During the post-Ryan Leaf Era of 1998-2000, Washington State’s football program went 10-24, placing the Cougars at the bottom of the Pac-10 and head coach Mike Price in occupational peril. But the climate is far brighter this fall, with Washington State coming off a 10-win season and returning 14 starters.

Several publications have penciled this team into their preseason Top 10, but a word of warning: In Price’s 13 seasons here, the Cougars have yet to post back-to-back winning seasons.

On the heels of an encouraging spring practice, Price challenged his players to raise the program to the level of a consistent winner.

Washington State’s 2001 campaign began on a Thursday night in Pullman with a 36-7 win over Idaho. The Cougars’ defense allowed only 146 yards, while Dave Minnich rushed for 127 yards and Jason Gesser threw three touchdowns. Next came a 41-20 road victory that snapped Boise State’s 14-game home winning streak.

The Cougars moved to 3-0 with a 51-20 rout of California, during which three WSU receivers topped the 100-yard mark, a program first. State’s fourth win came just as easily at Arizona, the Cougars scoring four touchdowns in the first eight minutes en route to a 48-21 decision. Minnich scored four touchdowns, three of them rushing.

Another fast start marked the Cougars’ 34-27 win over Oregon State as WSU sprinted out to a 31-point second quarter lead. In a Week 6 match-up at Stanford, the Cougars scored 10 points in the final 8:22 to prevail, 45-39.

Washington State already had scored on a blocked punt and an interception return, but the defense was stern in the fourth quarter, holding Stanford to four yards on eight plays.

Washington State then crushed Division I-AA Montana State, 53-28, in a game hurriedly scheduled after the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks cancelled a showdown against Colorado. But the Cougars’ 7-0 start hit a roadblock when Oregon visited on Oct. 27. Down 14 points in the final five minutes, Washington State got a touchdown pass from Gesser and moved to the Oregon 8-yard line in the closing seconds. But Gesser’s pass to Mike Bush was broken up in the end zone as time expired. It was a painful loss that ultimately cost the Cougars a conference title.

The Cougars’ defense delivered a 20-14 win over UCLA the following week, holding the Bruins to 225 yards and returning a DeShaun Foster fumble 73 yards for a score. Then WSU beat Arizona State, 28-16, despite losing Gesser to a second-half concussion.

In the regular-season finale at Washington, four WSU turnovers led to 17 points in a 26-14 loss. But the Cougars regrouped for a 33-27 Sun Bowl victory over pass-happy Purdue. The Boilermakers’ Kyle Orton completed 38-of-75 attempts for 419 yards and two touchdowns, but was intercepted four times.

WSU led the Pac-10 in passing at 300.9 yards per game and finished second in scoring (35.2 points). With seven starters coming back on offense, the Cougars expect to be equally explosive once again.

The defensive side features six holdovers from a unit that was fourth in the conference in total defense (363.4 yards) and points allowed per game (22.0). That saturation of talent and experience spells out BCS expectations.

Though he doesn’t possess the NFL-style physical tools of his predecessors at Washington State, Gesser (6-1, 200) is on pace to surpass the collegiate numbers of Ryan Leaf, Drew Bledsoe, Tim Rosenbach and Mark Rypien.

In 2001, his first season as a full-time starter, Gesser led the Pac-10 in passing yardage (248.1 per game) and total offense (257.5), while ranking third in efficiency (142.0). He completed 184-of-335 passes for 2,729 yards and a conference-high 25 touchdowns. He took reasonably good care of the ball, throwing 10 interceptions during the regular season; however he was picked off three times by Purdue in the bowl game.

Gesser, a senior, became a semifinalist for the Davey O’Brien Award, and should the Cougars make a charge for the national title this season, he could warrant Heisman Trophy votes.

Gesser’s best performances last season came against Cal (425 yards, four touchdowns) and Oregon (249 yards, including 183 in the fourth quarter). Now Price hopes an off-season of refinement -- from both the perspective of the player and the coaching staff -- will result in an even better Gesser.

