Cougs keep intensity

PULLMAN – As the season opener nears, Washington State’s football practice slowed down Tuesday, though the intensity didn’t seem to wane.

“Practice was very productive today,” defensive end Mike Graise said. “We got to go at it a couple periods, then slow it down and just study our opponent with our scouts teams. We didn’t have many mistakes, just clearing up a couple things, so everything was cool.”

The Cougars, 14-point underdogs to seventh-ranked Wisconsin on Saturday, spent much of the day preparing for the Badgers, including having the starters taking turns emulating Wisconsin.

“The glass was half full and it was half empty. Receiver Brandon Gibson practiced in full pads, but his participation in the drills and contact was limited. He spent much of the practice testing his knee and did considerable running afterward. He is still a game-time decision.

Gibson was the only projected starter not practicing, as the Cougars’ injury list shrunk markedly.

“There was no word on linebacker Jason Stripling’s appeal to the NCAA on his academic ineligibility.

“Fifty-one percent of the country, including the West Coast and the Midwest, will see Saturday’s game on ABC. The remainder of the country, including the Mountain West, will see it on ESPN.

The WSU game will be on ABC in the Spokane area, but on ESPN in most of Montana. ABC will carry the Nevada-Nebraska game in most of the Mountain time zone.