Hindsight being what it is, maybe it should've been easier to see this coming. On their third coach in three seasons with their depth pillaged like a Yukon gold rush stake left unprotected, expectations of the Washington State Cougars finishing at or near the top of the revamped Pac-12 were, perhaps, lofty. Not many programs could survive such turmoil without a substantial bump in the road, but given the retention and portal performance of the incoming coaching staff, reasons abounded to have some level of encouragement.
The return of many of the best offensive playmakers? Check. A good defensive coordinator hire? Double check. Winning a portal battle for a quarterback sought after by at least one other Pac-12 institution? Triple check.
A formula that, if nothing else, keeps the bottom from falling straight to the floor.
Turns out, Kirby Moore is most comfortable on a deflated air mattress on top of linoleum.
There's really no other way about it: his first season at the helm of the Washington State Cougars has been an abject failure. A lone win over a startlingly small and slow Duquesne Dukes, the only notch in the pleather belt plucked from the waste bin of a knock off store, its the worst season on the Palouse in 17 years. An offense without an identity seemingly unable to effectively matriculate the ball for a lone first down, let alone into field goal range next to a defense that, while they play admirably to begin games, starts to quickly collapse under the sheer weight of the minutes required of them and the tightness of a unit that cannot make mistakes, lest their offense get the ball back with a need to score.
An offensive coordinator demoted. A starting quarterback the same. An offense as putrid as any I've ever watched; no identity, no ability to execute, unable to block, shockingly lacking in athleticism. Third and shorts a mere dream, a magnificent wish as you watch this team play from behind the sticks again and again and again.
"Abject failure" may actually be too generous of an evaluation.
It is really and truly shocking how much has gone wrong for the Cougars this season. Set against the backdrop of the Oregon State Beavers running offensive roughshod over most of their opponents only adds to the gut-punch qualities of a year that, while perhaps an undefeated outlook was much too generous, eight wins was not. What makes this even more difficult is the failure is so widespread, so impossible to contain, pointing to any one thing as "There, that's it!" is nigh on impossible.
Kirby Moore is a first-time head coach and, to be sure, we should expect some first-time head coach growing pains. Bad clock management? No coach in the world is immune. Late subs and uneven performances? You bet.
Punting from midfield in a season already lost? That's the full give up flag, baby.
A season that is merely slightly disappointing would not bring out the microscopes, but Kirby Moore has invited us to throw open the cupboards of the lab rooms in Fulmer Hall and empty them onto the counter.
He'll get another season at the helm of this football team; you can be sure of that. Washington State isn't in the habit of firing coaches after one season, and trying to find your fourth in four years is inadvisable, to say the least. But what we've seen so far isn't impressive. It's not even hopeful.
It's downright appalling.
The overhaul of the offensive coaching staff in the offseason has to be total. Who Kirby Moore chooses to bring in behind them is for him to figure out, but my gentle suggestion of "no one who is your friend" would be a good one to heed. It's clear no coach can be back on that side of the football. Once you've done that, spending most available resources on offensive linemen and wide receivers is an absolute must.
These shouldn't be suggestions, mind you. It's Jon Haarlow's job to make sure his coach understands what's at stake as they head into their second season together. Lest you think their fates are not tied together, they almost certainly are. Generally speaking, athletic directors don't get an opportunity to hire another football coach after they have to fire their first.
It's tough to say that, no matter what happens for the remainder of the season, it doesn't really matter. Wazzu is into what should've been the easiest part of their schedule, but another win or two, no matter how unlikely, changes nothing.
This is still the worst Washington State football season in nearly two decades. And Kirby Moore better spend the offseason ensuring it isn't a repeat.
