SMU, Hawaii, Notre Dame on Cougs’ football schedule

By Howie Stalwick | For The Olympian • Published January 04, 2009

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The Washington State Cougars have finalized their nonconference football schedule by arranging to play Southern Methodist on Sept. 19 in Pullman.

Confirmation of the SMU game means the Cougars have finalized a previously tentative agreement to play Hawaii on Sept. 12 at Qwest Field in Seattle. The Cougars have played one "home" game a year in Seattle since 2002.

The Cougars' other nonconference game, announced previously, will be an Oct. 31 showdown with Notre Dame in San Antonio, Texas. That contest will be nationally televised on NBC.

WSU athletic director Jim Sterk said Pacific-10 Conference schedules have yet to be finalized, pending TV arrangements. The Cougars' season and conference opener is tentatively set for Sept. 5 at home against Stanford.

Southern Methodist, Hawaii and Notre Dame all return starting quarterbacks on pass-oriented offenses. Like WSU, all three teams suffered through growing pains with inexperienced players at key positions in 2008.

WSU finished 2-11. Southern Methodist wound up 1-11 in the first season under former Hawaii coach June Jones. Notre Dame finished 7-6 and Hawaii 7-7 after the Irish beat the Warriors in the Hawaii Bowl.

Howie Stalwick,

for The Olympian