Beating Pitts Of The World Takes Offense

First, some old business.

In the hoo-hah to properly deify Washington State’s defense last fall - the “Palouse Posse” forged a slight plurality, you’ll recall - the Cougars offense struggled along namelessly. And gratefully, we presume.

So a belated suggestion: the “Palouse Passe.” Not the whole truth, no, but those old 30-point afternoons have become ancient history and occasionally sacrifices must be made for the sake of alliteration.

Now, any new business?

For 3-1/2 quarters Saturday night, no, there was no new business. Not a smidge. The defense - new and unproven as it is - bulldogged the thoroughly desperate Pitt Panthers from sideline to sideline, while the offense bogged down in its own shadow. Calendars were consulted to establish that a year really had passed, but the flashback was eerie. The only thing missing was the voice of Chad Eaton insulting his quarterback and ranting for a nickel package - and, hey, our ears can use the break.

The ensuing voodoo that produced Pitt’s wild 17-13 triumph may have spoiled the period piece but it confirmed the cold truth.

WSU will defend with passion, but imperfectly. So the offense can no longer be perfectly awful.

When the defense finally surrendered the lead, then, it was an impressive sight - and, yes, a shock to the system - to see Chad Davis and Frank Madu hitch up the Clydesdales and snatch it right back. Alas, when they had to do it again they had no timeouts, no margin for error and - as usual - no field position.

“When we scored, I thought we had the game won,” admitted Davis. “I thought our defense would be able to hold them - we had every confidence they would. Nothing against them, they played hard. I feel for our defense.”

Hmm. Fact is, the defense held Pitt to 17 points, a pretty fair day’s work on any acre of college football and a number that illustrates the plummeting index of WSU’s offense.

Consider that in four of the Cougars’ last 17 games, holding the opponent to 17 points has not been enough to win. To count up the previous four times that was true, you must retreat 126 games.

This is why it’s difficult to work up much froth over the 100-odd yards of defensive penalties, or the lack of a sack - or any kind of a pass rush. There were extenuating circumstances - the flu bug that kept Dwayne Sanders shuttling in and out, the fact that freshman tackles Gary Holmes and Darryl Jones are not yet Eaton and Don Sasa, and Pitt’s preference for short-drop passes which neutralize any rush.

If there is a concern, it’s that “a lack of confidence set in at the end,” noted defensive coordinator Bill Doba.

“I think you could see it - when our guys are off (of receivers) that far and guys are open.”

By contrast, Cougars coach Mike Price noticed that Pitt not only “came out in a defense we hadn’t seen,” but also with “a courage they hadn’t shown.

“Last year, they were more of a three-deep team. They came out and jammed our short passing attack and took away our hitches. They got us flustered a little bit.”

Truth is, while the Cougars very much wanted to win, Pitt’s players had been convinced - or had convinced themselves - that this game had to be won. Nine national championships give the Panthers plenty of lore, but they haven’t won much of anything lately. Teams that victimize Wazzu have rarely rejoiced as loudly or intensely as did Pitt, so there’s a compliment if you’re groping for one.

And if you want measurable progress, the Cougars offense improved on last year’s opener by three points and 139 yards.

“I felt like we moved the football,” said Davis - and the Cougs did, whenever George Martin dropped back to punt. Penalties and being pinned back in their own territory so much hurt, as they did last year. Davis pointed out that the offense improved as last season went on, but the Cougs never did get more efficient.

The defense has reason to feel better about itself, but the mantra of the ‘95 Cougs is that good feelings and bad will be divvied up equally.

“Anytime you lose, it’s sad,” said linebacker James Darling, whose star was born in this game. “You can’t really be happy about a loss. But last year we would have had fingers pointing, last year we would have had players bitching at each other.”

Of course, after all that finger pointing, the Cougars went to a bowl game. Still, you can win lots of different ways.

One of these Saturdays, the Cougars may find a new one.

, DataTimes The following fields overflowed: CREDIT = John Blanchette The Spokesman-Review