Start Me Up

Hello Followers. Hope you are having a great week.

As for me, well, I’m still recovering from a near 5 week stint in a hot, stinky, and HUMID Lousiana jail.

In case you hadn’t heard, I was arrested for “allegedly” stalking Vince Grippie and his wife Kim while they were on vacation. While I plan to get to the details of my arrest sometime soon, my legal counsel has suggested that I just clam up on the subject for now.

So, as we all wait for the dust with Vince to clear, I humbly ask you to click on the jump for my first and only question of the day.

Followers, those of you who have frequently frequented this blog know that I think the Spring Fishwraps represent the best pure content that this blog has to offer.

I mean, Sean provides all of the material–and more–that I can get from Steele or Athlon and he does it ONE MONTH EARLIER than those clowns. AND FOR FREE!!!!

On top of that, the timing of Sean’s previews always seem impeccable–they come just far enough after spring ball and far enough away from fall camp to be able to really read them honestly.

Cuz really, in July, Cougfan is going to start with their weekly diaries from a couple of players. And, while we ALL know EXACTLY what is going to be said in those puppies:

a) Team is closer than ever.

b) People are lifting harder than ever.

c) Everyone is really bringing it this year (relative to previous years).

d) This team expects to turn the corner this year.

e) This team expects to go to a bowl and complete for the conference championship.

And, while I’ve been around the block enough times to know that all is coming, the sad reality is that every year I think that maybe, just MAYBE, the words of the two “chosen” players represent reality as much as seasonal rhetoric. So, by the time that it comes for me to issue our official pre-season media ballot to the conference commissioner’s office, I have already taken my crimson colored glassed out of the case.
Of course, by the end of the first week in August, I’m checking Cougfan 17 times a day, hitting the reset on Sir Vincent’s blog at least 30 times a day, and checking my e-mail constantly to get a practice report or inside update from Longball and the rest of the Gang.

So, by the time that the third week of August rolls around and I get ready for my annual “Hope or Nope” post, I’m wearing two or three pairs of crimson shaded glasses at the same time.

But alas, for me, late spring is different. And while I really can never really dismiss my tendency to trend toward homerville, everything seems much more objective at this time of the year. And again, Seanhawks fishwraps do a nice, nice job of facilitating such a balance in the zen-o-sphere.

So, with that all in mind, lets take yet another look at the first five games of the season.

Week One, cupcake.

Week Two, we’ll win–even if its a Montana State redux…

Thus, barring CATOSTROPHIC developments, we should be 2-0.

But that’s when it gets tricky. As Seanhawk showed two weeks back, San Diego State is a bowl team–and beating them on the road is going to be tough.

Meanwhile, Colorado, with its porous pass defense and Ohio State the week prior, seems like a better get for us–especially since we’re coming off of a bye week. At the same time, when you look at the return of THEIR skill players–and in particular–their 1200 yard running back, you have to wonder: At altitude, can we hold them down/keep them off the field in the 4th with the game on the line?

Then, as shown yesterday, our first five ends with a return to the Rose Bowl. And while Ricky’s pass offense looks nothing short of awful, the fact remains that they ran rough-shot over everyone when Prince was healthy. Moreover, with 17 defensive linemen returning–most of whom were 4 or 5 star prospects coming out of high school, one has to wonder whether our O-line will hold up in that one–particularly if we suffer injury the prior weekend in Boulder.

And then there’s that other statistic: When have we EVER beaten a Tricky Ricky led team?

So, while there’s potential for this team to start 5-0 (and then a GameDay visit for an undefeated Stanford team????), there also seems to be a decent chance to start 2-3. And if the latter happens, it may be really, really, REALLY hard for this group to get to 5 wins–let alone the desired six for bowl elibility. In short, the start of the year seems like it means EVERYTHING for Paul Wulff and his program.

Personally, I’m going to stick to the idea of a 4-1 start, but the thought of 2-3 is becoming more and more real by the day. And for me, that spells D-O-O-M for Wulff’s tenure at WSU.

So, I ask you, what do you think the Cougs’ record will be after 5 games? And as importantly, what type of start do think is necessary for the program to have a successful season, and within, keep Wulff at the helm?

Enjoy your week. And Go Cougs.