WSU vs. AU

[BamaBay]

Although I am a Tide fan, I also casually follow Washington State football. I would certainly love to see them come take the school down the road behind the woodshed. You know, go ahead and deflate their swollen egos in the first game.

Recently, I have read a couple of articles that I was wondering about. First, their coach made the comment that the Cougs would be in better shape than Auburn because they can condition more in the cooler weather than Auburn can in the humidity. Is this right or is this just coach-talk? Does the humidity hold back conditioning, or does toughing through it increase the athlete’s endurance? Will thus carry over to Hawaii vs. Bama?

Secondly, another article was about WSU’s kicker. It said he was doing additional exercises to strengthen his leg and additional training because of the lowered kicking tee. I am sure our kickers are doing everything to ensure the best adjustment to the new tee. Has anyone a comment on how our kick-offs will look this year? Will we still kick to the end zone with the lowered tee or will we just pin them inside the ten?

 

[talisitider]

I honestly don't think there is any substitute for the heavy, pressured feeling of an August practice in the deep south as far as football conditioning. Unless of course they pack up and go to Junction, TX for two a days. I mean they better have the gatorade coolers full when they get down here. You think Dorothy missed Kansas? You wait until WSU gets down here and gets a dose of heavy, thick, suffocating heat. Of course you hear about the conditioning of a Kenyan runner and how the altitudes help them and the same can be said it's different for a team to go to Denver and play, but honestly until you've been in 'it', you don't know what hot is.

 

[CrimsonMapper]

From what I hear, Washington State has a very good WR and a returning QB that could make it interesting for the Barn. I still think they win, but I think it will be "closer than the experts think."

The comment about conditioning sounds like spin. You could spin it the other way by saying Alabama or Barn will be more used to the humidity and heat than the opposition.

If "Money" can't kick due to his injury, who knows what we are going to see. If he comes back okay, I hear he's more consistent with keeping it in bounds because leg strength is no issue with Jamie.

 

[CrimsonDuck]

The problem with the Cougs last year was that they did not have a defense to speak of. They usually have one of the best defenses in the Pac 10, but last year lost their best player, Will Derting, for most of the year. Their secondary was absolutely torched more often than not, and their run D was very bad.

But they return 8 starters on D this year, including Mkristo Bruce, who is a 6'6 255 lb DE that had 10 sacks last year. They also return all three starting LBs, both safties, and 3 of 4 starting defensive linemen. Three of the four starters in the secondary are seniors, and there's a guy named Tyron Brackendridge who is a really, really good cornerback.

This year Wazzu has a legit 8 win team, with a good QB, Bumpus and Hill at WR, and a much improved D. They do need to replace Jerome Harrison, but the projected starter at running back is a 6'2 235 lb JUCO transfer named JT Deiderichs, who ran for almost 3,000 his last two years in JC.

Of all the Pac 10/SEC matchups, Wazzu/AU is probably the least sexy right now, but it could end up being the best of the four games. Wazzu is a REALLY good team that was literally 3-4 plays away from being 7-4 instead of 4-7 last year. Auburn is a 16 point favorite or so...no way they'll win by more than 14 though...if that.

 

[bamanut_aj]

WAZZOU lost some really close games last year.....but they still lost. They're picked 8th in their conference preseason. They've got a good QB and a good WR. But they're still WAZZOU. A good year every 5 or 6 years. And by good year, I mean 8 or 9 wins....maybe 10 when the stars align correctly. If they want to think that training in cool weather gives them an edge, then so be it. They're in for a shock. If the humidity is going to hurt Hawai'i, it's going to hurt WAZZOU as well. I think the only PAC-10 win we'll see in Cal taking it to ut.

The only cool thing about WAZZOU is the WSU flag that flys at every ESPN College Gameday city. The brother of a friend of mine is involved in that and it's a cool story.

 

[TIDETilliDie]

Remember '03 when Leinart and Co came to the plains and shut them down....something like 23-0....conditioning does tend to favor the home team but can also work in reverse!

 

[bamanut_aj]

Remember '03 when Leinart and Co came to the plains and shut them down....something like 23-0....conditioning does tend to favor the home team but can also work in reverse!

That was a team on its way to becoming one of the best teams in recent college football history. If those words are ever uttered about WSU, I'll be preparing for the second coming of Christ.

 

[GrayTide]

Wazzu may have a legit 8 win team this year but one of those 8 wins won't be AU. Saturday night in the deep south in early September will be stifiling on the WSU players. Close game the first half then AU pulls away. 23-14.

 

[TIDETilliDie]

That was a team on its way to becoming one of the best teams in recent college football history. If those words are ever uttered about WSU, I'll be preparing for the second coming of Christ.

You're missing the point but your last statement may not be far off, however all teams start somwhere but WSU(4-7 last year) will be improved from '05 and auburn is as usual AUverated and their non-conference openers have not been good in the last 3 years i.e. USC, GT

 

[bamanut_aj]

You're missing the point but your last statement may not be far off, however all teams start somwhere but WSU(4-7 last year) will be improved from '05 and auburn is as usual AUverated and their non-conference openers have not been good in the last 3 years i.e. USC, GT

I'll give you that.....I never would have figured that GT would have beaten the barn last year. Anything can happen, sure. I just can't see WAZZOU stepping up and beating them. If they do, that'll be a whole plate of crow that I will be MORE than proud to eat!