Should injury befall Gesser, at least junior Matt Kegel appears to be a suitable backup. While Gesser threw two touchdowns during the annual Crimson and Gray Game, Kegel (6-5, 235) also tossed two touchdowns, while going 11-of-16 for 203 yards.

Leading rusher Dave Minnich has departed after gaining 764 yards and scoring six touchdowns in eight games. His 95.5 yards per game average ranked fourth in the Pac-10; and he did it with durability, considering that his longest run from scrimmage was only 38 yards. Minnich also caught 15 passes for 115 yards and two touchdowns, showing a good grasp of the offense and rarely missing a blocking assignment.

This fall, there’s another senior slated for the tailback job. John Tippins (6-2, 220) played in nine games a year ago, making four starts. He rushed 71 times for 296 yards -- a mediocre 3.8 yards per carry -- but averaged 16 yards on seven catches. Tippins’ production is a little misleading, considering that all four of his touchdowns (two rushing, two receiving) came in the win over Division I-AA Montana State.

Junior college transfer Jermaine Green (6-1, 211) ended spring practice fourth on the depth chart, but could be the first player called upon to spell Tippins.

The 2001 receiving corps featured a wealth of surprises, including the grand ascension of Nakoa McElrath, who led the Pac-10 in receptions (67) and receiving yards (1,047). But McElrath’s play was no more stunning than the development of Bush, a WSU basketball player who had not played football during his first two years of college, and Jerome Riley , a junior college transfer who immediately grasped the offensive package.

McElrath has graduated, but Bush (6-6, 210) and Riley (6-2, 185) are back for their senior campaigns, providing Gesser with two big-play targets. Bush started all 11 regular-season games, using his height and athleticism to make 45 catches for 913 yards. His 20.3 yards per catch were a team-high and his nine touchdowns tied McElrath for the Cougars’ lead. Bush frequently dialed long-distance against opposing secondaries. He had a 65-yard touchdown grab against Boise State, a 62-yarder against Stanford and a 47-yarder against California. He added a 46-yard scoring reception against Purdue in the Sun Bowl.

Riley played in all 12 games, recording 30 catches for 565 yards and four touchdowns. His 18.8 yards-per-catch average made him one of the most dangerous No. 3 receivers in the country. Riley made three catches for 124 yards against Cal, before hauling in six passes for two touchdowns and 158 yards against Arizona State.

Senior Collin Henderson (6-1, 185) actually concluded spring practices listed ahead of Riley at flanker, but that’s more a sign of Washington State’s depth. Riley caught two touchdown passes during the Crimson & Gray game and ran in a reverse for a third score. Henderson made nine catches for 83 yards and a touchdown last season.

At slot-back, sophomore Trandon Harvey (5-11, 185), who had nine catches for 83 yards and one touchdown in 2001, is another weapon. His backup will be red-shirt freshman Marty Martin (5-10, 185).

The tight end tandem of Mark Baldwin and Jeremy Thielbahr provided adequate blocking last season, but not much of a pass-catching threat. Whomever emerges from the pool of Tim Burnette (6-7, 250), Adam West (6-6, 235), Troy Bienemann and Mark Ahlberg (6-5, 255), you can bet he will be adept at finding holes in the underneath coverage as Washington State’s speed receivers stretch the secondary deep.

A unit that grew increasingly cohesive last season shapes up as the conference’s best offensive line this fall. Four full-time starters return, along with one part-timer, making Washington State line coach Bob Connelly a very happy man.

Senior right guard Derrick Roche (6-5, 281) spearheads the group, having made the preseason watch list for the Outland and Lombardi trophies.

"We looked at the tapes after the season and now we know why Derrick Roche was selected to the All-Pac-10 team. He played like it," Price said.

The tackles are impressive-looking bookends. Junior John Parrish (6-6, 315) started 12 games, while Calvin Armstrong (6-8, 318) was a third-team Freshman All-American at right tackle.

At center, senior Tyler Hunt (6-3, 290) returns after making 10 starts in 2001.

At the left guard, senior Phillip Locker (6-5, 305) and junior Billy Knotts (6-7, 305) finished spring drills in a virtual deadlock, although Locker has more game experience. He started five games last season, splitting time with Joey Hollenbeck, who graduated.

