Cougars Suddenly Healthy It’s Amazing What Game Week Can Do For A Player’s Condition
The healing power of Game Week has worked its magic once more, transforming a once-battered and weary Washington State football team into an eager, well-rested and healthy group, collectively bent on taking a big bite out of Pittsburgh Saturday afternoon.
“Our team health is good, our injuries are healed,” coach Mike Price proclaimed Tuesday afternoon after putting his Cougars through a 2-hour workout in preparation for their Sept. 2 date with the Panthers at Pitt Stadium. “We’re in good physical running condition; our legs are back.”
It was a far different tune from what WSU’s seventh-year coach was singing last week when a rash of injuries from two-a-day drills had the practice-field sidelines resembling the lead-in scene to a “M*A*S*H” rerun.
And part of the reason behind “The Great Recovery” has to be the fact that the 1995 season-opener is less than four days away.
Suddenly, everyone is suited up.
Everyone, that is, except freshman linebacker Steve Gleason, who is listed as doubtful for the Pitt game because of a sprained knee, and junior defensive tackle Leon Bender, who is being held out of practice until a final determination can be made on his eligibility status.
Bender, a 6-foot-5, 265-pounder who was expected to start at defensive tackle, did not practice Tuesday and might not make the trip to Pittsburgh, according to Price.
Price said Bender is trying to finish a late paper from summer school and has not been ruled eligible.
“And he’s not going to be eligible until his grades are turned in and he’s OK’d by our faculty representative,” Price added.
That’s why the recent return of freshmen defensive tackles Gary Holmes and Darryl Jones from minor injuries was considered so crucial.
Holmes has recovered fully from a neck sprain and Jones’ bad ankle appears healed.
In addition, starting linebackers Johnny Nansen (knee) and Chris Hayes (bruised back) are practicing again, although Nansen is scheduled to undergo arthroscopic surgery next week that will probably force him to miss the Cougars’ Sept. 9 home opener against Montana.
Sophomore backup linebacker Brandon Moore is showing no signs of the hamstring pull that slowed him earlier and senior slot-back Jay Dumas’ bruised ribs are healed.
Senior tight end Eric Moore is back at full speed after being bothered for several days with a sore hip, and backup linebacker Marvin McWilliams (shoulder) and backup running back Kwame Stewart (quadriceps contusion) have been cleared to practice.
Freshman Miguel Meriwether, who moved from quarterback to tailback last week and was injured in only his third carry of the Cougars’ final full-scale scrimmage last Wednesday, remains sidelined after breaking three transverse processes in his back.
Meriwether’s injury is not considered serious, however, and he is expected to return to practice shortly.
Price said it is comforting to have so many regulars back, but he admitted that the missed practice time could come back to haunt the Cougars, particularly in the defensive line, where Holmes, Jones and fellow freshman Delmar Morais are being forced to mature in a hurry.
“The injuries certainly didn’t help,” Price said. “Guys like Gary Holmes and Darryl Jones need every practice opportunity they can get and both of them were hurt during part of two-a-days.
“They’re both healthy now, but they’re probably not as far along as they would be if they’d have had 21 practices instead of 17.”
Cougar tracks
Saturday’s season-opener, which is scheduled to start at 4 p.m. (PDT), is not scheduled to be televised live by any networks, but will shown on a tape-delayed basis Sunday at 9:30 a.m. on Prime Sports Northwest. … Backup defensive back Adesola Moronkola rolled an ankle at practice Tuesday afternoon and is listed as day-to-day. … Senior defensive end Dwayne Sanders has been slowed recently by the flu but is expected to be ready for the Pitt game. … Freshman offensive tackle Rick Austin, who is battling sophomore Cory Solomon for a starting position, suffered a mild concussion during practice last week, but was back practicing Tuesday. … Price said he will try to keep his team healthy by not practicing in full pads the rest of the week.
, DataTimes