Washington State in Contention for Pac-10 Title

Another writer on Bleacher Report posed an excellent question to me today.  Paul Peszko inquired, "Is WSU ever going to finish rebuilding?"  Good question, Paul.

The new head man, Coach Paul Wulff, talks more of revitalizing and tweaking the Washington State football program.  Coach Wulff is trying to inject some "old school" attitude into his players.

This past weekend Coach Wulff challenged some of his players to toughen up a bit.  He is quoting as saying, "You don't play this game without being nicked up and hurt. We talk about there's hurt and there's injury.  True injuries are what they are.

"Again, it's (playing with pain is) not inbred in our program right now.  The players don't quite understand that.

"It's not their fault.  It's not anyone's fault.  It's just the way it is.  We're trying to get that rectified."

Sound like rebuilding talk?

Sound like the talk of a coach focused on winning a Pac-10 title?

Sound like someone who has played in the trenches with great football players, giving him the insight into what it takes to play winning football?

Though the Cougs have yet to play a game under Coach Wulff, he clearly is talking about an old school brand of Cougar football.

The effect of this new attitude is beginning to show signs of change.

Guys who opt to sit out a practice because they are dinged up find themselves watching freshman and JC transfers take their place on the field with that new attitude.

Jared Karstetter and Kevin Norrell are prime examples of what can happen if given the chance to play.  Both are making the best of impressions at wide receiver and may forgo a redshirt year because of the chance to get serious playing time this season.

Karstetter and Norrell are just two examples.  There are plenty of others.

Coach Wulff doesn't seem to be interested in rebuilding, so my answer to Paul Peszko's query about the state of rebuilding WSU football would be, "Not in the near future."

Coach Wulff seems intent on being competitive and putting a football team on the field that contends for the Pac-10 title.

Take a quick look at the 2008 season record of Coach Wulff and the Cougs—they are still in contention for the conference championship.

Rebuilding?

Maybe later.