Whether he’s done enough in four years to bring the Cougars closer to the level of respectability their fans demand is a polarizing debate among the crimson-and-gray faithful, and a decision that ultimately lies in the hands of Washington State athletic director Bill Moos.
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Any tangible significance at stake in this version of the Apple Cup escaped a week ago when Utah pulled out a 30-27 overtime victory over the Cougars, ensuring Washington State (4-7) of another year without a trip to the postseason.
Washington (6-5) wrapped up a bowl trip a month ago, though it’s looked far from bowl-worthy while dropping its past three.
That leaves Wulff’s future as the ultimate unknown. It’s a debate Cougars’ players and coaches attempt to avoid, but can’t help hear. Moos indicated that a decision on whether Wulff will return for the final year of his five-year contract could come early next week.
“Of course you hear it, but I don’t pay attention to it,” Cougars junior safety Tyree Toomer said. “It’s something you can’t control. You just have to focus on the task at hand.”
There are arguments on both sides of the Wulff debate. He took over a program at one of its lowest points in the school’s history and while the results haven’t been evident on the field, the Cougars are undoubtedly a more talented and more competitive team than in Wulff’s first two seasons.
The Cougars have already doubled their win total from a year ago and had a pair of three-point losses to UCLA and Utah decided in the final moments.
“They play confident, they play hard, they believe in what they’re doing and that early on I think it was hard to do,” Washington coach Steve Sarkisian said.
“You inherit a football team that’s not all your guys, you come with a different style, a different brand, a different approach, but I think Paul has done a nice job of building that. I’m sure he’d be the first one to tell you he would like there to be more wins to show that, but when you watch the film it’s evident they’ve gotten better.”
Despite the improvement in talent, the record is hard to ignore. The Cougars are 9-39 since Wulff took over and their season will be done following Saturday’s game for the eighth straight year since beating Texas in the 2003 Holiday Bowl.
There’s also the extra pressure of the school in the midst of a football specific fundraising campaign for a new press box/luxury box complex and operations center — and wins mean dollars.
Wulff isn’t focusing on his future, rather how his young team may grow from this season.
“I don’t think like that,” Wulff said. “We have a great young football team. This Is a good young team that is getting better and better all the time.”
