The Wiz of Odds

Washington State

Washington State football has fallen on hard times in recent seasons, but the Cougars' poster schedule remains second to none. Washington State lost its opener against Stanford and plays Hawaii on Saturday in Seattle, one of two games the team will play this season in the Emerald City, the other being the Nov. 28 Apple Cup against rival Washington. Thanks to Eric!

Long Arm of the Law Nabs Cougars' Hicks Again

Difficult to believe, but Washington State safety Xavier Hicks has once again found himself on the wrong side of the law.

Hicks, who was Washington State's second-leading tackler last season, was pulled over by campus police earlier this week for allegedly speeding. Then the cops found out he was driving with a suspended license.

That's not the first time Hicks has been caught driving with a suspended license. It happened last summer when he was stopped while driving home from jail. He had just been released after serving 45 days for two gross misdemeanors for credit-card theft and intent to commit assault. The assault charge came after he put rubbing alcohol in teammate and roommate Grady Maxwell's contact-lens case. Fortunately, Maxwell never put the contacts in his eyes.

The Cougars' Casting Call

Washington State players were off Monday, but that didn't stop reporters from several newspapers, TV and radio stations from showing up at practice, along with an estimated 200 observers.

They gathered to watch 29 members of the student body try and become the Cougars' scout team quarterback.

Washington State was put in this position after quarterbacks Kevin Lopina and Gary Rogers suffered spine injuries in the team's only victory, a 48-9 mashing of Portland State. Only three signal callers remain on the roster, and given the lack of blocking by the offensive line, quarterbacks could become as rare as the spotted owl in these parts.

The coaching staff cut 25 players and interviewed the final four. The finalists were Jon Koepfgen, Mark Gray, Peter Roberts and Cameron Gredler and the winner was to be announced Tuesday morning.

Washington State

New Washington State coach Paul Wulff is facing a big rebuilding job, but if anybody can bring a winner back to Pullman, it's Wulff. Check out Bud Withers' story on the Cougar coach that appeared Sunday in the Seattle Times. You can't help but pull for the guy. Thanks to Tim.