After spending the past 15 years at Eastern Washington, the final eight as head coach, Wulff is the first WSU letter-winner and alum to lead WSU's football program in nearly 60 years.
Wulff, like Gundy, has risen through the ranks because of offensive X's and O's.
Eastern Washington led the Football Championship Subdivision, formerly known as Division I-AA, in total offense in 2001. The Eagles were fourth in total offense in 2004 and 2005 and were sixth last season.
Similar to Gundy, Wulff's first priority is to instill discipline his first season. WSU has had 25 players arrested or charged with offenses that carried possible jail time the past two years.
OSU's roster wasn't plagued with that many police blotter incidents when Gundy took over after Les Miles bolted to LSU. But Gundy dismissed eight players his first year on the job.
Another similarity between the two head coaches? Wulff is a man. He's 40. Or he was until a few months ago. (They're almost the same age. Wulff is six months older.)
The biggest difference, though, between Wulff and Gundy is the paths they took to land their dream job.
Gundy was a Division I-A assistant for 15 years. Wulff spent 15 years in Division I-AA, but was a head coach the final eight seasons.
Under Wulff, Eastern Washington made the Division I-AA playoffs three times, including a trip to the quarterfinals last year where they lost to perennial power Appalachian State.
The big question is how long will it take for Wulff to find similar success at the Division I-A level.
Washington State hasn't been to a bowl in four years, but the Cougars have won the Pac 10 twice the past 11 seasons, including a trip to the Rose Bowl in 2002.
Ohio State's Jim Tressel proved I-AA coaches can make the jump. Tressel led Youngstown State to four national titles and two national runner-up finishes during his 15-year tenure.
Whether Wulff can turn things around immediately remains to be seen.
OSU will be favored in the season opener on Aug. 30, and they'll have more talent.
Washington State, though, will have the home-field advantage. The game will be played in Seattle, where the Cougars have 61,000 alumni and have played a game at Qwest Field the past six years.
Regardless of who wins the opener, the similarities between Wulff and Gundy can't be denied.
Gundy said being named head coach at his alma mater was his "New York Yankees job.”
Wulff had a similar comment when he was named head coach in December: "It was a far, way-out-there dream, but I didn't realize it was going to happen until it did.”
Wulff knows one huge key to endearing himself to fans is to fare well against his in-state rival.
The day he was hired, besides stating he's always hated the color purple Wulff said: "One thing I told President (Elson) Floyd is dogs bite and bark but Cougars hunt and kill.”
Young. Charismatic. Offensive pedigree. Dream job.
Sounds a lot like Mike Gundy.
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Richard, shut the h*** up, jerk! We all know that the context of Gundy's "I'm a man" comment had NOTHING to do with his "manhood" as you stated....the reference was to NOT pick on a 21 year old boy, pick on a GROWN man. Had said "pick on me, I'm a grown man", this would never had the legs with you mf's.
They're alumni at the school they coach at and... and... and... they're around the same age... that's it? How special!
Now for the differences:
1. Wuff has a WINNING, 53-40 record as a Head Coach. Gundy has a LOSING, 18-19 record.
2. The powers-to-be at WSU didn't hire a green and unexperienced Head Coach to break in (alum or not), they waited until he had some experience, then only after he proved his worth by winning did they hire him. On the other hand, Gundy was hired after a extensive world-wide search for the very best coach on the planet earth... and Boone said that it was going to be Gundy... or... (how did he put it?) "one of your biggest donars might become less enthusiastic"... or something like that.
3. To the best of my knowledge, in all of Paul Wuff's coaching experience, he never felt compelled to declare his manhood by referencing his age in a public outburst designed to maul a younger person... a girl no less. "I'm a man..."
4. Dark hair vs light hair... they're are more differences but you get the idea.
FINAL: OSU 77, WSU 73! haha! Nahh this should be a good OOC win for OSU. Even though it's away, it shouldn't be a problem. Just hope that those pesky Pac 10 refs don't try to help out as much as they can. ;)
Scott, Indian Territory - Jul 14, 2008 at 10:05 am
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Paul Wulff is the first Washington State alumnus in almost 60 years to lead the Cougars. Associated press
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They're alumni at the school they coach at and... and... and... they're around the same age... that's it? How special!
Now for the differences:
1. Wuff has a WINNING, 53-40 record as a Head Coach. Gundy has a LOSING, 18-19 record.
2. The powers-to-be at WSU didn't hire a green and unexperienced Head Coach to break in (alum or not), they waited until he had some experience, then only after he proved his worth by winning did they hire him. On the other hand, Gundy was hired after a extensive world-wide search for the very best coach on the planet earth... and Boone said that it was going to be Gundy... or... (how did he put it?) "one of your biggest donars might become less enthusiastic"... or something like that.
3. To the best of my knowledge, in all of Paul Wuff's coaching experience, he never felt compelled to declare his manhood by referencing his age in a public outburst designed to maul a younger person... a girl no less. "I'm a man..."
4. Dark hair vs light hair... they're are more differences but you get the idea.