First, the bad news – KXLY in Spokane is this afternoon reporting that the Cougs will NOT be on TV next week. Turns out there is a very obscure Pac-10 rule that actually allows a visiting team to VETO the home team from changing the originally scheduled start time, TV or no TV! Belotti clearly sees it as a big advantage for us to play at night on TV. What sucks is that it hurts WSU’s atheltic department from the TV revenue that, because of Belotti, they will not realize. Recruits won’t be able to see the team play on TV. Out of state alums like Michael Lawson now won’t even be able to watch the game, even if he ventures out into the NoCal evening to find a sports bar with FSN. Thanks Belotti, you asshole.
Next, I about fell over yesterday when I read this in Bud Withers’ piece from the Times:
Stoops on WSU quarterback Josh Swogger: “He made some great throws late in the game. He’s a really, really good player who’s going to get better. It’s easy to see why he’s the starter.”
With the way that clown acted on the sidelines, and his unbelievable arrogance before and after the game through the media, I have to say I was SHOCKED to hear him say anything positive about anyone. But to come out and say a sophomore QB making his 2nd road start of his career is “a really, really good player who’s going to get better”, well, that’s damn impressive. As much as a jackass as Stoops is, let’s remember the kind of talent he has seen in his career, so when you hear a quote like that, it has some “wow” to it.
Now, this from ESPN Insider today, regarding the top underclassmen in the NCAA. Not good when you are like me, dreaming of Derting to return to WSU next year and how frickin’ good we’ll be WITH him in the middle. Let’s hold our breath that good ol’ Will dreams of being an NFL 1st round pick (which is HIGHLY unlikely this year, but next year? Sell the farm):
Will Derting, ILB, Washington State – 6-0, 237
Bottom line: Derting sustained a knee injury that required surgery in Washington State’s opening game of the 2001 season and he took a medical red-shirt year that season. He played in eight games and started six of them in 2002. Derting was named an All-Pac-10 Freshman that year but he also missed five consecutive games with a high-ankle sprain. Derting played in 13 games, starting 11 of them in 2003 when he earned first-team All-Pac-10 honors and also recorded a sack and recovered two fumbles in the Cougars’ victory over Texas in the Holiday Bowl.
Derting is a blue-collar player who is extremely active against the run and he will make some plays with his second effort. He gets good depth when dropping into zone coverage and he has the ball skills to make some big plays. Derting shows good versatility, as he has played on the inside as well as the outside. He rarely makes mistakes or gets caught out of position but he is a better football player than he is an athlete. Derting doesn’t have ideal speed, he has some problems changing directions quickly and he will have some trouble holding up in man coverage. He doesn’t show ideal burst to the ball and doesn’t have the range to make plays from sideline-to-sideline. Derting has missed an extensive amount of time because of injuries and durability is a concern.
Overall, Derting’s potential is somewhat limited by his lack of elite athleticism, and his injury-history is reason to be worried. However, he won’t hurt a team with mistakes and he plays with a non-stop motor. He should provide adequate depth and make quality contributions on special teams as a rookie before eventually pushing for a starting job most likely as an inside linebacker in the NFL. If he decides to declare for the draft, he could be selected as early as the second round.
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