WSU looks to end road woes

The Washington State Cougars are 2-0 for the first time since 2005, but their first real test comes today when the Cougars (2-0) travel to face an undefeated San Diego State (2-0) squad.

"We just have to remain focused," junior safety Tyree Toomer said. "It's going to be the first college road trip for a lot of players, so it's up to the older guys to handle this like a business trip and show these guys how you carry yourself on the road."

During coach Paul Wulff's three years at the school, Washington State has had more slips on the road than a game of Chutes and Ladders - winning just once away from the friendly confines of Martin Stadium, at Oregon State last season.

That win appears to have been the catalyst for this season's rise. Since that game, the Cougars look like an entirely different football team.

"It's like night and day. You can just see it - how we are acting, our confidence," Tommer said. "You can see it around town with the students and the people around us. It seems like everybody is a lot happier and bringing a lot more energy to practices and a lot more enthusiasm."

Washington State believes the momentum that has been built up over the past two weeks will help carry it over the hump against an Aztec team that won nine games a season ago.

"At the end of the day, it's still football," Toomer said. "It's just a different location. You can't get distracted by the crowd and the different setting."

Easier said than done for Washington State - at least the program from the past few seasons. This year's group may be ready to turn it around, and with its next three games on the road - at San Diego State, Colorado and UCLA - the picture will soon become clear.

"Preparation is the same for every game. Obviously we are going to have to think about traveling and the buses and the hotel, but we stay in a hotel the night before homes games too," quarterback Marshall Lobbestael said. "We just have to prepare like it's a regular game."