Sorry I haven't blogged since Saturday, but I've been busy. I actually spent the day in Pullman yesterday playing the Palouse Ridge Golf Club (it was awesome...check back here tomorrow for all the info plus pictures of the course) and having a couple of cold ones at The Coug.

Of course, I was back in Pullman today for practice. It was one of the hottest practices I've been to this year and it's October 1st. I wish it was like this every year!

I didn't hear any sayings or themes this week, but there definitely was lots of intensity. The loudest part of practice was a tackling drill for the defense (and everyone knows we need help tackling). A scout team player (I felt horrible for these guys because they were getting crushed over and over and over) would run with the ball with a convoy of blockers in front of him. Just like a game, the defense would have to take down the ball carrier. After every tackle there was hooting and hollering (co-defensive coordinator Jody Sears sounded like the voice from Mortal Combat..."Finish him!").

There isn't too much to report on the injury front. Linebacker Corey Evans was sitting out again today (he's been out for a few weeks now). Daniel Blackledge was the only other starter who was limited. He wasn't fully padded up and did run some drills with the receivers. Kevin Lopina is still expected to miss the next few weeks, so Marshall Lobbestael is still the starter. As for the scout team quarterback...that job is up for grabs. Paul Wulff is holding an open tryout (for members of the student body) on Monday in hopes of finding someone (anyone) who can help the team in practice. It's an interesting idea...we'll see how it plays out.

The Cougars are still looking for their first conference win and UCLA might be the perfect answer. Washington State has won six of the last seven and ten of the last fourteen against the Bruins. They've also won three straight in the Rose Bowl.

Speaking of the Rose Bowl, this is Wulff's first trip to the college football shrine since he played there in 1988. UCLA was the No. 1 team in the country at the time and Washington State knocked them off 34-30. Obviously, he has great memories of the place and is excited to go back.

That's all I have for now...

Again, look back here tomorrow for more on my trip to Palouse Ridge.

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