FanHouse MikePrice

Winning the Apple Cup over arch-rival Washington is always regarded as a good year at Washington State. But even with Saturday's win, it wasn't enough to save Bill Doba. Washington State has fired Doba, according to several media outlets, and the press conference is scheduled for 4:30 pm today. Doba's assistants were also let go, so this is a full house-cleaning of the football program.


Doba has had a difficult time in his last few years at WSU. He did compile a 30-29 record in his five seasons as the Cougar head coach, including a 3-2 record against Washington. But in Pac-10 play Doba was just 17-25, and that includes a coach-of-the-year season in 2003 when WSU went 10-3 and won the Holiday Bowl. After that Holiday Bowl season, Doba went 20-26 overall, and in the end it wasn't good enough. These last four years are also the longest bowl-less seasons at Washington State since the mid-80's.


There is no word as to who the successor will be, although the rumor mill is already churning out the names of UTEP's Mike Price, Cal defensive coordinator Bob Gregory, and even UW offensive coordinator Tim Lappano have been mentioned in unsubstantiated rumors. However AD Jim Sterk did acknowledge over the weekend that if a change were to happen, that Mike Price would be a name that's on the list.

Or something like that. I'm not a doctor.

Texas-El Paso coach Mike Price was released from a hospital Friday afternoon after doctors implanted a stent to relieve a blocked artery in his heart.

The 61-year-old Price was resting at home after being released, UTEP spokesman Mark Brunner said.

Price was having routine tests Thursday when doctors discovered a significant blockage in one of his arteries. Doctors performed an angioplasty and inserted a stent to increase blood flow in the artery.

Glad to see the coach still kicking around, although last week's spree of player arrests didn't do much good for the ticker.

Four short years ago, Mike Price had coached the Washington State Cougars to the Rose Bowl and handed Heisman Trophy Winner Carson Palmer and the mighty USC Trojans a loss that conceivably kept them out of the National Championship picture (though the Trojans *did* win one of 16 NCAA-recognized titles that year). After a brief stay in Tuscaloosa, Price now finds himself in West Texas at the University of Texas - El Paso, pinning his hopes on the Heisman prospects of another Palmer: Carson's little brother Jordan.

Had Jordan Palmer chosen to follow in his brother's footsteps and attend Southern Cal, he'd be gunning for an unprecedented third stiff-arm trophy in a row for the Trojans. Instead, he chose the UTEP Miners and his name appears on trophy watch lists which had largely ignored his brother going into Carson's senior year...even if it is only in small print.

Palmer and the Miners open up thier 2006 campaign and bid for a third straight bowl appearance at San Diego State, whose expectations for 2006 are almost as high as UTEP's, followed by a home game against Texas Tech and games against the two new Mexico schools before opening conference play in October.

That sound you hear (suspend disbelief for a moment, please)---it's the 2006 college football season quickly approaching. We are now a mere six days and a few hours from Aug. 31, the new season's genesis. The slate of games' for that Thursday hold only modest promise, but as a true college football nut I'll find a way to delight in them just the same.

Looking over that day's schedule, a few games stand out.

Northwestern at Miami (Ohio)---Emotions will run high at this one as Northwestern plays its first game since the death of coach Randy Walker. Adding further to the mood, Walker was an Ohio-born coach who led a revival of sorts as Miami's coach before taking over at Northwestern.

Minnesota at Kent State---The running backs are dropping like flies for the run-happy Golden Gophers, which may spell early-season doom. Or maybe not, as Kent State is coming off a 1-10 season. Either way this has the potential to be another interesting Big Ten/MAC battle.

South Carolina at Mississippi State---I'm surprised this game is this early in the year, as most conference matchups do not begin until several weeks into the season. South Carolina coach Steve Spurrier's back, and it's just not college football without the Ol' Ball Coach throwing visors around.

Toledo at Iowa State---Coach Tom Amstutz runs an offensive power in the MAC, but will be without departed senior Bruce Gradkowski at quarterback. Iowa State should have an incredible offense as well, returning Bret Meyer at quarterback, Stevie Hicks at tailback and the dynamic duo of Austin Flynn and Todd Blythe at receiver. This is the third matchup of the day between a MAC team and a midlevel BCS conference foe.

Northern Arizona at Arizona State---This won't be much of a game, but we'll get our first look at the suddenly shaky Arizona State Sun Devils.

UTEP at San Diego State---This is the final hurrah for UTEP quarterback Jordan Palmer. The program is now in its third year under coach Mike Price and should be set for a pretty big season. The Aztecs begin their first campaign under new coach Chuck Long, formerly the offensive coordinator at Oklahoma.