Cougars’ silence speaks volumes
PULLMAN — You won’t find any Cougars talking trash about this week’s opponent. Not when the team coming to town has won 16 consecutive games, and not when it just annihilated Washington 38-0.
The only talk anyone involved with Washington State University will let out about USC is that this is a fantastic football team.
“They’ve got a complete package. They’ve got to help us in order for us to be in the ballgame or to win the game,” WSU head coach Bill Doba said. “They probably have more talented athletes walk in to watch practice than we can recruit on official visits.”
It’s not every year that a preseason No. 1 can live up to summer hype, but the Trojans have done just that. They have outscored opponents 252-75 — allowing 10 points in the first quarter, 14 in the third and three in the fourth — in running up a 7-0 record.
The Trojans’ trip to Pullman on Saturday represents more than just another opponent on the WSU schedule. It’s the first time in Cougars history that they have hosted a No. 1 team in Pullman.
It’s been seven seasons since WSU played a No. 1 at all — the 1998 Rose Bowl against Michigan was the last time.
The Cougars (3-4, 1-3 Pacific-10 Conference) have beaten a No. 1 once in their history, when they went to that same Rose Bowl to play UCLA in 1988, recovering from an early deficit to steal a 34-30 victory.
This year’s Cougars face an especially difficult task since their quarterback, Alex Brink, will make the second start of his collegiate career. At Oregon State last week, Brink went 15 for 41 for 201 yards with two interceptions. The Cougars didn’t help Brink much on offense with somewhat spotty protection and few open receivers, but the challenges he faced against the Beavers will likely pale in comparison to the ones he will see against the Trojans.
“We’re excited to play the No. 1 team in the nation and we’re glad that they’re coming to our house,” Brink said. “It’s definitely going to be something to remember, something to look back on. … There are athletes at every position and six-deep behind that. They’re good players.”
Doba has spent much of the week talking about the things his team might do to try and offset the talent gap the Trojans hold over every team they play. In addition to emptying out the drawer on creative game-planning and trick plays, the coach has said that a little help from USC might be in order.
“Everything to gain and nothing to lose, I guess,” Doba said. “It’s a chance to kind of let it go. Try things that maybe you haven’t tried before or are afraid to try and have thought about.
“A fumble or two, or throw an interception our way. And we have to make a couple of plays.”
Notes
USC head coach Pete Carroll said offensive guard John Drake wouldn’t practice much this week because of a sprained ankle, but he expects him to play against WSU. … Cougars tight end Troy Bienemann made a return to practice, but he continues to struggle with a bruised shin suffered against Arizona. … WSU quarterback Josh Swogger made his first appearance at practice after his successful surgery for a broken navicular bone in his left foot. … Right tackle Sam Lightbody of the Cougars missed practice but is expected to play this weekend.