WSU cornerback Brackenridge ‘Hoggs’ spotlight
PULLMAN – To hear a cornerback called Bossy does not come as a huge surprise. The position, by nature, tends to attract athletes who are aggressive, confident and willing to flap gums with the best of them.
But to hear how Washington State’s Tyron Brackenridge came away with the moniker – well, that’s a little more surprising.
“It’s my granny,” Brackenridge explained. “When I was a baby I was real fat and I had on a white suit.
“You know the fat, white guy on Dukes of Hazzard, Boss Hogg, the chief? My granny said I looked like Boss Hogg. When I was little they used to call me Boss Hogg and when I got older they just started calling me Bossy. The name stuck with me everywhere.”
The resemblance, however, did not.
By the time Brackenridge got to Chaffey Junior College near his home in Upland, Calif., he was a skinny, 160-pound cornerback. At WSU he’s up past 180 pounds, and it’s the persona of his shortened nickname – not the likeness it suggests – that applies best.
“He’s not one of our captains, but he’s a leader,” head coach Bill Doba said. “He kind of reminds me of Jason David a little bit. He enjoys practice. He has fun out there. He gets excited.”
As the Cougars enter the Pacific-10 Conference season this week, Brackenridge stands as one of the handful of players who could determine just how well this season goes.
Since David graduated and moved on to the Indianapolis Colts, cornerback play has been an issue for the Cougars.
As a junior in 2004 Brackenridge wasn’t ready to contribute as anything more than a reserve. He spent last season on the sidelines, academically ineligible.
That left him with this season alone, and Brackenridge is making good on the No. 1 cornerback designation he was handed before fall camp started. (He’s also on pace to graduate in December.)
“I haven’t been thrown at too much yet,” he said. “But I know I’ll be tested in the Pac-10. We’ll see how that goes.
“Guys we played against, I tell them I see better receivers in the Pac-10 and in practice. I kind of say things like that. I know we’re going to face some tougher opponents. I’m going to be ready for it. I’m going to prepare for it.”
Coming out of Chaffey – where he played with current WSU safety DeWayne Patterson and former Cougar wideout Greg Prator – Brackenridge could have ended up going in a different direction with his collegiate career.
A recruiting process that appeared to be almost over could have become interesting when USC came calling with renewed interest. But Brackenridge, not caring for the way the Trojans had disappeared and shown up late in the game, decided to toy with his new suitors shortly after WSU’s Holiday Bowl victory and USC’s Rose Bowl win.
“When they came down, I was talking about the Holiday Bowl,” Brackenridge said. “I said, ‘Did you see the Holiday Bowl?’ They were like, ‘Nooo. Did you watch the Rose Bowl?’ I said, ‘No, I was down in San Diego.’ “
If the Cougars are to get anywhere near those heights again, the corner known by the simple nickname will have to play center stage.
“I don’t care who you are,” Brackenridge said. “You can be Jerry Rice. You can be Terrell Owens. I’m going to compete against you.”
Notes
Running back DeMaundray Woolridge (quadriceps) practiced on a limited basis for the first time this week. Doba said he will make the trip and the starting running back should play, although how much and how effective he can be remains a mystery. … Another running back, Christopher Ivory, will be available as well for his usual special teams duties after missing last week with an ankle injury. … Stanford has confirmed that its starting receivers will be sophomore Kelton Lynn and freshman Austin Yancy, with starters Evan Moore and Mark Bradford both out for the foreseeable future.