Commentary: WSU fans' patience will be rewarded in 2010

Cougars have long-term potential, but immediate future is full of question marks

By Howie Stalwick | For The Olympian • Published August 27, 2008

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Few colleges muster more pride from alums, students and other fans than Washington State University. I mean, WSU alums brag about their Cougar Gold campus cheese, for cryin’ out loud.

When the Cougars put together that memorable run of three straight 10-win seasons and bowl appearances a few years back, WSU fans became almost unbearable. Recent years have not been so kind to the Cougars on the football field, but a new coaching staff has renewed hope on the Palouse.

Unfortunately for Cougars fans, it is false hope, at least for the immediate future. The Cougars have limited depth, inexperience and/or talent at virtually every position. Even the most crimson-blooded diehards should have plenty of doubts about this team, no matter how excited they may be about the Cougars’ long-term future under the new regime.

When the Cougars open the season Saturday against Oklahoma State, as many as 10 starters (counting the kicker and punter) will be making their first starts at the four-year college level. Three will be playing in their first college game. Three others have only one or two college starts to their credit.

The quarterback has rotted on the bench the past four years. The top three running backs have all been banged up this fall. The best pass rusher is learning how to play out of a three-point stance for the first time in his life.

Throw in an injury list longer than the Aleutian Islands, plus the inevitable ebbs and flows that come from meshing a new coaching staff with a hundred new faces, and it’s easy to see why most preseason forecasts have the Cougars pegged for dead last in the Pac-10.

That won’t happen, if only because the Huskies will be even worse.

Stanford doesn’t look too hot, either. The Pac-10 as a whole has slipped a notch since last year, and injuries to quarterbacks at Oregon and UCLA watered down the field even more.

So, the Cougars have a chance to steal a win or two. Let’s say one. And let’s give them wins over Baylor, Stanford and Washington. That’s four.