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HOLY TOLEDO it's another year of radio show recaps. Where exactly did the summer go again? Just amazing. Anyone notice time goes faster and faster the older you get? Anywho, if you are new to our little site, you might not know that we (as in me) did a written recap of Paul Wulff's weekly radio call-in show last year. We even recapped Doba's shows before that. It's kind of a thing we do, mainly for the out-of-towners who can't hear the show and they don't stream the show online. And there's always some good nuggets to take from the show. But I have to admit that it's kind of fun to hear Wulff talk about the prior week and focus on the upcoming game, what's going on with the team, a few anecdotes here and there, etc. I like to listen to the tone of his voice, the emotion, to try and get a read on what's going through his mind. It's hard to do that just reading what he says all the time. But the radio show, I guess it's your basic fireside chat with coach Wulff. Oh yeah, and we aren't big-n-fancy "credentialed media", so we don't get direct access to coach Wulff. So this is our only chance to hear his words.
This year I'm going to do my best to keep it short as I can. We'll go with a "Top Ten" things to take from the show. So, with that, here we go:
1) Big Bud Nameck in the big boy chair, another year as the host. We'll probably hear a lot of Bud this year. Anyway, immediately they went into the current frame of mind for the team. Wulff said no doubt, they are READY TO PLAY a football game right now! They are excited about the season after all the hard work they have put in since the end of last year. They have improved in almost every area of the team, and they are ready to take another step. Wulff said he was especially excited to see how things play out in game after so much practice time. Their goal as a team is just to continue to improve and grow and take steps, week after week after week, and it all continues Saturday. In that same area, Bud asked Wulff if he "had a grasp of where they are right now?" Wulff said that they have "progressed as far as we can go in practice. We have reached our max growth right now." He said as coaches you can always hope for improvement with practice, but it's just time to play a game and grow that way vs. just practicing against each other every day.
2) Bud asked about practices last year compared to this year, and how it's been different with all the players on the sidelines during the camp of 2008. Wulff said that it's been considerably better, and the players being bigger and stronger has helped quite a bit. But Wulff then brought up the latest swine flu "issue" that has kind of hit WSU, and that it is hitting the team a little bit. Wulff said they have six confirmed cases, with Kevin Norrell the latest to get it today (damn). No word if Norrell would miss the game or anything like that, but they are doing what they can to stay healthy and take the precautions about how to avoid this flu bug.
3) Bud asked about the game prep time for Stanford, and when all that gets going vs. just worrying about themselves during camp. Wulff said that they honestly spent the entire camp just focusing on themselves and getting the reps in for everyone, as much as they could, and they didn't start doing anything for Stanford until this last Sunday, as is typical for game week.
Wulff then said that "we aren't close to where we are going to be as a football team. We have a lot of growth ahead." He also went out on a tangent a little bit. He went out of his way to say how happy they have been with a lot of the veteran players on the team, and how much many of them have improved since last year. A lot of them have "grown up since last year" and you can tell they are buying in to what's going on. When you look in the players' eyes, you can tell. The communication has been great, and practice has been a lot of fun this year. The players are a great group of kids to be around, and you find that you want to be out there with them, and the players feel the same way. The culture of bringing everyone together is very important for what they want in the program, and Wulff said that he can tell "they have come a long way" since last year!
 4) The QB's were brought up, and Wulff again stated that both QB's are going to play. He said that they decided that Kevin Lopina will get first crack at it and probably get the first two or three series of the game, and then Marshall is likely going to play and get his chance. As a staff, they believe this is the right decision right now, and that the right guy is going to emerge. But Wulff also cautioned that it certainly might take the first two or so ballgames for that to happen.
The quote from Kevin Lopina was brought up from earlier in the week, about how they met with Todd Sturdy, and Sturdy telling both QB's that someone has to step up. Lopina said both he and Marshall have elevated their games in the last week or so. Wulff agreed, but said it was more about their intensity that seemed to pick up than anything else. Wulff then went on to say that "both QB's have their strengths, and they bring different things to the position. But our bottom line is that what we want from the position is 1) the QB to take care of the ball; 2) the QB to understand & take advantage of what the defense will give them in the passing game; and 3) the QB has to get the team into the end zone and score some points, period! Finally, Wulff clearly stated that the no-huddle was here to stay, and they will run it 100% of the time. They have reached a good comfort level among the team and the QB's with the offense, and they feel good going with the no-huddle attack.
5) Bud asked "Why a conference game to open the season?" To which Wulff replied "...I don't know, it's on the schedule." Wulff then said he's glad that at least the game is at home, and while they would prefer a non-conference team to open the season, well, this is the situation. Wulff then said a couple of times of just how important it really is to get a good, noisy crowd to show up and support the team! "The more fans we can have at the game, the better. We need the crowd and a loud stadium to give us all they can for a strong home-field advantage." Bud asked about crowd noise and what that can do to a player, and he said without a doubt a loud crowd does throw off your offensive timing. The noise makes it harder to hear the QB cadence, and you don't always get off at the snap, as the continuity along the offense can break down. It can be frustrating to say the least as a player having to deal with it. That brought Wulff back to the idea of getting it nice and loud for young QB Andrew Luck of Stanford in his first-ever game experience, and see if they can use the crowd to rattle him a bit.
