Kickoff ‘96: Washington State Cougars

FAST FACTS

Head coach

Mike Price (8th season, 38-41 at WSU; 84-85 overall; 2-6 and tied for eighth in Pac-10 last season).

Assistants

Craig Bray, secondary; Bill Doba, defensive coordinator and linebackers; Gary Emanuel, defensive line; Mike Levenseller, wide receivers; Larry Lewis, assistant head coach and defensive ends; Lawrence Livingston, offensive line; John McDonell, offensive coordinator, offensive line and tight ends; Buzz Preston, running backs; Jim Zeches, outside linebackers and recruiting coordinator.

Head trainer

Mark Smaha.

Band members

190. Don Hower, band director; Doug Higbee, Eric Ryan, Anthony Gonsalves, drum majors.

Cheerleaders

22 (10 women, 12 men); Barby Ingle, director. Pom squad: 16 members.

Top ex-Cougars in the NFL

Drew Bledsoe, Steve Broussard, Lewis Bush, Ron Childs, Mark Fields, Jason Hanson, James Hasty, Eric Howard, Torey Hunter, Ron Lewis, Ricky Reynolds, Don Sasa, Robbie Tobeck.

QUESTION MARKS, EXCLAMATION POINTS

Question marks

Will the offensive line keep Ryan Leaf healthy and open adequate running lanes for Michael Black and Miguel Meriwether?

Are the receivers as good as advertised?

Will off-season defections of four alleged locker room lawyers ensure a united team once the Cougars lose a game or two?

Exclamation points

The defensive line has depth with the additions of Dorian Boose, Leon Bender, Johnny Nance and Delmar Morais.

Leaf keeps a defense honest, giving the Cougars the ability to strike deep.

James Darling and Johnny Nansen are big-play linebackers who should benefit from the improved defensive front.

WHAT’S IN, WHAT’S OUT

What’s in

Ryan Leaf at quarterback.

Overtime.

Nickel defense.

Paul Sorensen in announcer’s booth.

What’s out

Quarterback controversy.

Parking behind Bohler Gym.

Phillip Glover & Co.

Big Sky opponent.

TALE OF THE TAPE

The fastest

Overall: Receiver Jason Clayton, 4.31 seconds in 40-yard dash.

Offensive lineman: Scott Sanderson, 5.05.

Defensive lineman: Shane Doyle, 4.69.

Running back: Michael Black, 4.52.

The strongest

Overall: James Darling, Gary Holmes and Eboni Wilson bench-pressed 435 pounds during testing. Mike Sage squatted 620 pounds shortly after shoulder surgery.

Pound-for-pound: Receiver Chad Carpenter, 6-foot and 204 pounds, bench-pressed 350, squatted 485 and cleaned 290. Carpenter owns four of six WSU strength records for receivers.

The toughest

Jason McEndoo.

Best blocker

Scott Sanderson.

Toughest to block

Dorian Boose.

Best cover man

Shad Hinchen.

Biggest shoes

Size 16: Leon Bender; five players with size 15: Zach Edwards, Rob Rainville, Geoff Pierce, Ryan Raymond, Reed Raymond.

Players by state

Washington 62, California 43, Nevada 4, Idaho 3, Oregon 2, British Columbia 2, one each from Alaska, Florida, Hawaii, Indiana, Montana, Texas and Wyoming.

Most impressive stat

WSU has scored in its last 156 Pac-10 games, the longest active streak in the conference.

Least impressive stat

5-23 record in final four regular-season games during seven years under Mike Price.

Academic All-Star

Jon Ottenbreit, pre-med major, 3.31 GPA.

DEPTH CHARTS Starters (in bold) and backups.

OFFENSE (Starters) Split end 17 Chad Carpenter 6-0, 204, sr.

Weak tackle 72 Scott Sanderson 6-6, 296, sr.

Weak guard 66 Jason McEndoo 6-6, 300, jr.

Center 71 Cory Withrow 6-4, 275, jr.

Strong guard 68 Brian Chiu 6-2, 281, jr.

Strong tackle 79 Rob Rainville 6-5, 317, fr.

Tight end 98 David Knuff 6-3, 240, sr.

Slotback 8 Shawn Tims 5-10, 182, jr.

Quarterback 16 Ryan Leaf 6-5, 238, so.

Fullback 4 Michael Black 6-0, 200, jr.

Flanker 45 Shawn McWashington 5-11, 184, sr.

OFFENSE (Backups)

Split end 81 Chris Jackson 6-3, 204, jr.

Weak tackle 75 Jon Ottenbreit 6-5, 282, fr.

Weak guard 77 Mike Sage 6-2, 310, so.

Center 62 Lee Harrison 6-2, 270, jr.

Strong guard 55 Mark Nason 6-2, 240, jr.

Strong tackle 76 Ryan McShane 6-6, 309, jr.

