Some coaches in the Pac-12 take extreme measures to ensure no injury updates are ever revealed. Paul Wulff is not one of those coaches. Just one day after revealing Jeff Tuel had been medically cleared to return, Wulff put the "who should start" debate to rest Monday by announcing Marshall Lobbestael as the UCLA starter.
As for who will start this week, Paul Wulff said that Marshall Lobbestael will be the guy, and it still not clear whether Tuel will even play.
So much for gamesmanship.
Unless, Paul Wulff is actually a diabolical genius and this is all just a ploy. Follow with me for a second. Tuel is medically cleared to practice but no starter is named, forcing UCLA to prepare for either Tuel or Lobbestael. The amateur diabolical genius would be content, but not Wulff.
Instead, Wulff realizes if UCLA prepares for Tuel then they would actually be prepared if he played. No, better yet, announce Lobbestael as the starter Monday, lead UCLA into preparing for Lobbestael and the passing attack all week then announce Tuel as the starter Saturday morning and run the triple option exclusively. Ha! Prepare for that Neuheisel.
Well played Wulff, well played.
Quarterback job still Lobbestael's - SportsLink - Spokesman.com - Oct. 3, 2011
Washington State is off the practice field for its relatively quick Monday night practice and they have the same starting quarterback. Read on.
First Look: Washington State at UCLA - Spokesman.com - Oct. 3, 2011
What it means for WSU How far have the Cougars come since last season? We will find out Saturday, in the only true rematch – same team, same venue – as last year. In that one, the Bruins ran over, around and through the WSU defense, posting 437 yards and five touchdowns on the ground. The Cougars rush defense has improved – after finishing 115th (220.3 yards per game) last year, it is 47th nationally right now (127.3) – but UCLA and its Pistol offense will test it more than any team this season.
College Football Power Rankings: Pac-12 | AthlonSports.com
9. Washington State (3-1) – The legend of Marshall Lobbestael continues to grow in Pullman, Wash. The back-up quarterback, who should be filling in for at least one more week for starter Jeff Tuel, threw for his third straight 300-yard effort with 376 yards and three scores in the 31-27 road win over Colorado. The stunning 14-point, fourth-quarter comeback was capped by a 63-yard Lobbestael-to-Marquess Wilson touchdown pass with 1:10 left in the game. The Cougars won a total of five games over the previous three seasons and haven't won three games in a season since 2007. They travel to UCLA this weekend.
Washington State football team not happy with officials' calls after victory against CU Buffs - The Denver Post
BOULDER — Colorado's Folsom Field will never be confused with Texas A&M's Kyle Field. But according to Washington State, the Buffs definitely had a 12th man Saturday. And he wasn't in the stands. Turns out, the Cougars weren't happy with the officiating even after their comeback 31-27 win.
weekend rewind 100311 - Pac-12 Blog - ESPN
Team of the week: Washington State. While the Cougars buddies in Seattle deserve a tip of the cap for winning at Utah, it's not an exaggeration to say Washington State's comeback, 31-27 victory at Colorado was the most important result of the Paul Wulff Era. It was a show of mental toughness that will be nearly as important as improved talent for the Cougs' return to relevance.
WSU News Center - Former QB Ryan Leaf returning for book signings
PULLMAN, WA – Ryan Leaf, one of Washington State University’s most successful quarterbacks, has written an insider’s look at the Cougar football team’s 1998 run to the Rose Bowl. In his book, "596 Switch," Leaf shares his behind-the-scenes journey at WSU, from his earliest days on campus to the characters of that era, cumulating with the controversial end of the Rose Bowl match-up against Michigan.