More on WSU’s loss in Tempe
COUGARS • UPDATE: 7:30 P.M.
We've put together our follow on the Arizona State defeat and we can pass that along. But we also have a few more thoughts that hit us on the plane home, along with more from Washington State coach Paul Wulff from his Sunday night press conference, so read on.
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• During Saturday's game I tweeted when WSU made a change on its offensive line, bringing in former walk-on Chris Prummer to play center and moving Zack Williams to left guard, Wade Jacobson to left tackle and John Fullington to right tackle. That group played together for one series in the first half – the first one WSU moved the ball decently – then again for a series later in the game. But most of the game, except for the end when the benches cleared, the Cougars went with their usual group, with Micah Hannam at right tackle, Fullington on the left side, Jacobson at guard and Williams at center. I asked Wulff what was behind the switch, whether he was upset with the play of anyone on the first group or whether he just wanted to see the group play together. He said it was a combination but most of it was because they wanted to see how the group performed together. He also said moving so many players is not ideal, but the Cougars lack of depth now – they have eight healthy O-linemen they feel they can use – makes having other combinations available is crucial. ... Wulff also mentioned Dan Spitz. If it wasn't for his shoulder surgery, this would have been the week Spitz would have come off suspension for failing the drug test. ... This is also what was originally scheduled to be the first of two WSU bye weeks. Wulff said he was included in the discussion about the change, the first big decision Bill Moos made as athletic director. The Pac-10 encouraged the move because it would make more games available for TV on different nights (I presume he meant the Cal/Stanford game) and making this one move was the simplest solution. Though Wulff didn't mention it, Cal and Stanford forwarded some money north to facilitate the move. ... As for injuries, Wulff said the two worst were Sekope Kaufusi's shoulder, which was knocked around a bit and is sore, and James Montgomery's thigh bruise. Only Kaufusi is a worry for Saturday, Wulff said. He also expects Myron Beck and B.J. Guerra both to return from the stingers they suffered. Also, Anthony Carpenter and Aire Justin should be back from their concussions, Chima Nwachukwu, who didn't play Saturday, should be fully recovered from his hamstring, as should running back Carl Winston. If all those guys can go, the injury list would be pretty much down to those players out for the year or, in the case of Jeffrey Solomon and Damante Horton, those out for a few more weeks at least. ... UPDATE: Here is the follow.
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• That's all for now. See you in the morning. Until then ...