Say Hello To Accountability Price Issues A Wake-Up Call As Cougs Pick Up Pac-10 Play

Mike Price stopped practice so there would be no mistaking his message.

“These are the 20 toughest guys out here,” the Washington State University football coach yelled, pointing at the revamped first and second kickoff coverage teams. “Matt Kegel (a quarterback) was 21. All you other guys should be embarrassed you’re not out here.”

Then it happened. As it always seems to at Cougars practice. Some player, not always the same player, brushed off the justified criticism from the coaching staff with an excuse.

This time it was wide receiver Marcus Williams.

“I guess he wants me to go out there and pop my shoulder out of the socket every play,” the senior said. “You believe that?”

Yes, Williams does have a bad shoulder. It doesn’t keep him out of games. But he feels it is bad enough to warrant wearing a non-contact jersey every day in practice. Despite that many of the pro scouts who have come through Pullman see that as a weakness and have left disappointed in the 6-foot-5, 230-pound receiver’s habits.

Williams is just one example of what has become the problem for the Cougars in their recent history: Too many players making too many excuses.

“We need more people being accountable,” said Price.

If that doesn’t happen - and fast - there is a possibility Price and his staff could be held accountable at the end of the season. WSU is already 1-2 after three very winnable games. And now comes the tough part of the schedule, seven of this season’s eight Pac-10 games in the next eight weeks.

So out has come the tough personality of the coaching staff. “We’re going to do everything we can in practice to try to slap them around and wake them up,” Price said. “Let’s start competing and playing football.”

The coaches have come out this week and challenged the players. But the players, especially on defense, need to challenge each other.

“It’s 100 times louder when it comes from them,” said defensive line coach Robb Akey.

The defense was flat-out embarrassed last week by Idaho for the second year in a row. In consecutive wins over the Cougars, the Vandals, a Big West Conference team, have averaged 452.5 yards and 33 points.

“They pushed us around,” said linebacker Raonall Smith after this year’s loss.

The Vandals were able to do all that pushing because they, like Stanford, Oregon State, Arizona State - the list goes on and on - were tougher than the Cougars.

“We’re too nice,” Price said. “That’s about as blunt as I can be.”

The defensive line was nice enough to allow Idaho’s Willie Alderson to run for 113 yards. And both Idaho and Utah averaged 4.9 yards per carry against WSU.

“There is a toughness that every player has to bring with him,” said Akey. “And if a defensive lineman doesn’t have that toughness, he will have a very hard time in football.”

Akey believes there is toughness buried within the defensive line, but the problem is unearthing it.

“Sometimes a youngster will possess toughness, but maybe the frustration of not being successful overtakes some of that toughness and that slows the body down,” he said. “That frustration should lead to if anything, `Hey, I’ll fight my way out of it.’

“So we’re trying to create those reactions,” he added. “We need someone to say, `I’m not waiting to grow up, I’m stepping up. I’m playing. That’s the way I will be successful.”’

And they need players on offense and defense to stop making excuses. That’s another way to be successful.

Defensive changes

The Cougars will make some shifts at linebacker because of an injury to James Price. Price broke his left hand against Idaho and if he plays against Cal, it will be sparingly. Middle linebacker Champ Simmons will slide to the outside to take Price’s spot. Freshman Al Genatone, who battled Simmons for the starting spot this fall, will take over at middle linebacker.

Price, who is fourth on the team in tackles (20), was put in a soft cast and did practice on Wednesday. Whether he will play will be a game-time decision. “When the soreness goes away, he’ll play,” Mike Price said. “It’s going to be like a toothache for him the whole year.”

Price’s injury could also mean more playing time for junior-college transfer Alex Nague. Nague was expected to be more of a contributor this season, but has not progressed as much as the coaching staff would’ve liked.

But Tuesday, the 6-foot, 240-pound linebacker asserted himself in the teamwork drills. The Cougars are also committed to playing more people on the defensive line. Freshmen Isaac Brown and D.D. Acholonu should get more playing time on the outside.

“Now, they (those on the defensive line) are not going to have an excuse of being tired,” said Price.

This sidebar appeared with the story: Package offered

Reserved tickets to Washington State University’s remaining three Pacific-10 Conference games - against Arizona State, Oregon and Washington - are now available in a special three-game package that went on sale this week.

WSU is selling the three-game reserve seat package through all outlets for $65. Included with each ticket purchased is a $5 gift certificate to any of the Martin Stadium concession stands. The certificate can be redeemed at any of the three games.

“The retail price of the package is $80, not including the concession certificate, so really fans are getting an $85 value for just $65,” WSU Athletics marketing director J.D. Griffith explained.

WSU’s three-game package is available by calling toll-free 1-800-GO-COUGS (options 2 and 3), or through the school’s Pullman ticket office, 509-335-9626. The special package is also available at the Spokane Arena Box Office.