Tight end 84 Jon Kincaid 6-6, 249, jr.

Slotback 9 Kevin McKenzie 5-10, 180, jr.

Quarterback 13 Steve Birnbaum 6-4, 196, fr.

Fullback 10 Miguel Meriwether 6-0, 198, so.

Flanker 18 Bryant Thomas 6-1, 198, jr.

DEFENSE (Starters)

Left end 90 Dorian Boose 6-6, 280, jr.

Left tackle 91 Leon Bender 6-5, 320, jr.

Right tackle 93 Delmar Morais 6-3, 270, so.

Right end 46 Shane Doyle 6-2, 250, jr.

Weak linebacker 22 Brandon Moore 5-11, 218, jr.

Middle linebacker 33 James Darling 6-1, 240, sr.

Strong linebacker 4 Johnny Nansen 5-11, 232, sr.

Left cornerback 3 Terrell Henderson 5-10, 181, sr.

Strong safety 25 Duane Stewart 6-3, 208, jr.

Free safety 2 Ray Jackson 6-2, 212, jr.

Right cornerback 15 Shad Hinchen 5-9, 182, sr.

DEFENSE (Backups)

Left end 99 Jonathan Nance 6-6, 225, jr.

Left tackle Da’vid Evans 6-4, 280, sr.

Right tackle 95 Gary Holmes 6-7, 306, so.

Right end 87 Rob Meier 6-5, 236, fr.

Weak linebacker 34 Steve Gleason 5-11, 207, fr.

Middle linebacker 43 Todd Nelson 6-3, 229, jr.

Strong linebacker 21 Ken Moore 6-0, 198, jr.

Left cornerback 6 Adesola Moronkola 5-10, 188, so.

Strong safety 29 Torry Hollimon 5-10, 194, fr.

Free safety 20 Derek Henderson 6-0, 198, sr.

Right cornerback 31 LeJuan Gibbons 5-10, 171, fr.

SPECIAL TEAMS (Starters)

Punter 12 Jeff Banks 6-0, 172, jr.

Placekicker 47 Tony Truant 5-10, 184, sr.

Holder 16 Ryan Leaf 6-5, 238, so.

Long snapper 66 Jason McEndoo 6-6, 300, jr.

Kickoff return 6 Adesola Moronkola 5-10, 188, so.

Punt return 15 Shad Hinchen 5-9, 182, sr.

SPECIAL TEAMS (Backups)

Punter 47 Tony Truant 5-10, 184, sr.

Placekicker 29 Rian Lindell 6-3, 229, fr.

Holder 17 Chad Carpenter 6-0, 204, sr.

Long snapper 71 Cory Withrow 6-34, 275, sr.

Kickoff return 15 Shad Hinchen 5-9, 182, sr.

Punt return 9 Kevin McKenzie 5-10, 185, jr.

SCHEDULE

(Times Pacific, subject to TV schedule. Home games in bold.

DATE OPPONENT TIME COMMENT

Aug. 31 at Colorado 12:30 p.m. Buffaloes ranked No. 4

Sept. 7 at Temple 3 p.m. 4-3 defense, 1-10 record in 1995

Sept. 21 Oregon 4 p.m. Potential make-or-break game

Sept. 28 San Jose State 2 p.m. Confidence-builder

Oct. 5 at Arizona 6 p.m. Homer Smith retools offense

Oct. 12 at Oregon State 1 p.m. Beavers run out of options

Oct. 19 California 2 p.m. Homecoming

Oct. 26 USC 2 p.m. A decade since last WSU win

Nov. 9 at UCLA 7 p.m. No Terry Donahue to kick around

Nov. 16 at Stanford 12:30 p.m. Willingham makes believers

Nov. 23 Washington 2 p.m. Unfinished business for Ryan Leaf

GAME DAY

Stadium:

Martin (37,500); from I-90, take 195 south to Pullman, follow signs to stadium.

Tickets $100 reserved season; $248 reserved family season. First four home games $20 each. Apple Cup game $28 for end zone, $34 for sideline. Three-pack (San Jose State, UW, one game of choice) $60. Two pack (San Jose State, UW) $46. Call 1-800-GOCOUGS or G&B ticket outlets.

Television

ABC will televise Colorado (Aug. 31) and Oregon (Sept. 21) games live; Fox Sports coverage TBA; all games shown by Prime Sports Northwest on tape-delayed basis.

Radio

KXLY 920 AM in Spokane, KIRO 710 AM in Seattle and 23 other affiliates on Cougar Radio Network, with Bob Robertson and Paul Sorensen.

FIGHT SONG

Fight, fight, fight for Washington State!

Win the victory! Win the day for Crimson and Gray!

Best in the West, we know you’ll all do your best, so on, on, on!

Fight to the end! Honor and glory you must win!

So fight, fight, fight for Washington State and victory. , DataTimes ILLUSTRATION: 2 Color Photos