 6) Bud asked more about Stanford. Wulff said no question that they will run the ball. They lost two pretty good starters off their O-line last year, but they have three others back plus some good young players on the line (Bellevue's David DeCastro is slated to start at guard as a redshirt frosh). But they will still have some experience up there, and then of course, Toby Gerhart. Wulff said that Gerhart is deceptively quick and fast, but is also quite powerful. He will get his yards, but "somehow we have to try and contain him" and not allow him to break any big runs! They really want to get stops, put Stanford into some third down situations, and see what happens.
Bud asked if they were physically ready to handle Stanford, and Wulff seemed to think so, much more this year than last year anyway. "We are stronger and more physical this year" and should be better equipped to play with Stanford. Wulff then said that Stanford is "as good as Cal or Oregon State at running the ball in the PAC-10. They might be the best running team we will face all year, and we get them right away" in game number one.
Bud asked about the play-action pass with Stanford and how that could be an effective weapon against WSU if Stanford has success early with Gerhart. Wulff said that they have to be smart and disciplined as a defense, and to read their keys in those situations. They have to be fundamentally sound to handle it, and most of all, make the right play.
7) Bud asked about the linebacker position. Wulff immediately said how pleased he was with Andy Mattingly, and that he has done a good job at camp back at strongside linebacker. Wulff talked about Jason Stripling, and about how consistent he has been in practice. Stripling is now up to 240 pounds, and should handle the weakside spot without a problem. Wulff talked about Louis Bland, of course still trying to get healthy with the knee injury, but that he's coming along well. He said that it's possible you might even see some of Bland at middle linebacker at times this year, and maybe even start a game there if it comes down to it! But Wulff also quickly mentioned how well Alex Hoffman-Ellis has been playing as a sophomore who redshirted last year, and the rising true frosh middle linebacker Darren Markle. But overall, the five or so guys they have at linebacker, they feel very good about the position overall.
8) Bud brought up the three frosh who could start for the Cougs - Gino Simone at WR, Travis Long at D-end and possibly Darren Markle at middle linebacker. Wulff said that the reason they are playing is actually a combination of things, but all these young guys have gone out and earned this opportunity. Wulff said all three of them are mature, intelligent, tough kids, and quite frankly, are "more talented from the neck UP vs. the neck down" in terms of smarts. He believes all three of these kids can make an impact & make plays on this level. He spoke about Gino Simone, and that he just find a way to make plays on the field. He is extremely smart and runs really good routes, and is almost like having an experienced point guard or even another QB on the field with the offense. He has really impressed them thus far. He "just gets open and makes plays".
 9) Bud asked about the challenge of Chima Nwachukwu and him moving between corner and safety. Wulff praised Chima as being smart and mature about it, and if there is anyone on the roster right now who could do such a thing and do it well, it would be Chima. Chima has also won what they call the "hard hat award" this year in practice a few times. The hard hat award is a construction hat with a Cougar logo on it, and after each practice, the defensive coaches give it out to the player who was the toughest, most consistent player that day on defense. The player gets the hat and can wear it until the next practice. Chima has won that award a few times, as has Andy Mattingly, but a lot of different players have received the honor already this year.
10) A caller asked Wulff about what he thinks the Cougs will do in the PAC-10 this year? Wulff said well....we'll take it one game at a time. But then he said "no matter what happens on Saturday, whether we win or lose, just remember it's one game. This game will neither make or break our season. It is a LONG season ahead." He said that the game will give them a better idea of where they are compared to some in-conference talent, a team that some people think will be pretty good this year. But he wants things to just keep progressing, where they can get into the 4th quarter of some games with a chance to win it. He brought up the Apple Cup, and how that was so important to their mindset and hopefully showed them what it takes to win a game late. They look at that game as a real promising sign that things are coming along.
10A) FINALLY, last thing - this year will see a new tradition at WSU. Every home game, a new honorary captain will be named by WSU. The honorary captain will be a former player or coach, and will be announced to the crowd. The captain will then lead the team out of the tunnel and onto the field. Sounds pretty cool. They will keep it a "mystery" every week, so we won't know who it is until it happens. Nice idea to start something new like that.
So there you have it. I have to say, out of all the radio shows I heard last year, Wulff sounded the most relaxed, yet upbeat, that I've heard him. Granted, he's 0-0 for 2009, and the grind is just about to begin. But you could hear it in his voice, really, that they believe things are changing.
ENJOY your Wednesday morning, and as always, GO COUGS!
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This is probably going to be another rough year but it feels all part of the process. I like the direction thing are headed and I can't wait for Saturday even if Stanford bombs us again. I think we will see a tougher group that won't roll over.