HOT COUGAR ACTION: Monday Morning Trivia And Expansion Talk

by Mark Sandritter on Sep 19, 2011 6:01 AM PDT in 2011 WSU Football News

My mother always told me the best way to get over a college football loss was by answering a trivia question. Okay, so she never actually said that, that would have been weird. Regardless, it's Monday and that means it's time for another CCMMTQ.

I was perusing some stats Sunday, when I found myself on Jeff Tuel's ESPN player profile page. Looking through his game logs, I noticed what seemed like an error. In 2010 Jeff Tuel rushed for only one touchdown? Ha! Way to go ESPN, more like the World Wide Leader in Errors, amirte? Then I checked the official stats and found out Tuel did indeed have one rushing touchdown in 2010.

This leads us to today's trivia question. Who holds the single-season WSU record for the most rushing touchdowns by a quarterback and how many rushing touchdowns did he score?

Now onto the expansion news of the day. The ACC accepted Pittsburgh and Syracuse as new members Sunday, and there is speculation the Pac-12 could add Texas, Texas Tech, Oklahoma and Okhlahoma State as early as today. As we've seen in the past, the expansion landscape can change quickly ,so it's still premature to say anything is a done deal.

With that said, I'll say this. Depending on the revenue sharing, conference alignment, media rights and other issues, today (or whenever it happens) could either be one of the best days in Pac-8/10/12 history or it could blow serious chunks.

WSU football

Cougs will work on finishing - Spokesman.com - Sept. 18, 2011
PULLMAN – Paul Wulff is certain of one thing his Washington State football team is going to work on during this upcoming bye week. Finishing games.

Cougs lose, worries mount - WSU Blog articles - MyNorthwest.com
As the final minutes ticked away in San Diego and the Cougs faced their first loss of the season, a 42-24 late game meltdown to SDSU, a few things stood out: 1. Jeff Tuel needs to get healthy. Fast. 2. The defense couldn't wrap up last season. Against good competition, they still can't. 3. SDSU is a pretty good team, but in reality, there are only better than two or three Pac-12 teams. That last one makes me shudder, but we'll address these in order.

Jeff Tuel injury update

WSU QB Tuell making progress " Kitsap Sun
Washington State football coach Paul Wulff said Sunday's X-rays of Jeff Tuel's fractured left collar bone show the junior quarterback is making "very, very good" progress in healing.

WSU QB Tuel making progress, can throw this week | KING5.com Seattle
Cougars quarterback Jeff Tuel had an x-ray on his broken collarbone today. The exam went well. Tuel has been cleared to begin throwing this week. Head coach Paul Wulff says it'll be another 3-4 weeks away before he'll play. Best case scenario means either the Stanford or Oregon State game.

Expansion news

Texas to the Pac-12 Reportedly Gaining Steam - Burnt Orange Nation
A look at how the Texas Longhorns could end up in the Pac-16, a rumor gaining steam on Sunday with major conference realignment looking increasingly imminent.

BCS football: The ACC expands, is the Pac-12 next? (And how big could it get?) | College Hotline
Final thought, and this is just me thinking out loud (based on conversations with sources over the past 18 months): Would the Pac-12 expand beyond 16 teams?

Husky Football | Coming soon: The Pac-16? | Seattle Times Newspaper
Monday's the day that should clarify the immediate future of the Pac-12, as regents governing Oklahoma and Texas will meet to review options regarding conference membership.

Paul Wulff interview via WSU Athletics

Coach Wulff Interview 9-18 (via WSUCougarAthletics)

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Latest from Wilner

Take from it what you will: http://blogs.mercurynews.com/collegesports/2011/09/19/pac-12-expansion-the-latest-on-texas-revenue-sharing-and-16-team-division-alignment/

I miss *REAL* Four Loko

by B-Lot tailgater on Sep 19, 2011 8:00 AM PDT reply actions

One thing I don't see being discussed yet

is what happens now that the Big East is on the verge of collapse, before TCU has a chance to arrive in it.

If I’m the Big 12, I’m on the phone with the MWC about a possible merger (or at least am looking at picking off some of their schools) to save the Big 12. That could be enough to keep OU and OSU around.

I miss *REAL* Four Loko

by B-Lot tailgater on Sep 19, 2011 8:54 AM PDT up reply actions

I agree with the guy.

The Longhorns would be able to keep all of their revenue from the network.

