, and it's not what I've been hearing from people close to the situation.
Dec 17 2014, 11:43 AM
Guest7404 (guest): Related to that, have you heard anything on Kanya Bell or Lavan Alstan? Some twitter buzz saying they are looking at Wazzu, but we know how that goes.
Dec 17 2014, 11:43 AM
srchat: They may be, but with so few scholarships left and this late in the process I think the WSU coaches have zeroed in on their guys.
Dec 17 2014, 11:47 AM
JakeGWyler: Any of the DC names being thrown around that from your chair are a NO at this point, from what you have been hearing?
Dec 17 2014, 11:48 AM
srchat: Just Houston's defensive coordinator, David Gibbs, who is expected to stick around.
Dec 17 2014, 11:49 AM
Fab (guest): So, really zeroing in, who are the prospects WSU is still really actively recruiting? Maybe the top 5 or 10 guys they're really still after?
Dec 17 2014, 11:50 AM
srchat: Austin Joyner is a big one, Keven Dixon is one to watch. Like Britton said, the running backs and receivers they have offers out are likely the ones they're recruiting the hardest.
Dec 17 2014, 11:55 AM
BKRansford: RB Joyner, WR Holmes, WR Bell, CB Horton, RB King, DL Settle, CB Lewis, WR Alston, OL Dixon, LB Leiato, ATH Wily-Matagi, DL Hunt, WR Noa, DL Reid, CB Mason, CB Haney, OL Paulo, WR Wilson and probably others. They're not settled, by any means.
Dec 17 2014, 11:56 AM
Guest6626 (guest): Any indication on what wsu is budgeting for the current coaching vacancies?
Dec 17 2014, 11:56 AM
srchat: Moos indicated that it won't be significantly different.
Dec 17 2014, 11:58 AM
cubsfan7331: will transcript of this chat be up later today?Lots to digest and research.
Dec 17 2014, 11:58 AM
srchat: Yes, we'll get a full transcript up as soon as possible.
Dec 17 2014, 11:58 AM
Guest197 (guest): Settled...I see what you did there.
Dec 17 2014, 12:00 PM
srchat: Alright, that'll do it for today. Thanks everyone for joining our live chat. We'll have the transcript up soon and let's do it again next week.
