Hello Followers. Hope you had a fantastic weekend.
As for me, well, I have not yet touched down (but I hope you have by now, Sir Vincent) from Saturday’s thrilling comeback win over the Buffs.
So, if you’re like me, and you want to re-live key aspects the game (including our one of a kind “analysis” and “reporting”), you can click here and here. Also, if you missed my incredible, spot-on prediction for the game, you can click here.
So, with that out of the way, the following post has two parts. First, I reflect a bit more on Saturday and its long-term effects. Then, I go straight for the Tub.
Click on the ole jumperoo, won’t you?
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Followers, if you haven’t done so, please click on this link, watch the highlight video provided by the WSU Athletic Department, and then click on the following vid that shows the players and coaches in the locker room.
Simply put, watching that whole scene and the ensuing jubilation is both fun and moving.
And frankly, for me, it served as an important reminder that this season is as precious as it is precarious. I mean, as a sports fan, you don’t get many opportunities to watch a program rise from the ashes. And, while its too early to relate this group to the 2001 Cougar Football team or the 2006 Hoopsters, it is not too early to sense the kinship that exists among the players as well as the coaches. Moreover, while my good friend, Paul Wulff still is prone to the painful verbal blunder (last night he said that we will have our “hands cut out for us” instead of “hands full” or “work cut out for us”), the man oozes sincerity. And frankly, the winning is just that much more fun because we appear to have become be a pretty classy program from the top down under CPW.
Of course, the big word last night came down in Sir Vincent’s post, where he announced that Jeff Tuel has been cleared to practice in full this week. And so, I expect words like “game time decision” to be thrown around all week up until about 10:30 Eastern on Saturday night.
(which means that my good friends at Cougfan.com will have about 16 “insider only” posts a day. Man do I hate it when that happens!!!!)
So, as we wait to see the status of Mr. Tuel, lets all give a collective shout out to our main man, Mr. Marshall Lobster.
After all, Marshall has taken his fair share of heat from people in the cyber space over the past few years (including us). Moreover, if Saturday represents the swan song of Marshall’s college football career, the man should be pretty darn proud of himself. I mean, how many of you would have predicted a 3-1 start to the season if you knew a priori that Tuel would play ONE series in the first four games?
Not I.
So, Marshall: None of us know how this season is going to turn out (okay, no one but ME knows), but if it concludes sometime in late December, you will be a MAJOR reason why.
Congrats on reminding us all about what true grit and leadership is all about….
Now, onto the Tub.
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Followers, I have to admit that I have been a bit peeved by the recent “Hot Seat” talk, particularly as it has been advanced by Mr. Teddy Miller as well as his fellow evil doer, Mr. Bud Withers. I mean, both of those “scribes” took MY GENIUS insight about Pac-12 coaches and the Tub and then promptly ripped off my ideas to both form and inform their columns one week later.
(Speaking of Bud did you know that “Withers” is a word? It refers to the “Highest part of the horse’s back.” Of course, if you look up Coug-A-Sutra in the dictionary, you will find it defined as the “Highest part of the horse’s ass” …).
So, T & B, consider yourselves prime candidates not only for the Tub, but also for a nice pair of custom fitted, WSU Cougar, cement shoes….
Mike Riley. Since our last episode of HTHS, Mr. Riley has been hard at work. In week 4, Riles dialed up his coaching genius en route to a brutal home loss to UCLA. Then on Saturday, his band of little munchers turned a 13-0 1st quarter lead into a 35-20 defeat. Now, a three week stretch of games against Arizona, BYU, and WSU figure to decide whether Riles will take a donut in 2011. While we don’t see him getting fully wet this year, expect Riles to be firmly fitted for a nice new swimsuit prior to the 2012 season. STATUS: SPA date nearly set for 2012.
Chip Kelly. When you are the leader of the sexiest college football program in the country, it’s really hard to be considered as a contender for the tub. At the same time, Chip’s purported relationship with Willy Loman figures to be a BIG story line as we head toward the off-season. What’s more, the one thing that Oregon figures not to stand for is the prospect of becoming probation nation, especially when (a) USC is down; (b) The Oregon brand is hot to the touch; and (c) Ohio State showed you can avoid the NCAA ziggy when you can your coach before sanctions come down. STATUS: Wearing a speedo under his clothes (But in fairness to Chip, we’ve been told that he’s done that for a long time anyway).
Mike Stoops. Two weeks ago, we were THE FIRST to speculate that Ole Yeller’s days may be numbered in Mildcat land. Since that time, Ole Yeller’s troops have done nothing to dissuade this Sutra from thinking that Stoops represents the most likely candidate to be headed toward those bubbly waters. I mean, its now been close to nine games since Stoops’ squad has beaten a real Division 1 school (Washington), and its been at least three since his defense has forced anyone to punt. This weekend’s tilt against Oregon State could really mean something something special for Ole Yeller. Here’s to hoping he won’t blow it…Status: In the water.
Paul Wulff. Two weeks ago, Wulff’s decision to try to block a punt against SDSU had him wandering the pool deck looking for towels. Then last week, he had the misfortune of missing “bath time” by rallying his troops to mount last Saturday’s stirring comeback. While an embarrassing set-back against UCLA could bring Wulff back into the fray, the fact of the matter is that a win this Saturday at UCLA may take him out of the HTHS discussion altogether. Status: Putting his shirt back on.
Dennis Erickson. Just when we thought that Dennis might implode after a poor 1st quarter showing against the Beavs, his Devils woke up and stole away any chance for a classic DE, bandit-style letdown. Now, with a game against a beat up Utah game on the docket, DE has a real chance of making the startling transition from Hot Tub model to Championship contender. A shame. What a shame. Status: Resuming his Cialis regimen.
Rick Neuheisel. Two weeks ago, Slick Rick looked like he had regained a bit of control following the Ruins not-breathtaking win over Riles’ Beaveteds in Corvallis. But, now, following the BEAT DOWN that the Trees put on UCLA this past Saturday (as well as the 1st and Goal from the 3 in the first quarter that resulted in ZERO UCLA points), Ricky faces a must win game against WSU this Saturday. In short, just like UCLA appears to be a near must-win for WSU’s bowl chances, it ABSOLUTELY is a must-win game for UCLA. In fact, lose badly to WSU this weekend (or perhaps just lose) and Rick may be asked to resign on Sunday. Of course, just when you think that Ricky and his teams are done, they usually pull a Rabbit or two out of the hat. For that reason, Cougar Nation should be afraid–and I mean VERY afraid. Status: In the water, wearing only his Houdini magic cape.
So, there you have it. Another stirring ediition of Hot Tub, Hot Seat. We’ll be back throughout the week as the Cougs prepare to earn LOTS of mileage points toward a ticket to a bowl game.
Til then, GO COUGS.
(You can follow the Coug-A-Sutra on Twitter @ www.twitter.com/cougsutra)
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