WSU preseason camp: Day two
COUGARS
It was warm yesterday in Pullman, but it really couldn't be defined as hot. Not for an early August day in the Palouse. Basically I would have to say it was perfect training camp weather, just hot enough to get really loose but not so hot everyone could be cramping up. But then again, I'm not running around for 2-plus hours on turf, or hitting someone every 10 seconds, or doing up-downs. Just standing, watching. And today? It's supposed to be a bit warmer (hitting the mid-80s during the afternoon practice) without a cloud in the sky. Another perfect day. For more on what happened Sunday, read on.
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• Washington State: Late in Sunday's practice, one offensive lineman just couldn't hold in the joy he was feeling about football. He had to let it out. And he did, all over the 10-yard line. Then he let it out again. And again, giving new definition to the term leaving it all on the field. I couldn't watch (remember the scene in "The Goonies" where the kid talks about spilling the can of soup out of the balcony and watching the reaction; I have a tendency to react just like the crowd did) but I could commiserate. That's because, though I spent the summer training nearly every day (standing in the backyard for half-hours at a time, pounding out meaningless words on the computer, telling pointless stories over and over and boring anyone within earshot), it's just impossible to simulate the intensity of practice. And, like that unnamed offensive lineman, by the end of the day yesterday, I was beat. Worn out. Exhausted. So I wonder how each player is feeling this morning. They have to rise and shine early, running through meetings, video and the like before they hit the field again this afternoon. If their legs feel anything like mine, I wish them well. ... Enough of the nonsense. You didn't come here this morning to be – to use the term loosely – "entertained," you came here to be informed. So let's get to it. ... We had our notes from practice here last night and our story appeared in the S-R this morning. ... Freelancer Howie Stalwick had this practice notebook on Cougfan and a couple other places. ... Seattle Times columnist Bud Withers has his thoughts on the upcoming year and what it means for coach Paul Wulff. ... You can find a recap of practice and some video interviews on the WSU web site. ... And that's it. We'll be back at practice today. That is if our balky legs can carry us there.
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• Around the Pac-12: ESPN.com's Ted Miller examines the future of conference expansion. ... Washington: The Huskies open practice today and Bob Condotta looks at their depth chart. ... Oregon State: The Beavers open practice today and Paul Buker looks at five questions they must answer. ... Oregon: The talent is deep in Eugene, but who will lead? ... Colorado: One Buff running back is looking toward his future. And it's not in the NFL. ... Utah: Kind of slim pickings. ... California: The Bears opened practice Saturday and coach Jeff Tedford was pleased. But then again, when was a coach ticked off after the first practice? ... Stanford: The Cardinal begin camp today. ... USC: A freshman running back has already made an impression. ... UCLA: Once again coach Rick Neuheisel is going in a different direction. But at least this time he's staying in town. For a while at least. But it won't be forever if he and the Bruins can't answer these questions. ... Arizona State: Star linebacker Vontaze Burfict reportedly got into a locker-room altercation with a teammate. ... Arizona: Can tattoos predict the future?
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• That's all for this morning. We'll be back after practice this afternoon. Until then ...
