Mike Price may regret taking the job at �Bama, where winning a national championship is both the expectation and the rule. The requirments in Pullman are bit less stringent and new head coach Bill Doba can ease his system in. With the return of tough running back Jermaine Green and the loss of team leader QB Jason Gesser, the Cougs may gravitate to a ball control offense and help ease the coaching transition and premature loss of defensive star Rien Long.

As cross-state rival UW is virtual tight end factory, WSU may be catching up in this catergory. True sophomore Troy Bienemann torched the Dawgs in the Apple Cup and with two great receivers heading to the NFL, QB Matt Kegel will need distribute the ball over the middle.