- First off, recruiting is the hot news right now, in football and also hoops. Cougfan’s latest is a notebook with a bunch of updated information, including news and notes on some offers coming to a lineman from California. Per the article:
This new crimson target is Brandon Tuliaupupu, a 6-2, 275-pound tackle from Claremont. He is the seventh known big body from the Golden State that WSU offered before anyone else in the Pac-10.
The article also goes on to mention that getting out in front and offering some of these kids before any other Pac-10 school can be a real advantage/selling point in the whole process. Sometimes it doesn’t matter, and obviously it has to be the right fit for both sides. But often after signing day you’ll hear a kid remark that they went with the school that showed them the most love, but also how they went with who was on them early and often. Once again we see the proof that Wulff and the rest are not going to sit still in the recruiting wars. Instead of standing by and watching all the other programs gobble up the talent, they are out there, working hard and swinging for the fences. - A reader, Dave Williams, was cool enough to reach out to us and ask about the recruiting of the state of Florida. Of course, we have the Devard Darling experience that went well for all who were involved there. Devard played well in Pullman, even though he was about as far away from home as he could get, and the team went to the Rose Bowl and won the Holiday Bowl in his two years of eligibility. And then there’s linebacker CJ Mizell, who is among many who are set to enroll this summer and will be competing to play immediately at linebacker. But right now, there are four players who have actually received offers from WSU, per the Orlando Sentinel. The four offered are planning a trip to Pullman in the fall, so we’ll see if they make that connection.
Here’s the thing though – why the new interest in Florida from this coaching staff?
I guess it could be several things, with the Darling experience a nice selling point, but also the hopeful success of Mizell. But why Florida? Let’s face it, it isn’t exactly a recruiting pipeline to Eastern WA, is it? But what can you do? Sometimes you have to step outside the box and take a risk or two along the way. And there isn’t any doubting the level of talent – and speed – that comes out of Florida every single year. California, Florida and Texas are the most fertile recruiting hotbeds in the country, year after year, so they may as well get creative and see if they can strike some gold down south.But here’s my concern (and maybe you won’t agree, that’s cool). I can’t help but think of the short-lived Texas recruiting, uh, “pipeline” that happened under the prior coaching staff. How many of those kids actually worked out? Chima Nwachukwu has been outstanding, on and off the field, and should have a strong close to his career this fall. Jason Stripling finally was healthy for a season last year. Hallston Higgins had a strong spring practice session this year, but he’s already a senior and hasn’t had a chance to make much of an impact so far in his career. But there are many others who didn’t ultimately work out, and even cost the school some APR points in some guys who fell by the wayside in terms of academic performance. I don’t know, I mean I understand the taking of risks and all. It could end up as a real fantastic thing for a program that could use some big-time athletes. And it’s worked out extremely well for Oregon State and their Texas connection on the Rodgers brothers, so, it’s not like the whole thing is destined to fail. But I guess we can all agree that you HOPE like hell that they do their homework, and that both the coaches and the recruit understand the situation before they sign on!
- Our own Longball attended the Yakima Coug Coaches Dinner last week, and should have a full report for you soon, including a really impressive experience listening to Bill Moos. But one thing of interest was that Ken Bone spoke at the dinner, and when asked about the new recruits for the hoops program, only mentioned Patrick Simon and Andre Winston…..but didn’t mention the JC scorer, Faisal Aden, at all. And now, Grippi reports of a new Coug signee, a 6-6 Aussie in Dexter Kernich-Drew. Hmmm, connecting the dots here, but perhaps the rumors that have been percolating for about a month are true, and Aden may not be on the roster this fall after all? Stay tuned.
- Teddy Miller had a few updates, including the top projected camp battles set to take place this fall for the Cougs. Can’t disagree with any of it, as clearly the running back situation is compelling to say the least! Miller also ranks the BCS conferences, and has the PAC-10 fourth overall (SEC, Big 12 and Big 10 all come in front of the PAC this year).
- Finally, WAY way way off topic, but did you see the finale of LOST on Sunday? Were you LOST?? Personally I loved it, as it gave some real closure to the experience. The whole thing comes full circle, and it was great to see it wrapped up the way it did (if you haven’t yet seen it, I won’t spoil it for you). Now I know there are those out there that didn’t like it, because, well, they didn’t like sit there with a laundry list of answers to all the questions throughout the six seasons of the show. But that was part of what made the show great, in that it didn’t “dumb down” the content. It made you think, all the way through the entire series, and didn’t just spoon-feed the masses with answer after answer. Some things were answered directly, others were left open to interpretation. I know I will miss the show, and I’ll definitely miss seeing “Freckles” on a weekly basis!
That said, in the end, I guess some of those questions about the origins of the island didn’t really matter. The show all along was about the development and journey of the characters themselves, and having the viewers invest themselves in the characters and go along for the emotional ride. Sure, it was about a plane crash and the survivors on a spooky, mysterious island, but it really wasn’t JUST about a plane crash and a spooky, mysterious island! It was much more than that. They were LOST souls, not just LOST on an island.
But wow, you think about it, it must be a complete bitch to have to write a series finale. There are so many people out there who want every possible thing answered, and there just isn’t a perfect way to go out. And so many finale’s over the years have disappointed, from Seinfeld to Cheers to many others that left people saying “….That’s it? BOOOO!” But I think that if you loved the end of LOST or hated it, in time you’ll get over it. I don’t know about you, but I hated the Seinfeld finale….but that doesn’t stop me from watching the reruns that seem to play on an endless loop!
That’s it for now. Enjoy your Tuesday, and as always, GO COUGS!
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