Fat chance, they would need to pass 7 votes. I do not think schools are willing to lose money to OK to have Texas. We are not the desperate here.

by well you win some and lose others on Sep 19, 2011 8:58 AM PDT up reply actions

Scott's not stupid. He knows you need equal revenue sharing

to have a competitive league and avoid another Big 12 type collapse. My guess, if Longhorns are allowed to keep revenue from their network, they are cut out a like amount from the Pac-12 (16) deal with the position, hey if you believe your network is terrific you get to have it but sacrifice the loss of revenue.
What is interesting in all this is what is ESPN’s position. They have a much bigger deal and more control with the Big 12 then they do with the Pac-12. It seems to me that if the Big 12 implodes, ESPN loses money here.
I am betting you will see 5, not 4, 16 tean superconferences. Shoot you may even see 6 (meaning 96 out of 116 DI schools will be in a super conference). I believe the few left from the Big East and Big 12 will combine and possibly pick up MWC and WAC teams to fill the gaps to create at least a 5th superconference.

by ptowncoug3012 on Sep 19, 2011 10:04 AM PDT up reply actions

One other thing

IF the Big 12 dissolves, I really hope that Larry Scott will jump at the chance to send our number 2 team to the Cotton Bowl to face the SEC. That would be a HUGE lift to our bowl line up.

I miss *REAL* Four Loko

by B-Lot tailgater on Sep 19, 2011 10:39 AM PDT up reply actions

Or, maybe some other kind of arrangement with the Fiesta Bowl

I miss *REAL* Four Loko

by B-Lot tailgater on Sep 19, 2011 10:40 AM PDT up reply actions

I haven't read much talk of bowl games, but that's an interesting element.

That might take a couple of years for contracts to expire, but I would imagine there would be significant shifting.

CougCenter I Twitter

by Mark Sandritter on Sep 19, 2011 10:44 AM PDT up reply actions

Isn't the Cotton Bowl supposed to become the 5th BCS bowl?

I feel like Charlie Brown trying to kick the football. Ugh

by HitKing69 on Sep 19, 2011 5:26 PM PDT up reply actions

That was the rumor

before the BCSNG was invented.

I miss *REAL* Four Loko

by B-Lot tailgater on Sep 20, 2011 10:21 AM PDT up reply actions

*BCSNCG

I miss *REAL* Four Loko

by B-Lot tailgater on Sep 20, 2011 10:21 AM PDT up reply actions

My ideal scenario.

The nine teams in the Big 12 not named Texas leave the Big-12, invite three other teams and form the GFYT conference. The Big-10, Pac-12 and SEC stay put and no one schedules Texas in anything. Texas plays intrasquad scrimmages every week and ESPN is forced to air them on the Longhorn Network because they are already pot committed.

CougCenter I Twitter

by Mark Sandritter on Sep 19, 2011 10:58 AM PDT up reply actions 5 recs

Rec'd

I miss *REAL* Four Loko

by B-Lot tailgater on Sep 19, 2011 11:00 AM PDT up reply actions

I would hate to see what would happen to this game

if the NCAA put sanctions on Texas. They might not be able to field a competitive scrimmage.

THE ORIGINAL SoCalCoug - Beware of Imposters - CougCenter member since 9/2/2008

by SoCalCoug on Sep 19, 2011 11:24 AM PDT up reply actions

Jason Gesser with 3

by sdcoug09 on Sep 19, 2011 8:02 AM PDT reply actions

Jason Gesser with 4

I bet it’s actually one of the bigger QB’s and a weird year with a bunch of sneaks and short runs or something, but who knows which one. So I’ll take my favorite Coug and 4.

by 02Coug on Sep 19, 2011 8:18 AM PDT reply actions

you might be right,

Leaf and Bledsoe were so good at the sneak

We will call him Zatara.....sounds fearsome....It means driftwood.

by cfischer01 on Sep 19, 2011 8:37 AM PDT up reply actions

Ricky Turner

With about 500…

by VeryOldCougFan on Sep 19, 2011 9:16 PM PDT via mobile up reply actions

Rypien with 6

I miss *REAL* Four Loko

by B-Lot tailgater on Sep 19, 2011 8:22 AM PDT reply actions

Rypien 5

Follow @JasonCoug

or suffer the consequences

by Coug999 on Sep 19, 2011 8:46 AM PDT via mobile reply actions

Chad Davis. We all know he couldn't throw.

by ptowncoug3012 on Sep 19, 2011 10:04 AM PDT reply actions

with 5 TDs

by ptowncoug3012 on Sep 19, 2011 10:05 AM PDT up reply actions

Leaf with 5

the one where he runs a bootleg to the outside against SW Louisiana St and just walks in shaking his head, as if to say “Why the hell am I still in this game” is one of my favorite memories of that season.

Witches of Eastman

by BigWood! on Sep 19, 2011 10:16 AM PDT reply actions