Cougars select captain quartet
PULLMAN — Washington State University has elected its captains for the 2005 football season, and this season one name not on the final list is as notable as those on it.
Middle linebacker Will Derting, a defensive captain last season, and punter Kyle Basler, a special teams captain, are both returning to the role as voted by their teammates on Wednesday. Joining them are two newcomers to the title on offense, tight end Troy Bienemann and running back Jerome Harrison.
But the list of four does not include quarterback Josh Swogger, a co-captain last season as a sophomore.
“It’s a great honor just to have the respect of your teammates,” Bienemann said. “That’s the biggest thing, to be up there with guys like Will and Kyle who have been up there before.
“It’s still (Josh’s) team. It’s still his offense. He’s still the leader and, as far as I’m concerned, I’m still under him. He’s a go-to guy.”
All four of the players elected will be seniors this season, and all have already served as leaders on the field in some fashion.
Derting, despite missing the spring, will receive more accolades than any other Cougars player this year, though he did have another unexpected surgery on his injured left wrist Friday morning, performed in Spokane.
Derting had one screw removed from the wrist and two pins added. The wrist, dislocated in August, was originally operated on in December. The recovery time is expected to be 6-8 weeks.
“We knew about mid-June he was going to be turning loose either way we went,” head trainer Bill Drake said of the decision for a second surgery. “You don’t want to be revising hardware in July or August. So it’s a good decision to do it now.”
The other captains, Bienemann, Harrison and Basler, are all returning starters who have had standout performances in spring practices.
Swogger was able to start just the first six games of last season before going down with a broken foot and didn’t participate in any contact drills this spring because of the continuing rehab. He’s also not guaranteed the starting job entering fall camp, as Alex Brink will receive a shot.
“He’s missed the whole spring, and out of sight, out of mind,” head coach Bill Doba said of Swogger, turning his attention to the four chosen this year. “They’re excellent kids, good leaders and good people. So we’re really happy with that.”
Swogger said he was a “little bit” disappointed to not be a repeat captain, but he’s been more frustrated by the inability to take the field for spring scrimmages. The junior quarterback unsuccessfully lobbied Doba to play in Saturday’s spring game, and must turn his attention to helping lead drills over the summer – captain or not.
“It is (humbling). But I wasn’t really expecting it,” Swogger said. “I’m just going to do everything I can in the summertime to take control of skellies and get guys out there, to get everything rolling and get things back to the point where the Cougars are winning bowl games.”