Time for the first of a three part series examining the upcoming Cougar football season. I'll be taking three angles in looking at the schedule. The first is every husky football fan's favorite attitude: pessimistic. There are a lot of challenges for the Cougs in the year ahead, and defense (or lack thereof) will likely make the difference. Here's my worst-case scenario look at '07 (home team in caps):
9/1: WISCONSIN 44, Washington State 0: again the Cougs play a top-10 opponent on the road to start the season, and the pessimistic view sees a shut-out looming for one of the conference's most potent offenses.
9/8: WASHINGTON STATE 14, San Diego State 13: Even the pessimist likes the Cougs against a team that was 3-9 last season from the Mountain West. But the Cougs better not overlook this one.
9/15: Idaho 28, WASHINGTON STATE 23: The true pessimist sees this game as the ultimate trap. No one knows the Cougs better than Robb Akey, and with just enough talent left over from Dennis Erickson's one-year reign, the Vandals come out with a win. Also, I simulated this matchup once in NCAA 07 and the Cougs lost. I laughed at it.
9/22: USC 77, Washington State 5: The pessimist hates this matchup and is truly afraid. But a Romeeeeeeeeeeeen field goal and a safety keep some hope alive.
9/29: ARIZONA 24, Washington State 14: Arizona gets the Cougs again following that embarrassing loss in Pullman last year. Also, Michael Bumpus and Brandon Gibson collide on crossing routes. Both are out for the season.
10/6: Arizona State 44, Washington State 17: The snowballing begins.
10/13: OREGON 55, Washington State 16: Where have I seen that score before?
10/20: BYE WEEK 3, Washington State 0: The true pessimist never lets up on the gloom. At least they beat SDSU.
10/27: UCLA 41, WASHINGTON STATE 35 (3 OT): Because no pessimistic season is complete without the fourth quarter meltdown and subsequent failure in overtime.
11/3: CALIFORNIA 24, Washington State 21: Bill Doba takes the tying field goal off the board following a Cal penalty. The ensuing bubble screen on 4th and 3 from the 3 is a failure.
11/10: WASHINGTON STATE 30, Stanford 27: Because Stanford just isn't very good.
11/17: Oregon State 33, WASHINGTON STATE 30: Cougs give a good effort but come up short. If you haven't seen them yet, the Beavers' new uniforms ensure they will at least look like losers in '07.
11/24: WASHINGTON 21, Washington State 20: The huskies still aren't that good. And we should beat the huskies when we're better. But the pessimist still doesn't like the Cougs in this one. The pessimist then goes home, puts on a "Fire Doba" T-shirt and burns an effigy of Alex Brink. The pessimist is not fun to be around, and you should not invite him out to the Coug for a cold one afterwards.
Record: 2-10 (1-8). The good news is it shouldn't possibly be this bad. The bad news is a 6-6 season might still feel this bad. Better outlooks are on the way.
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