From Pullman -- The Cougars had a Monday practice today because of the skewed schedule stemming from a Thursday night football game this week. Things got a bit chippy during the session when freshman Emmitt Su'a-Kalio appeared to good-naturedly hold down running back Theron West during a special teams drill. West took exception to Su'a-Kalio not letting him up, and took a swing at the freshman when he rose. The players were quickly separated and neither seemed the worse for wear.

Coach Mike Leach said he doesn't mind such skirmishes, with a caveat: "As long as they don't waste too much time," Leach said. "If they waste time then I'll roll them, but they better not take too much time."

The first team defense struggled again as scout team quarterbacks Tyler Bruggman and Lucas Falk continually completed passes to Cougars downfield. The defense has struggled against he pass all week, and the scout team was able to find success in the ground game as well.

Also, a WSU football player is in the hunt for one of college football's most prestigious awards. Find out who after the jump.

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Senior safety Deone Bucannon has been named a semifinalist for the Jim Thorpe Award, given to the op defensive back in college football, the Jim Thorpe Association announced on Monday. Bucannon leads the conference with 73 tackles and is tied for No. 2 in the conference with four interceptions. He has also forced three fumbles and has two fumble recoveries.

Bucannon is the first Cougars player to be named a Jim Thorpe finalist since Jason David in 2003. Ifo Ekpre-Olomu and Steven Nelson from Oregon are the other semifinalists from the Pac-12.

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