Junior Drew Dunning (5-11, 165), a Lou Groza Award hopeful, provides quite a fall back plan should the Washington State offense stall short of the goal line. In 2001, he led the Pac-10 with 86 points, making 14-of-18 field-goal attempts during the regular season and 44-of-48 extra points (two were blocked and two came from long range after personal fouls).

Dunning capped off the season by winning the Special Teams MVP at the Sun Bowl, where he made four field goals and three PATs. Counting the postseason, he was 16-of-16 from inside 40 yards.

The backup place-kicker, senior Adam Holiday (6-3, 230), will handle kickoff duties.

Senior end Fred Shavies (6-2, 260) is one of three defensive linemen returning, but it is two non-starters who have the coaches excited and opposing quarterbacks feeling anxious. Juniors D.D. Acholonu (6-3, 245) and Isaac Brown (6-2, 240) were backups a year ago, yet finished first and third in Pac-10 sacks. Acholonu made 11 sacks, while Brown had nine.

Their speed off the edge can be critical as Washington State seeks a repeat of the intensity that forced a league-high 35 turnovers in 2001. Shavies lacks the pass-rushing explosiveness, but he played in all 11 games last season, making 22 stops.

The reserve at defensive end is red-shirt freshman Brian Boyer (6-2, 245). Both starting tackles are back, with juniors Rien Long (6-6, 287) and Tai Tupai (6-5, 318) giving the Cougars plenty of size and savvy on the interior. Long made 26 tackles, including 8.5 for loss, while Tupai had 16 stops. Jeremey Williams (6-5, 290), another junior, is a capable backup, as evidenced by his 27 tackles in 2001.

This year’s linebacking unit will look almost nothing like its 2001 predecessor, with James Price, Alex Nguae and Raonall Smith all having moved on. That leaves junior Al Genatone (6-0, 220) as the only familiar face.

Smith’s 68 tackles were second on the club, but he also was an effective coverage guy, making an interception (which he returned 54 yards against Boise State) and six pass deflections. Price made 51 stops, including six behind the line of scrimmage. He also made one pick and forced two fumbles. Nguae finished with 25 tackles, three of those for loss.

Is Price concerned about replacing such hearty contributors? He doesn’t seem to be.

" Pat Bennett played last year and made great strides and we all know that Al Genatone can play in this league. He made big plays for us last year."

Genatone appeared in 10 games, starting seven and making 51 tackles. But his most memorable play came against UCLA, when he scooped up a fumble and sped 73 yards for the decisive touchdown in a 20-14 win. Playing behind Genatone this fall at weak-side linebacker is red-shirt freshman Wes Patterson-Aumua (5-11, 197).

The play of the sophomore Bennett (6-0, 225) will be critical at middle linebacker. Bennett saw action in five games as a freshman, registering 10 tackles. Sophomore Kevin Sperry (6-2, 219) finished spring drills as the No. 2 guy in the middle, but he impressed the staff enough for Price to predict that he might wind up starting.

At strong-side linebacker, junior Ira Davis (6-0, 215) expects to take on a larger role. He appeared in 10 games a season ago, starting two, and finishing with 15 tackles and an interception.

Senior Derrick Dillon (6-2, 215) and red-shirt Will Derting (6-0, 228) provide depth behind Davis.

The Cougars lost a pair of top-tier safeties, but they return a pair of proven cover cornerbacks from a defense that picked off a league-high 22 passes during the regular season and four more in the Sun Bowl. The playmaking ability of the secondary was a primary reason that Washington State finished second in the Pac-10 in pass-efficiency defense.

Senior Marcus Trufant (6-0, 189) is an All-America candidate who may already have garnered such honors if not for a broken hand that kept him out of five games in 2001. Trufant has eight career interceptions, three of those coming last season when he developed a reputation for locking down some of the Pac-10’s top receivers.

At the opposite corner is Jason David (5-9, 165), a 12-game starter. He made one interception against Stanford and two more against Purdue, including one he returned 45 yards for a score less than two minutes into the bowl game. David made 35 tackles and broke up nine passes.

