Pac-10 Week 11 Notes and Observations: Washington State Cougars
Washington State Cougars 1-9 Overall (0-7 Conference)
This Week’s Score: UCLA 43 – Washington State 7
Next Week’s Opponent: Oregon State
Let’s start with the bright side. Washington State has a very exciting one-two punch in Klay Thompson and DeAngelo Casto. Thompson is one of the best guards in the Pac-10 and Casto is an explosive forward… oh right… I suppose we should talk about football.
Look, at this point we all know the season only has meaning for one reason – the Apple Cup. Sure beating the Huskies looked impossible earlier this season, but now who cares that U-Dub defeated USC? That result is not nearly as impressive anymore, and even with Jake Locker the Dawgs are a vulnerable squad.
It’s difficult to sugarcoat the UCLA game. It was a terrible performance even by this Cougar team’s standards. The players had a bad game, and the coaches did too. It was all very disheartening, and I honestly don’t know how Paul Wulff can motivate his team anymore. A portion of the fan base (I wont speculate how large) is ready to sack Wulff now, and I really can’t blame them.
The fact that Wazzu has recently become synonymous with the phrase “worst BCS team in America” is absolutely unacceptable. WSU is capable of consistent success, but the program is just so far behind in every area right now. I still blame Bill Doba more than Wulff, but I’m not sure how much longer that logic will hold up.
Nothing went right for the Cougs against UCLA. If there is one play that seems to summarize the day, it was that inconceivable 68-yard TD scamper by QB Kevin Prince. With all due respect to Prince and his mobility, that play was unforgivable from a WSU perspective. Coming into the season, I thought a QB like Marshall Lobbestael would make huge strides but those thoughts are non-existent now, especially after his latest performance (2/6 6 yards 3 INTs).
Next, the Cougars will be blown out by Oregon State, and then comes the second annual bottom feeder bowl with the Huskies.
