Washington State Football: Curing the Lost-Scholarship Blues

When will the fall practice sessions for NCAA Division I football begin?

Not soon enough!

The only thing in place for Cougar football fans, and college football fans in general, is the school's coaching staff.  That's right.  We know who will be coaching our beloved Cougs next fall, yielding a solitary answer to the myriad of questions that are on the minds of fans.

Coach Paul Wulff has been making the rubber chicken circuit, talking up the promise of things to come on the gridiron this fall.

So what is first-year head coach Wulff promising?

Tougher mentality.

Rather that build expectations based on a new coaching staff, a new offense, a new quarterback to follow in the footsteps of record-setting Alex Brink, and a change in defensive scheme, Coach Wulff is out selling an improved attitude in everyone who is part of the Washington State football program.

Smart move, Coach Wulff.

Rather than tear down the reputation of the previous head coach, Wulff has been quite clear that he can build on what was turned over to him.

There have been seemingly thousands of articles written about the devastating sanctions leveled on WSU by the NCAA.  WSU lost eight scholarship slots for the coming season. 

When Wulff has been pinned down with questions about the effect of the loss of scholarships he has shrugged it off.  He knew something drastic was going to happen.  His response can be paraphrased as, "So be it."

Coach Wulff is playing up what his team will have, not what they won't have.

Being a "glass half full" guy myself, it's refreshing to hear news that focuses on what can be done instead of what didn't happen.

August won't arrive soon enough for those of us who are fanatical about college football.

While we're waiting, talking up how grand things are going to be becomes the meat of our dialogue.  In the coming days, that dialogue is going to include some speculation about Washington State's new coach, new offense, new quarterback, changed defense and even a new scoreboard.

Just as sure as the sun will rise in the east tomorrow, college football is on the horizon, gang!