When Paul Wulff was hired as Washington State University's football coach, one Spokane newspaper, and a few broadcast outlets (including our own) proclaimed that it was the first time in 58 years that an alumnus of WSU had been handed that position.

WRONG!!!!!!!!!!!

Mike Price attended Washington State in the 1960's, and spent two seasons on the football team, coached by Bert Clark. Price then transferred to the University of Puget Sound, where he finished up his college career.

This means that the last time a Cougar alumnus was hired as head football coach at WSU was 1989 when Price succeeded Dennis Erickson. That's nearly nineteen years before the hiring of Paul Wulff. So close. Everyone mised it by only four decades.

Normally, I wouldn't make a big deal out of something like this, but what's the use of having a blog if you can't vent a little?

Posted by Rick Lukens at 12:23 PM | Permalink | Comments (1)

The Cougars have decided on Paul Wulff as their new football coach, and I sincerely hope he will get the chance to be successful. I have no doubt the university will give him that chance, but I'm not sure about the people who call themselves "fans." The ones who spend too many hours posting their opinions on the internet, and not enough time in the stands---actually watching their team play.

Wulff is a good coach and recruiter. His years at EWU bear that out. But these days, that's not enough in Pullman. Somehow, many of the Cougar faithful have gotten it into their heads that each season must end with a bowl game. It sems like only this will appease the Cyber-Cougs... Mind you, none of them would actually log onto Travelocity and buy themselves a trip to said bowl game, but it would shut them up for several months.

Too many have forgotten that to be a Cougar fan means to relish the role of the underdog. Too many have forgotten that even the most-loved coaches in WSU history would not have a good bowl percentage---even with the glut of holiday games we have today.

Jim Sweeney coached eight WSU seasons, and only once did he have a winning record. Jim Walden coached nine years with two winning seasons.

The Cyber-Cougs are already griping about the hire of Wulff. They wanted a sexier hire---someone who will come in, win immediately...and then move on. Yes they would move on, because big time schools looking for good young coaches realize what the Cyber-Cougs do not: That anyone who can put together winning seasons in Pullman is one heck of a recruiter, and a very desirable coach.

Paul Wulff will have his growing pains, but he will win. Be nice to him Cyber-Cougs, and when those big name programs start calling his name, maybe he'll stay.

Posted by Rick Lukens at 09:25 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)