Cougar players croon for coach Doba's 65th birthday

Football practice started with a serenade yesterday as Washington State players sang "Happy Birthday To You" to coach Bill Doba, who turned...

By Austin Burton

Special to The Seattle Times

PULLMAN — Football practice started with a serenade yesterday as Washington State players sang "Happy Birthday To You" to coach Bill Doba, who turned 65.

"Hanging around these 18- and 20-year-old guys, you always feel young," Doba said.

The coach joked, "We don't celebrate after 50. You don't want to be reminded how old you are."

Another reason for Doba to be in a good mood was the reappearance of backup tight end Cody Boyd (ankle) on the field for the noncontact practice. Boyd won't play Friday at Nevada but might be available the following Saturday at Qwest Field, when the Cougars play Grambling State.

Notes

• Starting RB Jerome Harrison wore a soft cast yesterday to protect his right wrist. He said the cast was precautionary.

• Freshman Courtney Williams, who made five special-team tackles against Idaho, will have expanded duties tomorrow night in Reno. He has been moved to one of the "gunner" spots on the punt team.

• Both the Cougars and Washington Huskies played in-state last week, and the Cougars had the bigger crowd. The Cougars drew 28,339 for their Thursday-night home opener against Idaho and the Huskies drew 26,482 to Qwest Field for their 20-17 loss to Air Force.

• DE Jason Roberts, who quit the team and left Pullman after looking good in spring football, is on the roster at hometown Fresno State. He is ineligible this season because he transferred and will play as a redshirt sophomore next season.

• Greg Kirkwood, the Air Force receiver who starred in a victory over Washington, has a brother who is a Cougar. Geoff Kirkwood is an invited freshman walk-on defensive back from Othello. Geoff was in Seattle last Saturday to watch his big brother catch six passes for 134 yards, including an 84-yard TD.

• Grambling State had its opener against Alcorn State postponed last Saturday because of the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina.

• The Cougars are taking true freshman RB Dwight Tardy to Reno as a third-stringer, but hope they don't have to use him so his redshirt status can be preserved.

Seattle Times staff reporter Craig Smith contributed to this report

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