Price Wants Cougs To Practice Hard With Happy Faces

Mike Price practically floated into Bohler Gym’s Ike Deeter Room for his weekly postgame press conference Sunday, the previous day’s triumph having eased the burden of last year’s disappointing finish.

With 13 days until Washington State’s next football game, the Cougars’ ninth-year coach reflected on the importance of Saturday’s season-opening victory over UCLA.

“When we go out and we condition and we practice hard this week and you’re pushing the guys, it’s sure a lot easier to do that with a smile on your face,” Price said. “And it’s not punishment - you’re doing it to make you better.

“If you had lost, it would have been punishment,” he continued. “I like to work the team harder when we win than when we lose.”

The 37-34 victory, coupled with the rejuvenating effect of this week’s bye, figures to give the Cougars renewed optimism heading into their Sept. 13 game at Southern California.

The bye should also give quarterback Ryan Leaf and several others time to recover from various injuries.

Leaf passed for 381 yards and three touchdowns despite spraining his right ankle in the second quarter. The ankle was swollen on both sides Sunday and will keep Leaf from being near 100 percent until early next week, Price said.

Leaf could resume throwing on Wednesday.

Receiver Nian Taylor, who caught five passes for 200 yards before leaving with a sprained ankle in the fourth quarter, should be ready for USC.

Shawn Tims may not be so lucky. The senior receiver has a pulled hamstring that will keep him out indefinitely, although the USC game has not been ruled out.

Leon Bender’s mouth was not injured against UCLA and is expected to be functioning at 100 percent by this morning’s short workout.

Bender, following in the tradition of former WSU motormouths Chad Eaton and DeWayne Patterson, took time after Saturday’s win to rip UCLA as a place where players go to become soft, among other things.

Said Price, when asked to provide an update on another player: “I haven’t talked to Coach Bender yet, so I’ll have to wait until I get his comment on the situation.”

Notes

Redshirt freshman Paul Mencke will be the featured quarterback when WSU’s frosh and junior varsity players play Friday night against Walla Walla Community College. The rest of the team will have Friday off… . Backup cornerback Earl Riley will probably redshirt, Price said. Riley, a junior-college transfer, missed the first week of fall camp because his transcript arrived late… . Price said he expects backup defensive end Eboni Wilson (knee) to be ready for the USC game. Wilson suffered a torn anterior cruciate ligament less than two weeks ago, but surgery was not immediately needed because of the strength in Wilson’s surrounding leg muscles… . Offensive lineman Mike Sage (concussion) also may return next week. … Freshman James Price played well on special teams and has earned an opportunity to become a second-string linebacker, Mike Price said. Raonall Smith, another freshman backup linebacker, was slowed by an ankle injury in fall camp and now may redshirt.

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