Cougs wait for Lopina to return

By Howie Stalwick | For The Olympian • Published November 18, 2008

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PULLMAN – The Washington State Cougars were missing their starting quarterback and all-time leading receiver at practice four days prior to the Apple Cup, but coach Paul Wulff seemed calmed and composed after Tuesday's practice.

Wulff had hoped quarterback Kevin Lopina would practice Tuesday, but the coach now says medical personnel "think he'll be able to go" through practice today. Lopina suffered what Wulff termed "a mild concussion" last Saturday at Arizona State.

Wulff said wide receiver Brandon Gibson also is expected to practice today. Wulff said Gibson left town to attend a funeral.

As expected, versatile Chantz Staden has been ruled out for Saturday's home game with Washington and next week's season finale at Hawaii. Staden, a junior who set a Pac-10 record with 43 kickoff returns, suffered a torn ACL at Arizona State and will undergo knee surgery.

Wulff said running back Logwone Mitz (shoulder) should return to the lineup Saturday. Wulff hopes several other injured players will play, including outside linebacker Myron Beck (hand), cornerback Tyrone Justin (ankle), safety Alfonso Jackson (stinger) and defensive end Andy Mattingly (ankle).

• EXPANSION PLANS: Athletic director Jim Sterk said Tuesday the credit crunch likely will postpone the scheduled January start on construction of suites and other premium seating at Martin Stadium.

The Cougars have raised $5 million and need bank loans of $30 million to $35 million, Sterk said. He said a delay of more than "two to three months" on starting construction would push the completion past the desired date, which is prior to the 2010 home opener.

• RIVALRY WEEK: The Apple Cup may be a big deal in Washington, but most of the out-of-state players on the Cougars and Huskies knew little or nothing about the rivalry before setting foot on campus.

"I never heard about it until I got here my freshman year," said WSU linebacker Greg Trent, a senior from Keller, Texas. "They said, 'If you don't know the Huskies yet, if you don't hate 'em now, you're gonna hate 'em later.' That's what the older guys told us.

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