Cougars Playing For Pride WSU, California Have Little Else To Play For

Washington State and California are a pair of college football teams heading nowhere, but hoping to arrive with their pride still strapped to the luggage rack.

The most intriguing aspect of today’s 12:30 p.m. Pacific-10 Conference game between the Cougars and Golden Bears is the unpredictability of its outcome.

WSU (2-3 in the Pac-10 and 3-5 overall) is favored by three points over a Cal team (1-4 and 2-6) that has been one of the biggest disappointments in the country.

But the Cougars, who have become better known for their early November hibernation habits than most breeds of Bears - Golden or otherwise - have lost three in a row to fall out of bowl contention and face a quarterback controversy of sorts.

The controversy does not center around who should play the position, Chad Davis or Ryan Leaf. Coach Mike Price has made it clear that Davis, a junior, is his man and that Leaf, a talented, rifle-armed redshirt freshman, will have to wait his turn.

Instead, the controversy centers around the mental status of Davis, whose confidence has been shaken by five interceptions in the last two games and a resounding chorus of boos that welcomed him to the Martin Stadium sideline in the latter stages of the Cougars’ 24-14 loss to Arizona last Saturday.

“I’m concerned about him, because he doesn’t have the old fire he normally has,” Price said earlier this week of Davis, who will make his 21st consecutive start this afternoon in Memorial Coliseum. “I think some things have been bothering him - what’s been written in the newspaper and the booing.

“It hasn’t been a real positive influence on him, so I’m concerned about him. We’ve been trying to get things pepped up around here.”

Working in favor of Davis’ psyche is a California defense that has made only three interceptions all season and ranks near the bottom of the Pac-10 in passing yards and completions allowed.

Still, the Bears have shown some ability to rush the passer and rank No. 2 behind Oregon with 24 sacks.

Price admits he is one of many who are mystified by Cal’s struggles, which include lopsided losses to San Diego State, Oregon and UCLA and wins over only lowly San Jose State and Oregon State.

“They have a lot of talent,” he said, “but for whatever reason, they’re not winning. They’re tremendous at times, but it just hasn’t been an all-the-time thing for these guys and I don’t know why.”

Cal coach Keith Gilbertson, whose is rumored to be on the way out, is quick to confess that his team has underachieved.

“I really haven’t had anything like this happen before,” he said. “I thought we’d be a little bit further along than what we are.

“But we’ll play hard (today); we’ll compete. I’m not worried about that.”

Players to watch

WSU running back Frank Madu has emerged as one of the most dangerous runners in the league, having burned Arizona’s proud defense for 134 yards and a touchdown last Saturday.

The 5-foot-9, 180-pound senior, who hails from the Bay Area, ranks third in the Pac-10 in rushing with an average of 91.5 yards per game.

“We hope Frank Madu has a good game, this is coming home for him,” Price said. “He’s in a zone right now; he’s hot. And he needs to stay in that zone.”

Cal has a junior quarterback, Pat Barnes, who possesses seemingly unlimited potential, but little in the way of big numbers.

The 6-4, 210-pounder has been pulled off redshirt status the past two seasons by Gilbertson and played only sparingly prior to this fall. Still, his 1,892 passing yards and 10 touchdowns as Cal’s unquestioned starter give the Cougars defense reason for concern.

Key matchups

WSU offensive tackle Scott Sanderson, from nearby Concord, Calif., and guard John Scukanec could have their hands full trying to protect Davis against Golden Bears defensive ends Regan Upshaw and Duane Clemons.

Upshaw, a 6-4, 240-pound junior, has seven sacks and ranks second behind Arizona’s Tedy Bruschi in the Pac10. Clemons, a 6-6, 255-pound junior, is right behind Upshaw with 6.5 sacks per game.

When Cal has the ball, look for wide receivers Iheanyi Uwaezuoki and Na’il Benjamin to provide WSU’s secondary with one of its stiffest tests of the season.

Uwaezuoki is averaging 17 yards per catch and ranks eighth in the Pac-10 in receiving with 27 catches in only six games. Benjamin is right behind with 35 catches for 397 yards.

Injury update

Senior running back Derek Sparks (knee) is out for the season for the Cougars, but offensive tackle Sanderson (knee) and wideout Bryan Thomas (knee) should both play.

WSU’s only other injury question centers around backup wide receiver Shawn McWashington, who is questionable because of a hamstring pull.

Cal defensive tackle Brandon Whiting remains sidelined with a knee injury and defensive tackle Jeremy Newbertty is doubtful once again because of a broken foot.

Third-and-shorts

James Darling returns to start at middle linebacker for WSU after serving a one-game suspension that stemmed from a drunk-driving charge. … The old artificial turf at 75,662-seat Memorial Stadium has been torn up and replaced by natural grass. Rain was forecast earlier in the week, leaving Gilbertson wondering how the new prescription turf might hold up under inclement weather. … WSU is 0-4 on the road this year. … Cal ranks eighth in the Pac-10 in home attendance with an average of 36,875 a game - almost 40,000 under capacity. … There will be no live television coverage of today’s game, but it will be shown Sunday at 9:30 a.m. on a tape-delay basis on Prime Sports Northwest.

, DataTimes ILLUSTRATION: Graphic: Cougars at California