Washington State Football: Cougs Ranked #10

Summer is the time for vacations, picnics, barbecues, and enjoying a favorite adult beverage.  Or two.

This is the time of year when anything seems possible in college football.  Truth be known, the hottest thing going right about now is the temperature. 

Many coaches will preach to their team that games are won because of the work done during the summer.  OK.  That sounds about as exciting to a college football fan as someone quoting Yogi Berra late in the fourth quarter of a rivalry game in November—"It ain't over 'til it's over."

For Washington State fans, there's something familiar about predicting how much better the Cougs are going to be this year.  Heck, we even did that after putting together three consecutive 10-win seasons.  It's in our blood.  There is no cure.

Among football experts, there is a clear consensus of opinion on the Pac-10 this coming season.  Virtually everyone picks USC to finish first and WSU to finish last.

This year's Pac-10 media football poll:

1. USC (38) ................. 389
2. Arizona State ............ 330
3. Oregon ................... 295
4. California (1) ........... 274
5. UCLA ..................... 204
6. Oregon State ............. 192
7. Arizona .................. 185
8. Washington ............... 139
9. Stanford ................. 76
10. Washington State ........ 61

Yes, that is the Pac-10 ranking of the Cougs.  They should be no better than 10th in a conference with 10 teams.

Why?

Conventional wisdom is that a team can't win a Pac-10 championship without a veteran quarterback.  WSU doesn't have one.

Wait a minute.

USC is picked to finish atop the Pac-10?  Without an experienced quarterback?

Heck, Mark Sanchez is the only stud with any Pac-10 reps—and he might not even hang on to the starting job left open by the graduation of JD Booty. 

Conventional wisdom is that a team can't win a Pac-10 championship with a first-year head coach that doesn't have BCS experience.

No witty comeback this time around.  Coach Paul Wulff played in the conference.  Does that count?

Before the beginning of fall camp, there are a lot of questions about Cougar football in 2008.  Coach Wulff needs to find some answers fast because WSU opens their season against a very good team in Oklahoma State.

In the coming days and weeks, stay tuned for the heart-wrenching obsession called Cougar Football.

But number 10?