Two Cougs Idled While Awaiting Fate

The academic eligibility of Washington State starting center Lincoln WaldenSchulz and backup cornerback Anthony Matthews is pending heading into Saturday’s game with Utah.

“Right now we are in the process of talking with the NCAA and trying to clarify a few things,” said Pam Bradetich, WSU assistant athletic director (academics and continuing eligibility). “Unfortunately because it is pending, we won’t be able to put them out on the field,”

So until those matters are resolved, Walden-Schulz and Matthews are not eligible to play in any games.

Washington State coach Mike Price feels confident that Walden-Schulz will return to the team, but is not sure of the timetable. The 6-4, 285-pound senior was not at Tuesday’s practice, but could be back in time for Saturday’s game.

The outlook on Matthews is not as bright. But, Price said, Matthews could potentially be cleared academically and rejoin the team. It’s doubtful that will happen as early as this weekend.

If Walden-Schulz is not available Saturday, backup Mike Schwarz would start at center. Schwarz, a 6-3, 295-pound senior, battled Walden-Schulz for the starting spot in spring. Schwarz was running with the first team in Tuesday’s practice.

But with Schwarz at center the Cougars will have to figure out how to plug some holes on the right side of the line. Reed and Ryan Raymond, the starting right guard and tackle, are not expected to play the entire Utah game because of injuries. Schwarz was expected to be the starting right guard against Utah and Ryan Raymond would be the backup.

The worst news of all is that if Walden-Schulz is not cleared and the Raymonds aren’t able to go for most of the day, the Cougars could be stuck with two extremely inexperienced players on the right side of the line trying to block quarterback Steve Birnbaum’s blind side. They also have to deal with blocking Utah’s John Frank, a first-team all-WAC defensive end who had 10 sacks last season.

Without Matthews as a backup in the secondary, the Cougars may have to burn the redshirt of freshman Marcus Trufant. Trufant (6-0, 175) was working with the second team on Tuesday, while Matthews had been pushed down to the scout team with another WSU academic casualty, cornerback Chris Martin.

WSU may get away without playing Trufant. Junior college transfer Mory Banks can fill the backup role if there is an injury.