Cougars closing practices

PULLMAN – Paul Wulff is nothing if not persistent.

Washington State’s football coach has said all season he wants his team to change its culture and develop an identity, to develop something it can hang its hat on, as he calls it.

It hasn’t happened yet.

So, following a historic 69-0 loss to USC and with a bye week ahead, Wulff is going to try once more.

He said Sunday he’s decided to take the Cougars into their indoor practice facility on Tuesday and Wednesday and close practice.

It’s the first time in recent memory WSU (1-7, 0-5 Pac-10) has closed football practice, a common occurrence at some schools.

“We need some time by ourselves,” Wulff explained after announcing the change.

Wulff’s decision comes a day after some players, including defensive end Andy Mattingly and quarterback Kevin Lopina, expressed frustration at what they saw as an acceptance of defeat.

“A lot of guys are getting used to losing,” Mattingly said.

Lopina, who returned to action four weeks after breaking a bone in his back, echoed that: “We’re just going to have to find out who’s here to compete and play. If you don’t want to play, then just turn in your gear. Players are frustrated, coaches are frustrated. People have just got to do something about it.”

So Wulff is.

“There’s no need to point any fingers and I don’t think those guys were by any means,” Wulff said, “but everybody gets frustrated and they could see, maybe, somebody else not pulling their weight.”

Lopina mentioned Saturday a need for a players-only meeting, and Wulff said they may have held one already, he wasn’t sure. But he had no problem with players trying to take care of any perceived lack of effort.

“For a while, as coaches we’ve tried to do that,” Wulff said. “It’s time now, as coaches, to find players who will do that. That’s where we’re really at. All great teams have great, strong leadership that handle it.

“Successful teams do. Unsuccessful teams don’t have that, have enough of it. We need more of that.”

When asked if that’s what he’s looking for with the closed practices Tuesday and Wednesday, Wulff answered “ya,” then paused before continuing. “And Sunday and Tuesday and Wednesday and Thursday and the following … get my drift? We need it.”

They also need to get healthy.

“It’s tough on these kids,” he added. “They’re trying hard. We’ve had some very unfortunate things happen to us, injury-wise, and, when we lose games, it’s easy to get frustrated. It happens in sports everywhere. And everyone is trying to find answers or find reasons why.”

“Those comments tell you guys that” some kids are frustrated with others on the team, Wulff added. “I understand where some of that comes from.”

Notes

WSU came out of the USC game with only one player banged up, cornerback Romeo Pellum, who finished with a sore shoulder and limped off after another play. “Romeo’s a pretty tough kid,” Wulff said. “I think he’ll bounce back here in a few days.” … Though Brandon Gibson only had one catch for zero yards against the Trojans, that extended his consecutive game streak to 31. … After practicing Tuesday and Wednesday, the Cougars will get the weekend off. They’ll come back with a full practice Sunday and start getting ready for the Nov. 1 trip to Stanford. While the players are off, the coaches will hit the recruiting trail.