Tiny Tots Prepare Withrow To Fend Off Giants WSU Senior Gets Ready For Football And Life After

As an offensive lineman at Washington State University, senior Cory Withrow expends great amounts of time and energy fending off the vicious attacks of 300-pound men who would like nothing better than to impress their cleats upon his forehead.

All of which makes him eminently qualified to survive the minute-to-minute trials of a child-care center.

While some of his football teammates put their muscle to use in more traditional off-season pursuits, Withrow joined his wife, Kierston, in working at the Little Tykes Child Care Center in Pullman.

That would explain why Withrow, the Cougars’ starting center, was surrounded by so many children last week when WSU kicked off summer practices with its annual picture and media day in Martin Stadium.

Right, Cory?

“Oh, uh, those are all my kids,” Withrow joked.

“He’s really fertile,” teammate Ryan McShane cracked.

Ribbing aside, Withrow’s choice in summer employment had more to do with his future. The Mead High School graduate realizes he won’t be playing football forever.

“I’ve only worked three times in my life and I’m going into education, so I needed something a little different - work with kids, instead of like throwing boxes and stuff,” Withrow said.

The 6-foot-4, 275-pound Withrow is one of three returning starters on a WSU offensive line that is difficult to gauge.

Will the return of Withrow, right tackle McShane and left guard Jason McEndoo be enough to make the offense productive?

Or will the Cougars be undone by uncertainty at right guard and the difficult task of replacing departed All-America left tackle Scott Sanderson?

Juniors Mike Sage (6-2, 330) and Mickey Long (6-4, 303) are the favorites at right guard, while junior Rob Rainville (6-5, 305) is expected to start in Sanderson’s old spot. Sage is recovering from shoulder surgery and is being held out of practices. Long entered camp last year as a defensive lineman and was converted to offense because the Cougars lacked depth there.

Junior-college transfer Ryan Tujague (6-6, 290), who had not yet joined the team when players began battling for starting positions in the spring, has made an impression early. O-line coach Lawrence Livingston said Tujague will contend for playing time primarily at left tackle.

Rainville split time with McShane at right tackle last year. Left tackle is the more difficult position because there is usually no tight end to provide assistance on that side.

McEndoo, a senior and one of the Pac-10’s best guards, believes Rain ville has the ability to keep quarter back Ryan Leaf from being blind sided.

“I’d say Robby’s strengths are he’s got a good head on his shoulders, he’s smart, powerful,” McEndoo said. “He could pick up the intensity a little bit more sometimes, but Robby is a young player and that just comes with experience.”

That leaves right guard as the biggest uncertainty. “It’s not a worry,” Livingston said. “It’s just something where we want to find out who’s going to take charge at that position.”

Sage’s problem has always been quickness. A phenom in the weight room, Sage reportedly adhered to a strenuous off-season conditioning program and appears lighter on his feet, coach Mike Price said. Long, meanwhile, is still making the transition to offense.

“Right now, it’s hard for him,” McShane said. “I mean, a year ago he was playing D-line. That’s a hard transition, especially knowing an offense as complicated as ours.

“He just needs more reps.”

Practice note

The Cougars practice again today at 9 a.m. and 4 p.m. Spectators can watch through the fence surrounding the field, but the best view is from the shaded walkway that extends along the second floor of the library.

, DataTimes ILLUSTRATION: Color Photo