Tulsa World: Wins on Cougars' minds

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Wins on Cougars' minds
New coach aims to turn around program, starting with win over O-State.

By MATT DOYLE World Sports Writer
Published: 8/28/2008 2:16 AM
Last Modified: 8/28/2008 3:10 AM

New coach aims to turn around program, starting with win over O-State.

Paul Wulff knows what Washington State football success is like.

Twenty years ago, Wulff was the starting center on the Cougars' team that accomplished a couple of firsts. That 1988 team pulled off its first-ever triumph against a No. 1 team (UCLA). It also recorded the program's first bowl victory in 73 seasons.

In the 20 seasons since, the Cougars have experienced a few highs — five bowl appearances, two in the Rose Bowl — and lows — namely the four consecutive non-winning seasons.

That's where Wulff comes in.

The Washington State graduate has been commissioned to change the football culture, starting with Saturday's opener against Oklahoma State.

"I truly care about this place. I want to get this place to where people are proud of the football program," Wulff said.

It has been five years since the Cougars played Oklahoma in the Rose Bowl. The Cougars followed that with their third consecutive 10-win season.

But the Cougars averaged five wins each of the past four years. That's part of why Bill Doba was removed as head coach and Wulff was brought in after eight years as head coach at Eastern Washington.

The first-year coach believes successful seasons can be achieved more consistently.

"I think that you can do that here. You have to build a great foundation and build on that," Wulff said. "All the parts that you build upon have to stay in place over the long haul."

Washington State has disadvantages in the Pac-10 Conference.

Only Stanford has a smaller enrollment than WSU in the league. Washington State's home venue, Martin Stadium, has a capacity of just over 35,000 and is the league's smallest.

Still, the Cougars have overcome that before and Wulff insists they can again.

"Investing in the program, having a constant administration and coaches is the key to maintaining any program," he said. "It's been done here before, and it can again. But to get to that point, we have to build it the right way."

In Wulff's eight seasons at Eastern Washington, he had a 53-40 record and qualified for the NCAA Championship Subdivision playoffs three of the past four years.

While the jump to his alma mater is not a quantum leap, it is daunting.

His first team has been picked to finish last in the Pac-10.

That message, though, is not being delivered to Wulff's players.

"They expect more from us. It seems like they expect us to be more like men. Like, 'Grow up already,' " running back Dwight Tardy said. "I think last year, (the old coaching staff) just kind of let us slide with a lot of stuff."

Matt Doyle 581-8316
matt.doyle@tulsaworld.com

Up next

Oklahoma State vs. Washington State

When: 2:30 p.m. Saturday

Where: Seattle, Wash.

TV: FSN-27

Radio: KFAQ am 1170 and KRVT am1270

By MATT DOYLE World Sports Writer

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	Report Comment Ken3, ... (8/28/2008 2:02:14 PM) Lord, please don't let Gundy screw this one up!!
	Report Comment my2cents, (8/28/2008 4:29:55 PM) Of course they expect to win! What football team is going to admit they expect to lose? They are not the same 10-win team they were 5 years ago. The Cowboys aren't the same 5-win team they were 3 years ago, either. Cowboys win 48-13.

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