Cougars Open Practice With A Smile And A … Fresh Start Belly-Dancing, Academic-Deficient Days Over For Svelte Bender
High-profile players were the focus Friday afternoon when Washington State kicked off two-a-day football practices with its annual picture and media day in Martin Stadium.
Among the most recognizable players were quarterback Ryan Leaf and tailback Michael Black, who comprise one of the better returning backfields in the Pacific-10 Conference. Not far away, there were dominating defenders like end Dorian Boose and tackle Leon Bender.
Fans were rewarded with autographs and -
Wait a minute here. Leon Bender … in a WSU uniform … in early August? And eligible, no less?
Right, and ninth-year coach Mike Price isn’t above commandeering a steamroller in an attempt to demolish a series of 11 wooden boxes, each representing a 1997 opponent.
Like we said, Bender is eligible.
“Oh yeah, I’m eligible,” Bender assured. (The wooden boxes, meanwhile, also fared well - they proved too tall for the steamroller, which could only push them along harmlessly.)
As for Bender, who celebrated his 22nd birthday Friday, the senior appears to have finally overcome the academic troubles that kept him out of football two years ago and prevented him from attending most of two-a-days last year.
Alas, but might this fellow calling himself Leon Bender be an impostor? The easy smile and disarming disposition appear genuine, to say nothing of the tattoos, but something is amiss.
The belly. That’s it. The Leon Bender we remember sported a king-sized gut. But no more. “He’s worked his tail off,” defensive coordinator Bill Doba said.
After waddling into camp last year at 324 pounds, the 6-foot-5 Bender is now a relatively svelte 299. Not only is he eligible, but Bender no longer shares tailors with Butterbean.
“I didn’t doubt myself at all,” Bender said. “Everybody was counting me out and that’s just how it’s been since the fall of ‘93, since I came here to school.
“It’s like each semester, each year, I’ve got to prove somebody wrong. It’s not a new thing for me to overcome somebody’s doubts.”
Bender and wife Liza have a 1-year-old daughter, Imani, who has provided additional motivation.
“It’s just so beautiful to see a child grow up, especially when it’s your own,” Bender said. “And now, it’s like I’ve got to be the disciplinarian with my daughter.
“It’s so hard because she’s a year-and-a-half and she knows what she can and cannot get away with, so I guess she’s a lot like her dad.”
Life of Riley
Junior-college transfer Earl Riley cannot practice until his transcript arrives from Merced (Calif.) JC. The 6-3, 208-pound Riley, who is expected to play safety or even cornerback, signed with WSU in 1995 out of high school, but did not qualify for admission.
“It’s been a long wait to get here - then I get here and I’ve got to wait longer,” said Riley, adding that he never seriously considered rescinding his commitment to WSU.
Riley had seven interceptions for 140 yards in returns last year, twice returning picks for touchdowns. “You could say I’m exciting, I guess,” he offered.
Defensive end Taeao Salausa, another JC transfer, is also awaiting clearance. The 6-4, 260-pound Salausa played at Long Beach City College in California, which also produced one of the Cougars’ leading receivers, senior Kevin McKenzie.
Practice schedule
The Cougars will practice twice daily starting today. Morning practices begin at 9, with afternoon practices at 4. There is no early practice Sunday… . Players and coaches attended a catered dinner Friday night at the Colfax-area farm of tight end Jon Kincaid.
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