The world doesn't call them the lightly regarded Owls for nothing.
Many Washington State football players, despite having lost seven straight games before Saturday night's great escape against Temple, still had the nerve to take the lightly regarded Owls lightly.
"I think a portion of the team was overconfident, for whatever reason I don't know, WSU coach Mike Price said Sunday, during his weekly postgame conference call. "We had lost seven in a row going into this game, so I don't know how we could be overconfident about anything. I think that hurt us.
WSU stopped swaggering in time to stagger out of Philadelphia with a 38-34 victory, and may have learned a valuable lesson.
"If we learned anything, we learned not to underestimate your opponent, Price said. "We talked about it and talked about it and talked about it (beforehand).
"But the players didn't learn until they experienced that feeling of not going out and being ready and then getting caught up in a game that we had a chance to take control of.
The Cougars (1-1) have a bye this week and will use the extra time to prepare for Oregon, a team no Pacific-10 Conference opponent can afford to overlook.
Decaf for the d-line?
There were more flags flying when WSU was on defense than could be seen outside many of Philadelphia's most prominent historical attractions Saturday.
"We didn't play intelligent football, Price said. "We made too many stupid mistakes and we almost hand-delivered that victory to Temple.
After further review, it was discovered the Cougars were whistled for offsides 12 times - two more than initially reported.
Measuring up
Price called Saturday night's impressive offensive showing a legitimate indicator, even if it came against those lightly regarded Owls.
" I think Temple is a good measuring stick so far in our progress," Price said. "Again, it's early and we're not as good as we're capable of playing.
"But I think the biggest improvement from game one to game two was in the offensive line. They improved the most.
"I knew Michael Black could run. I knew Ryan Leaf could throw the ball and play. It was just the offensive line coming forward and getting the job done.
On the run
Leaf used excellent pass protection to throw four touchdown passes and run for a fifth, but it was the running game that gave Price particular satisfaction.
That was especially true on WSU's final possession, when Black's 27-yard run sparked an 88-yard TD drive that proved to be the game-winner.
"Just knowing we can run the ball and mix the run and pass in there in a drive where you don't have to throw every down, it made my play selection a lot easier, Price said.
Leaf's report card
According to Price, Leaf made only "one or two mental mistakes against Temple, down from four in the season-opener and eight in the 1995 finale.
Injury update
Receivers Shawn Tims and Shawn McWashington sprained ankles against Temple, but Price expects both to be ready for the Sept. 21 home opener against Oregon. Running back Miguel Meriwether (sterno-clavicular) and linebacker Steve Gleason (knee) did not play Saturday, but are also expected to return against the Ducks. Defensive lineman Da'vid Evans (knee) missed the first two games and remains questionable.
"The only severe injuries we could get would be Coach Doba strangling some of those defensive linemen for stepping offsides all the time," Price said, referring to defensive coordinator Bill Doba. "We may have some neck injuries from that."
Price was only joking, of course, although strangulation - like Owls - should never be taken lightly.
