WSU Football | Coach Wulff talks Pac-10 recruiting and more...

Coach Paul Wulff spoke out on a couple of issues during his Tuesday news conference which effect both Washington State Cougar football and the Pac-10

As expected, the Tuesday news conference got underway discussing the upcoming opponent for WSU, the UCLA Bruins.

Coach Wulff covered some similarities mentioned in my preview, while expanding on the focal point of the Bruin defense. He acknowledged that Coach Rick Neuheisel's team has been in every game this season, with a couple of losses that easily could have gone their way.

Just like the Cougs, UCLA has been challenged to settle in with a starting quarterback who can get the job done every game. When you have all young players at one position, it can take time for an individual to step up consistently.

Not only did Coach Wulff heap praise on "probably the best defensive tackle in the Pac-10", junior Brian Price, he expanded to include the solid play by senior Jerzy Siewierski at the other DT position. With both players in the 300 pound range, they're a load for and heart of an offensive line to handle. "Our guards and center have their work cut out for them," said Wulff.

It's hardly news that Cougar head man covered the topic of UCLA with a serious, respectful tone.

Things shifted to a completely different topic when Coach Wulff was asked about his opinion of Pac-10 schools schedule to play everyone in the conference. Wulff was emphatic in his belief that the present scheduling requirements set forth by the Pac-10 do not serve the conference well.

"If you want to have a chance to put another Pac-10 team in the BCS series, you’ve got to go with eight league games. Like other conferences that only go six, seven or eight, we’re the only one that has nine. Our conference is too strong." - WSU Coach Paul Wulff

The downside of every school playing each other over the course of the season in a conference loaded with so much talent comes when teams are knocked out of the BCS picture with league play losses.

"There’s a chance that none of our teams will be in a BCS game which is quite ridiculous based on schedule. …we beat each other." - Coach Wulff

Apparently there isn't a consensus among Pac-10 coaches on either side of this issue, which would keep the present scheduling in place. Coach Wulff said the main argument for playing all schools in the conference each year is nobody can be accused of ducking someone.

Coach Wulff was rather animated in his discussing the benefits of returning to the previous system of playing eight conference schools each year along with four non-conference games. Turns out he was just warming up for the next topic.

Early signing of verbally committed student/athletes to Letters of Intent is an issue Coach Wulff is passionate about. Once again, this issue is one that there isn't a consensus one way or the other among Pac-10 coaches. If that's the case, nothing will change.

High school recruiting has gotten to the point where schools, including Washington State, are making offers to high school juniors on a regular basis. Therein lies the rub with not only Coach Wulff, but Coach Mike Stoops of Arizona as well.

The point of contention on moving to an early signing date is how it effects high school prospects being recruited. For some programs, if a player has verbally committed to a university to play football, they are no longer considered a prospect for recruiting. Count Coach Wulff and WSU as a program following that practice.

Honoring the verbal commitment of high school student/athlete is a valuable lesson. "...18 year olds can commit and your word is good."

Coach Wulff went on to speak with contempt for programs that, "...come in and try to get them to change their mind. I think that’s a 100% wrong message. I think it shows lack of class on those schools that do that. It shows no regard to caring if a kid makes a verbal commitment… I think it’s immature. I think it’s wrong." Strong as those words were, Wulff was just warming up.

"I think it just shows the character of the people trying to (change the mind of a verbal commit) and if I was a parent I’d be leery of someone that does try to do that. … you’re going to let your kid maybe switch their mind and go to a school that has no regard to commitment. I think that might tell you a little bit about their character."

"We’ve had several of our recruits committed to us being talked to by other Pac-10 schools. (None have changed their mind) which I think speaks highly of the kids we have committed. We trust our own evaluation. We make early decisions on kids. We’re very accurate with our decisions and the type of person we’re recruiting. If it takes (other schools) six months or eight months longer to find them or to wait until we get them to commit, to me that shows their lack of work. They try to come in on the back door and do it. I think that shows little to no class."  - Coach Wulff

Of the incoming Class of 2010, Wulff said as many as seven have been contacted by other Pac-10 schools after verbally committing to play Cougar football at Washington State.

"We haven’t had anybody back out and I don’t foresee that happening. It’s been a part of what’s been allowed to go on. I guess I’m kind of old fashioned in my beliefs. Some people think it’s OK. I’m not one that does. I know that there’s a few other coaches in this conference that agree with me." - Coach Wulff

Without question, Coach Wulff's passion came through loud and clear when the topic switched back to the game this coming Saturday.

"We’re very excited obviously (to get back home). We need our crowd. We need the Cougar fans to help us put a lot of pressure on their offense by being noisy. It’d be nice for our offense to not have that distracting noise when they’re out there. We’re very anxious to get back." - Coach Wulff

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