Week 1: Oklahoma State at Washington State

This match-up features one of college football’s most recognizable coaches, Oklahoma State’s Mike Gundy, unforgettable for his post-game tirade that is now an Internet staple, against one of its least known, Washington State’s Paul Wulff, making his coaching debut at his alma mater. Gundy, in his fourth season, is deep into a rebuilding project; Wulff is just getting started.

Oklahoma State welcomes back 17 starters from a team that beat Indiana in the Insight Bowl, among them junior quarterback Zac Robinson, All-Big 12 tight end Brandon Pettigrew, four veteran offensive linemen, defensive tackle Jerry Chatham and cornerback Jacob Lucey. Operating almost entirely out of a no-huddle offense, Robinson is a dual threat to be feared, passing for 2,824 and running for 847 yards and accounting for 32 touchdowns in 2007. If he keeps that up, this might not be this Colorado native’s only visit to this pro stadium. Pettigrew comes off a 35-catch, 540-yard, 4-TD season. Gundy has filled in some of his holes with JC talent. The coach likes the talent level on offense and figures his defense will make strides this season.

The Cougars have started over with Wulff, one of their own, someone who comes home after taking Eastern Washington to the playoffs. Patience will be required. Wulff wasn’t left with much, certainly not the usual WSU staple — an experienced, pro-bound quarterback. Rather than a Mark Rypien, Drew Bledsole or Ryan Leaf behind center, the coach has Gary Rogers running the show. Rogers is a fifth-year senior with 52 careers passes and no previous starts. Wulff’s top running back, Dwight Tardy, is coming off a knee injury that cut short his sophomore season. The previously porous defense is getting a complete makeover. There are 10 freshmen, redshirt and true, in the two-deeps. For star power, there’s All-Pac-10 wideout Brandon Gibson and that’s it. Oklahoma State is not a timely opponent for the new guy.

Notes:

For the seventh consecutive year, WSU will play a home game in Seattle, 275 miles away from campus, in what is known as the Cougar Gridiron Classic, treating its considerable Puget Sound fan base to a convenient contest. The Cougs are 5-1 in these visits, losing only to another Big 12 team, Colorado, 20-12 in 2004.

Oklahoma State hasn’t played in Seattle since 1985, when its Thurman Thomas-led team opened the season against Washington and won 31-17.

The Cougars received a double shot of bad news early in the week: fifth-year senior Dan Rowlands, a two-year staring offensive guard, was forced to give up football because of injured shoulders, and senior Andy Roof, a starting defensive lineman in 2006, was dismissed from school for past misdeeds.

Key Player (Cowboys) – Brandon Pettigrew, TE

WSU’s smallish linebackers stand 5’11”, 5’11” and 6’2” and hit the scale from 218 to 235 pounds, and should be no match for this physical specimen. Pettigrew has got at least three inches and 20 pounds on all of them. That doesn’t begin to explain his speed. He averages 14 yards per catch in his career. He should feel at home in the NFL setting.
 
Key Player (Cowboys) – Zac Robinson, QB

He wears No. 11, one digit less than Mike Gundy did when the coach was a record-setting Cowboys quarterback. Florida’s Tim Tebow and Robinson are the only BCS players to surpass 2,800 yards passing and 800 rushing. Robinson came up with  a school-record 486-yard passing game against Texas as a sophomore. This guy is so versatile, he played quarterback, running back and wide receiver against Georgia. Washington State will probably see way too much of him at QB.

Key Player (Cougars) – Gary Rogers, QB

He’s waited his turn, spending a career behind the departed Alex Brink. He’s mostly held for field goals and extra point kicks. He’s thrown three TD passes, completing just 24. He’s tall, but not very mobile. A lot depends on if he can step up and make plays. Oklahoma State will try to pressure from the start.

Oklahoma State by 20