Christian Caple

LOS ANGELES – Daquawn Brown might find out here, the city in which he grew up, just how much growing up he’s done as a college football player two games into his career. Brown’s collegiate debut came last week at Auburn, when he stepped in at cornerback after fifth-year seniors Nolan Washington and Anthony Carpenter each left the game with apparent injuries.

Daquawn Brown might find out here, the city in which he grew up, just how much growing up he’s done as a college football player two games into his career.

Very quickly, let’s answer your questions before you ask them: “Do you really think Colorado is better than WSU, California, AND Oregon State?”

PULLMAN – Nearly all of Washington State’s basketball games will be televised this season, and most of them by the Pac-12 Networks. Fourteen of the Cougars’ 18 league games will air on the Pac-12 Networks, with three of the other four airing on ESPNU, and the regular-season finale against UCLA in Pullman airing on FOX Sports 1. At least 28 WSU games will be televised overall.

PULLMAN – If one play from Saturday’s loss to Auburn were to be put forth to stand alone as evidence of Washington State’s offensive improvement, it probably wouldn’t be any of Connor Halliday’s 35 completions, nor any of WSU’s three touchdowns. This was more impressive, if not as glamorous: facing a fourth-and-5 with fewer than four minutes remaining in a 7-point game, Halliday assessed Auburn’s defense and checked out of the passing play that had been signaled in from the sidelines.

AUBURN, Ala. – There should no longer be any question about Washington State’s belief in itself on the football field. Not after the Cougars’ reaction to a close loss to Auburn at Jordan-Hare Stadium, one of frustration and lamentation that they lost a game they actually had business winning. So few were any wide-eyed expressions during Saturday’s humid contest that it’s reasonable to expect a similarly confident approach will accompany WSU into next week’s trip to another one of college football’s storied locales: Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum, the site of the Cougars’ Pac-12 opener at Southern California.

There should no longer be any question about Washington State’s belief in itself on the football field. Not after the Cougars’ reaction to a close loss to Auburn at Jordan-Hare Stadium, one of frustration and lamentation that they lost a game they actually had business winning.

AUBURN, Ala. – Come back in an hour and a half, Michael Garber says, because that’s when his tiger-striped party bus will actually be properly assembled, lit up and ready for friends to drink inside (and around) and passersby to gawk at. It’s about 8 p.m. the night before Auburn’s season-opener against Washington State (4 p.m. PDT, ESPNU), and Garber and a few of his pals – he answers his phone and confirms several more are on their way – are preparing the bus, nicknamed the “Tiger Prowler,” for a night (and day) of tailgating.

Christian Caple’s keys to a possible Washington State victory over Auburn Saturday.

Come back in an hour and a half, Michael Garber says, because that’s when his tiger-striped party bus will actually be properly assembled, lit up and ready for friends to drink inside (and around) and passersby to gawk at.

AUBURN, Ala. – It’s different down here. Not just in Alabama, where college football is nearly synonymous with church for some fans. But in all geographical locations associated with the Southeastern Conference, which has established itself during the last decade as college football’s premier league in nearly every way.

Big difference in one year When he is asked about last season and why Washington State wasn’t able to win more than three games, one of coach Mike Leach’s most common refrains is that the Cougars lacked the experience necessary to capitalize on fortuitous situations.

PULLMAN – Mike Leach didn’t remember the last time he coached against Ellis Johnson. Yet he did remember at the same time. Asked Tuesday during the Pac-12 coaches’ teleconference about a 1997 matchup between Kentucky (where Leach was offensive coordinator in 1997 and 1998) and Alabama (where Johnson was defensive coordinator), Leach at first blanked.