 

[mlh]

Recently, I have read a couple of articles that I was wondering about. First, their coach made the comment that the Cougs would be in better shape than Auburn because they can condition more in the cooler weather than Auburn can in the humidity. Is this right or is this just coach-talk? Does the humidity hold back conditioning, or does toughing through it increase the athlete’s endurance? Will thus carry over to Hawaii vs. Bama?

Back to your first question...there is some truth in what Coach Doba is saying. Conditioning in high humidity and heat does not impove your physical conditioning. It merely dehydrates you much faster. However...and this is a big however...there is a measure of mental conditioning that becomes a factor. It's hard to quantify, but it makes a difference when you go out and feel like you can't breathe because the air is so hot and humid. But once you get past that, you're either well conditioned or you're not.

The key for WSU will be to keep hydrated. Dehydration not only leads to muscle cramps, but also nausea, exhaustion, and even a lack of mental clarity. Most teams that succomb to the heat and humidity of the southeast in August and September do so because they become dehydrated, not because they aren't properly conditioned.

I grew up in Alabama. But I've also lived in Louisiana, Texas, California, and Okinawa Japan. I've spent a lot of time playing athletics in all those areas and all those different conditions. The weather is not as big of a factor as most people think. If you keep yourself properly hydrated then you're okay. If you don't then you're in trouble, in any of those climates.

As for Hawaii compared to Alabama, there isn't that much difference in either the temperature or humidity this time of year. I've spent summers and falls in both locations and, let me tell you, it's plenty hot and humid in Honolulu this time of year. The UH players won't notice that much of a difference when the take the field in Tuscaloosa.

 

[CrimsonDuck]

Don't discredit Wazzu totally here.

Remember, they were the first team in the Pac 10 since USC in the 70's to have back to back to back 10 win seasons, and that was from 01-03!

Their talent level hasn't just suddenly fallen off the map. They have been competitive the last two years, but inexperience at the QB position, injuries on D, and an inexperienced defense in general have really hurt Wazzu's win total the last two years.

This is easily their best team since 2003...very comparable to the Oregon State team that went to LSU in 2004 in almost every aspect of their team.

With that said, AU will probably win the game. I can't see them losing their home opener for the third time in four years to a non conference opponent. I'd say AU 28 Wazzu 25 OT in a great game.

 

[Redwood Forrest]

They stack up pretty well on paper with WSU having a slight edge in O and Agbarn having a bigger edge on D. Too bad it is not played on paper. Of course Agbarn could have the swelled head reading about how they are going to play USC or ND in the NC game. Go Cougs!

 

[JD95]

Go Cougars!!

 

[dabaxter]

Even though I would like to see WSU win big, I think Auburn will physically dominate them. I think their coach won't last.

 

[CrimsonDuck]

Even though I would like to see WSU win big, I think Auburn will physically dominate them. I think their coach won't last.

Doba? He was co-Pac 10 coach of the year in 03 with Pete Carroll. Wazzu's struggled the last couple years, but he was a very good defensive coordinator for the Cougs, and seems to be a pretty good head man. He's been there since the late 80s. Just like Price, people love him around there.

Go COUUUGS! Beat the BARNN!

 

[BEATtutorsee]

That was a team on its way to becoming one of the best teams in recent college football history. If those words are ever uttered about WSU, I'll be preparing for the second coming of Christ.

********!!! That's so true and so hilarious all at the same time!!!! :biggrin: :biggrin: :biggrin:

 

[PattheCatinSaudi]

The problem with the Cougs last year was that they did not have a defense to speak of. They usually have one of the best defenses in the Pac 10, but last year lost their best player, Will Derting, for most of the year. Their secondary was absolutely torched more often than not, and their run D was very bad.

But they return 8 starters on D this year, including Mkristo Bruce, who is a 6'6 255 lb DE that had 10 sacks last year. They also return all three starting LBs, both safties, and 3 of 4 starting defensive linemen. Three of the four starters in the secondary are seniors, and there's a guy named Tyron Brackendridge who is a really, really good cornerback.

That reminds me of the old joke:

The good news is that they have 8 starters returning on D; the bad news is they have 8 starters returning on D. :biggrin2:

 

[GrayTide]

That reminds me of the old joke:

The good news is that they have 8 starters returning on D; the bad news is they have 8 starters returning on D. :biggrin2:

The same could be said about our Offensive line.

 

[TexasTideFan]

The key for WSU will be to keep hydrated. Dehydration not only leads to muscle cramps, but also nausea, exhaustion, and even a lack of mental clarity. Most teams that succomb to the heat and humidity of the southeast in August and September do so because they become dehydrated, not because they aren't properly conditioned.

Very good point. Players that are in good phyisical condition and STAY HYDRATED usually have minimal problems adjusting to heat/humidity. The only real difference I have seen with athletes that have problems adjusting to a different location is when that location is at altitude.