WSU's Tuel questionable for Oregon State game
PULLMAN, Wash. (AP) - For the second year in a row, Washington State is one of the worst football teams in the nation.
The Cougars (1-9, 0-7 Pac-10) rank near the bottom of the 120 major college teams in both offense and defense, and numerous other categories. They are 31-point underdogs at home against No. 20 Oregon State (7-3, 5-2) on Saturday.
They may also be without starting quarterback Jeff Tuel, who is listed as questionable for the game with a knee injury. They would start either Marshall Lobbestael or Kevin Lopina if Tuel cannot play.
Washington State coach Paul Wulff maintains his rebuilding effort will pay dividends.
"We are playing a tremendous amount of young, young, young guys, and they make mistakes," Wulff said after Saturday's 43-7 loss to UCLA. "The tough times we live today, we gain from down the road because they play, they learn and they grow up."
Against UCLA, Washington State was limited to 181 total yards. Quarterbacks Lobbestael and Lopina combined to go 9 of 20 for 108 yards.
"We thought we would give it a better go," receiver Jeffrey Solomon said. "We just need to keep battling, and get back to practice and keep working at it."
In WSU history, 1969 and 1970 are generally considered the worst back-to-back seasons. The 1969 team was 1-9 and the 1970 team was 1-10.
Last year, WSU finished 2-10 and was outscored by an average of 43-12. They ranked near the bottom in most offensive and defensive categories.
The Cougars have appeared only a little more competitive this year. They are still being outscored 39-13. They rank last in total defense (allowing 511 yards per game), second to last in total offense (262 ypg) and scoring, 117th in points allowed and 115th in rushing, with just 74 yards per game.
The Cougars are being outscored 159-3 in the first quarter. Their only first quarter points were in a 49-17 loss to Cal in which they trailed 28-3 after 15 minutes.
The Cougars have not led a single time this season in regulation play. In their only win, a Nico Grasu field goal in overtime lifted them to a 30-27 advantage over Southern Methodist, their only lead of the game.
Fans have noticed. Attendance at four games in Pullman is averaging less than 24,000 per game, easily the lowest in the Pac-10.
This is a program that went 39-21 in the first five seasons of this decade. Former coach Bill Doba was forced out two years ago, mostly on the grounds of poor recruiting. The Cougars were 6-6 and 5-7 in Doba's last two years. They are 3-20 since.
"I knew the first two years were going to be tough years," Wulff said. "I looked at the roster and the depth and lack of maturity and lack of older players in the program."
Wulff said the Cougars continue to practice well and the team has a positive attitude.
"We will recruit great young high school kids," he said. "We are going to get better and better."
Oregon State coach Mike Riley, who converted that program from a multi-decade loser into a Top 25 team, knows what Wulff is going through.
"We've been there and we understand that," Riley said. "He's got that team playing hard and getting better."
"We just don't want this week to be their breakthrough week," Riley added.
The Cougars (1-9, 0-7 Pac-10) rank near the bottom of the 120 major college teams in both offense and defense, and numerous other categories. They are 31-point underdogs at home against No. 20 Oregon State (7-3, 5-2) on Saturday.
They may also be without starting quarterback Jeff Tuel, who is listed as questionable for the game with a knee injury. They would start either Marshall Lobbestael or Kevin Lopina if Tuel cannot play.
Washington State coach Paul Wulff maintains his rebuilding effort will pay dividends.
"We are playing a tremendous amount of young, young, young guys, and they make mistakes," Wulff said after Saturday's 43-7 loss to UCLA. "The tough times we live today, we gain from down the road because they play, they learn and they grow up."
Against UCLA, Washington State was limited to 181 total yards. Quarterbacks Lobbestael and Lopina combined to go 9 of 20 for 108 yards.
"We thought we would give it a better go," receiver Jeffrey Solomon said. "We just need to keep battling, and get back to practice and keep working at it."
In WSU history, 1969 and 1970 are generally considered the worst back-to-back seasons. The 1969 team was 1-9 and the 1970 team was 1-10.
Last year, WSU finished 2-10 and was outscored by an average of 43-12. They ranked near the bottom in most offensive and defensive categories.
The Cougars have appeared only a little more competitive this year. They are still being outscored 39-13. They rank last in total defense (allowing 511 yards per game), second to last in total offense (262 ypg) and scoring, 117th in points allowed and 115th in rushing, with just 74 yards per game.
The Cougars are being outscored 159-3 in the first quarter. Their only first quarter points were in a 49-17 loss to Cal in which they trailed 28-3 after 15 minutes.
The Cougars have not led a single time this season in regulation play. In their only win, a Nico Grasu field goal in overtime lifted them to a 30-27 advantage over Southern Methodist, their only lead of the game.
Fans have noticed. Attendance at four games in Pullman is averaging less than 24,000 per game, easily the lowest in the Pac-10.
This is a program that went 39-21 in the first five seasons of this decade. Former coach Bill Doba was forced out two years ago, mostly on the grounds of poor recruiting. The Cougars were 6-6 and 5-7 in Doba's last two years. They are 3-20 since.
"I knew the first two years were going to be tough years," Wulff said. "I looked at the roster and the depth and lack of maturity and lack of older players in the program."
Wulff said the Cougars continue to practice well and the team has a positive attitude.
"We will recruit great young high school kids," he said. "We are going to get better and better."
Oregon State coach Mike Riley, who converted that program from a multi-decade loser into a Top 25 team, knows what Wulff is going through.
"We've been there and we understand that," Riley said. "He's got that team playing hard and getting better."
"We just don't want this week to be their breakthrough week," Riley added.