The Kitsap Sun: Cougars Could be Shocked to Reality by Golden Bears

By Howie Stalwick

October 22, 2005

The Washington State Cougars find themselves in a dizzying tailspin. Perhaps that explains why they've become delusional.  Need proof? Check out these quotes from the past few days:  "I think the defense is playing very well" — WSU running back Jerome Harrison.  "We can still be 8-3" — WSU defensive end Adam Braidwood.  "We've got a pretty tough game coming up after this one" — WSU coach Bill Doba.  Obviously, the Cougars — 3-3 with three straight losses — need a win tonight at 25th-ranked California.  Harrison's beloved defense? The Cougars have yielded season highs in yardage three straight games; gave up 44 points in two of the last three games; and have forced just eight turnovers all season.

Braidwood's 8-3 talk? WSU's next two games are on the road against Top 25 teams (Cal and USC), and the two games after that are against teams (Arizona State and Oregon) that could be in the Top 25 when they arrive in Pullman.  Doba's "pretty tough" opponent next week? That would be top-ranked USC. As in two-time defending national champion USC. As in winner of 28 consecutive games USC.  "Incredibly tough" would be a more apt description. The Cougars haven't played too tough in fourth quarters recently, surrendering leads.  "We have to be able to win in the fourth quarter, and we haven't done that," Doba said.  Doba said he considers WSU's fourth-quarter meltdowns "psychological as much as physical ... we (coaches) worry a lot about their confidence." As well they should, since WSU has been outscored 41-13 in the fourth quarter of their three losses.  Cal has dropped a pair of close games after a 5-0 start. The Bears and Cougars are both 0-2 against their common opponents (UCLA and Oregon State), and Cal's league-leading defense gave up more points to explosive UCLA in a wild 47-40 loss two weeks ago than WSU did last week in a hard-fought44-41 overtime defeat. Still, the Bears lead WSU in every team defense category, and two outstanding tailbacks (Justin Forsett and Marshawn Lynch) ease the pressure on inconsistent quarterback Joe Ayoob. The Bears average 37 points and 450 yards per game — close to WSU's whopping averages of 39 points and 505 yards — and Cal's defensive line is vastly superior to the young UCLA defensive line that WSU manhandled last week.  "The defensive line is definitely the strength of their team, which is good," WSU offensive guard Sean O'Connor said. "That's what we want as an offensive line; we want the challenge to be on us, and we want to have a big impact on the game."  Whether that will be enough to lead WSU to victory is highly debatable. The offensive line has paved the way for back-to-back 200-yard rushing performances by Harrison, but the end result has been back-to-back three-point losses.