Cougs Lean Toward Simple Approach
For years Washington State coach Mike Price has tried to outsmart Stanford.
Trick plays, complex blitz packages - you name it, he’s tried it.
This year Price has settled on another formula he thinks may help his team outwit the Cardinal: Keep it simple.
“Last year against Stanford we had seven major mistakes and they led to touchdowns,” Price said. “Last time I checked that’s 49 points.
Last time he checked the Cougars also lost that game 54-17. So Price is going back to the drawing board and using his eraser a little more than his chalk.
“We are really tying to eliminate our mistakes, which means we might have a little bit different conservative game plan going into this game,” he said. “If there is a chance that a guy is going to make a mistake on a play, then we are not running the play. That’s kind of the philosophy that we have taken in the last week in cutting back on our offense and our defense.”
That may also help the Cougars turn around their turnover margin. Last season, WSU was seventh in the Pac-10 in turnover margin with a minus-four. They also had four turnovers in the Stanford game, including a blocked punt for a touchdown.
Fab five
Last season, five true freshmen played for Washington State. Price couldn’t remember a season when that many freshmen had hit the field for his team.
This year five true freshmen are expected to play - in the first game. One of those, defensive tackle Tai Tupai, will start. Four others - free safety Erik Coleman, cornerback Jason David, linebacker Aaron Wagner and defensive end D.D. Acholonu - should see some action against Stanford this Saturday. Coleman (5-10, 187) will see the most among the reserves. The Lewis and Clark product will back up Mory Banks (Lamont Thompson’s backup).
Tupai will go as long as he can. The 6-4, 318-pound tackle came into camp overweight and will have to play his way into shape. He is starting in place of Ing Aleaga. Aleaga will miss six more weeks after undergoing surgery on his broken foot.
The Cougars will use Acholonu (6-3, 223), a speedy end, in spot situations.
“We just couldn’t keep him out of the backfield Saturday when he was playing on the scout team,” Price said about last week’s scrimmage. “We kinda wanted to redshirt him, but I think we will take the redshirt off him and let him play.”
Wagner (6-2, 221) has been moved up to second string because of Serign Marong’s continuing lower back problems.
David (5-8, 154) could see some spot action in the secondary, but it is doubtful that Price will go with out starters Marcus Trufant and Chris Martin for too long.
Receiving praise
WSU will start 6-foot-5 Paul Mencke, 6-foot-5 Marcus Williams and 6-foot-3 Milton Wynn at the three wide receiver spots.
“I don’t know if anybody has three starting receivers as tall as these guys,” Price said.
The players coming off the bench aren’t exactly the stature of Mini-Me, either. Collin Henderson, who will see plenty of playing time, is 6-1. Backups Nakoa McElrath and Billy Chase are 6-2 and 6-3, respectively.
“And what was the height of the corners at Stanford?” Price jokingly asked.
They are 5-8 and 5-11.
Game day
Washington State officials, in conjunction with concession vendor Sodexho Marriott, have announced price increases for core items at Cougars sporting events, including WSU football. None of the increases will be more than 50 cents and in some cases there will be no increase at all.
“We surveyed the prices charged at the other three Pacific-10 Conference schools in the Northwest and found in most cases our costs were lower than they charge,” said Jon Oliver, WSU’s associate athletic director for finance.
Spokane Cougar Club
The 38th annual Cougars Fall Sports Banquet is scheduled for 5:30 tonight at Cavanaugh’s Inn at the Park.
Cougars athletic director Jim Sterk, WSU president Lane Rawlins and The Voice of the Cougars, Bob Robertson, are all scheduled to speak. There will also be a raffle and live and silent auctions.
For more information call the Spokane Cougar Club office, 509-358-7541.