Behind David is sophomore Karl Paymah (6-0, 197), who made 13 tackles in 10 games last season. Backing up Trufant are red-shirt freshman Alex Teems (5-11, 182) and junior Cole Sheridan (5-11, 183).

At free safety, junior Erik Coleman (5-10, 193) has the unenviable chore of replacing All-Pac-10 performer Lamont Thompson, who led the conference with eight interceptions and added a team-best 10 breakups and 83 tackles. But Coleman has some experience, making five starts at cornerback last season when Trufant was sidelined. At strong safety, Billy Newman has graduated, taking with him 66 tackles and four interceptions from a year ago. In steps senior Virgil Williams (6-1, 195), who appeared in six games, primarily on special teams. The top reserve is red-shirt freshman Aaron Joseph (6-2, 207).

Red-shirt freshman Kyle Basler (5-9, 165) is expected to handle the punting duties. He will replace Alan Cox, whose 40.8-yard average was fourth in the conference, but who made a bigger contribution with his pooch punts, pinning 15 inside the 20 with only seven touchbacks.

The Cougars return teams ranked near the bottom of the Pac-10, so Price signed junior-college return specialist Sammy Moore (6-0, 180) from Bakersfield (Calif.) Community College. Moore was selected by SuperPrep as the No. 52 junior college player in the nation and the No. 9 receiver. Last season, he returned 29 punts and 10 kickoffs a collective 540 yards and took two into the end zone.

Moore will try to wrestle the punt return job from Collin Henderson (5.8-yard average), while fitting into the kick-return equation alongside Erik Coleman (21.6) or Jason David (18.9)

With Washington State in the rare position of chasing a national championship, Price sought out a number of junior college players who can contribute immediately, including three running backs. Brought in were Lionel Arnold (6-1, 205) of Contra Costa (Calif.) Community College, who has 10.6 speed in the 100 meters; Jonathon Smith (5-10, 188) of Pasadena Community College, who rushed for 2,049 yards and 22 touchdowns as a sophomore; and Jermaine Green (6-2, 228) who ran for 1,010 yards at Butler (Kansas) Community College in 2001, helping his team to the Jayhawk Conference title. Green was rated the No. 5 running back in America by jcfootball.com.

Linebackers Kevin Sperry (6-2, 225) made 12 sacks at Los Angles Harbor Community College, while Donnie Jackson (6-1, 218) was a standout at Grossmont Community College, earning third-team All-America honors from JC Gridwire.

Tight end Eddie Robinson (6-3, 240) spent one season at Compton (Calif.) College after initially signing with Tulane.

The prep signee class includes Kent, Wash., quarterback Carl Bonnell (6-3, 196) who was SuperPrep Magazine’s No. 10 prospect in the Northwest. The same publication had tight end Cody Boyd (6-8, 220) of Bellingham, Wash., at No. 8, defensive back Don Turner (6-0, 190) of Spokane at No. 14, linebacker Steve Dildine (6-1, 205) of Graham, Wash., at No. 17 and defensive back Chris Jordan (6-1, 190) of Kent at No. 18.

For decades, the Washington State football program has played second fiddle to a certain university in Seattle. Still, it’s hard to fathom that the Cougars have never made consecutive bowl trips -- a string of futility that should end this fall. This team has enough offensive firepower to win the Pac-10 title, but Price must hope his defense can remain opportunistic after scoring eight touchdowns a year ago.

The 13-game schedule can be a killer from the standpoint of injuries and fatigue; however, it offers Washington State a chance to lose once while still maintaining some leverage in the BCS formula. (Just ask the Oregon Ducks how much an extra win would have helped their calculation at the end of last season.)

WSU’s non-conference schedule is punctuated by a Sept. 14 trip to Ohio State, a matchup that should give East Coast pollsters a chance to see what this Cougars squad is about. The conference schedule is forgiving, considering that Oregon, Washington and Southern Cal must come to Pullman.

If Price’s tough talk about off-season preparation resonates with this team, 11 wins seems to be a cinch.