Wulff Hire at Washington State Means Back to the Same for the Cougars

In the copy cat world that is college football its surprising that there haven't been more hires like Paul Wulff going to Washington State. Jim Tressel was a division I-AA head coach and was hired by the in-state BCS conference school and has had tremendous success. Washington State is hoping to have that type of luck by hiring Eastern Washington head coach, Wulff. In his 8 years in Cheney, Washington Wulff won only 57% of his games. In Tressel's last six years at Youngstown State he won only 68% of his games indicating that being dominate at the lower level may not be necessary. However, Wulff has never advanced beyond the I-AA quarterfinals and is trumped by Tressel's four national titles at Youngstown State.

Tressel's success at Ohio State is surprising considering his final years at Youngstown State. Washington State shouldn't expect that type of success. Wulff has never lost fewer than four games in a season. If he can translate his success in the Big Sky to the Pac 10, Wulff will be struggling to get Holiday Bowl births. Wulff - who played at Washington State - is hailed as a guy that will be able to recruit the state well. The problem is Pac 10 titles aren't won by recruiting Washington. Oregon has made a habit of competing for players in California and that is something Washington State needs to do in order to find themselves near the top of the conference on an annual basis.

Washington State should be given some slack for this hire, however, because they just don't have the profile to snag a top flight coordinator or someone with I-A head coaching experience. Washington State needs to take a risk like this, but understand that hiring a guy like Wulff is a risk. Washington State is hoping the risk pays off big. If Wulff surprises he would likely stay in Pullman for life as he's a Coug' through and through. If he can at least make a bowl every so often, it will be a little more enjoyable that you are doing it with one of your own. However, Wulff doesn't show the possible upside to warrant the risk.

Washington State is struggling with a typical problem faced by many program. They had a coach that rouse the program beyond its historic level and are struggling to find a replacement that can maintain those heights. Mike Price won the third and fourth Pac 10 titles in school history and their first since 1930. Bill Doba won 10 games in his first season, but that was simply a good Price team going forward. Alabama hasn't found a replacement for Bear Bryant that they are happy with. Cougar fans won't be satisfied with Wulff as Price's replacement.

Washington State is located near the Idaho boarder in far eastern Washington. It is far from the glitz and glamor associated with the programs that have ruled the Pac 10 through the years. The hiring of Wulff will move Washington State back to their natural and typical place: near the bottom of the Pac 10.