Battle Of Qbs Key For WSU -- Davis Must Improve Against Fresno State

PULLMAN - There might be no one who has more respect for Fresno State as a burgeoning football power than Mike Price.

But the Washington State University coach says Fresno State's reputation will not be his prime concern today when his Cougars open their home schedule, meeting the Bulldogs at Martin Stadium.

"I might be a little bit different in my approach," Price said yesterday. "I'm more interested in our guys playing up to their potential."

Price said that was the approach he took going into the season opener against Illinois and believes it paid off in a 10-9 victory in Chicago.

"We weren't concerned with how good Illinois was or its ranking or where we were playing them," Price said. "We were concerned with going out and having some fun and playing our game."

In part because of the win over Illinois, the Cougars are favored by seven points over the defending Western Athletic Conference champions, who are 1-1. They lost to Ohio State in the Pigskin Classic in Anaheim, 34-10, and beat San Jose State in Fresno, 45-13.

The game could revolve around how well the young quarterbacks - sophomores Chad Davis of WSU and Adrian Claiborne of Fresno State - play against veteran defenses. Both are first-year starters.

Price said he is more concerned about Davis eliminating mistakes than he is about his statistics. Although Davis accounted for only 95 passing yards in going 11 for 23 against Illinois, two fumbles, an interception and a goal-line center-snap bobble further marred his debut.

"My No. 1 area of concern for Chad Davis is that when he scrambles he keeps both hands on the football and secures the football when he gets tackled," Price said. "I want to make sure our offensive team scores a touchdown when we get near the goal line."

Price said he is confident Davis' statistics will improve.

All Claiborne is being asked to do is replace the NCAA's pass-efficiency champion from last season, Trent Dilfer, who has gone to his professional reward as the first-round choice (sixth pick overall) of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.

"Adrian is a gem in the rough," said Fresno State Coach Jim Sweeney, 65. "He has a lot of tools, including a great escape dimension. But I hope he doesn't run the football as recklessly as he has been because I'd like to see him be around to see my 17th grandchild when it's born."

That event, Sweeney said, is expected to occur at halftime of the BYU game Oct. 8.

Claiborne, from Riverside, Calif., is off to a good start. He has completed 63 percent of his passes (26 of 41, one interception) for 458 yards and five touchdowns.

Price mentioned Claiborne's ability to scramble out of the pocket and his receivers, primarily Charlie Jones and David Dunn, as "big-play threats." Jones has caught eight passes for 184 yards (23.0 average); Dunn has caught seven for 92 yards.

Another concern, Price said, are "tricky plays" Sweeney, who was WSU's head coach for seven years (1968-75), is expected to use.

"He's been calling and telling me all the plays he's going to run," said Price, who was an assistant coach on Sweeney's WSU staff in 1974 and 1975. "And knowing him, if he runs one of the 10 or 15 or 20 plays he said he's going to run and it works he'll say, `I even called the guy and told him.' "

Notes

-- Fresno State is 11-6 against Pac-10 teams during Jim Sweeney's 16 years as the Bulldogs' head coach. That includes a 24-7 victory over USC in the 1992 Freedom Bowl. . . . None of WSU's four first-year freshmen who made the trip to Illinois played in the game. . . . Cougar free safety John Rushing has recovered from a concussion suffered against Illinois and will start his 36th consecutive game. The senior has started every game he has played for the Cougars. . . . None of the WSU receivers, be they wideouts or tight ends, has caught a touchdown pass. In fact, none of the tight ends has caught a pass.

Probable starting lineups

WASHINGTON STATE

Offense

Split end - Chris Carpenter, 6-1, 200, So.; tackles - Scott Sanderson, 6-7, 276, So., and Clay Reis, 6-8, 295, Sr.; guards - Ron Lewis, 6-3, 298, Sr., and Paul Reed, 6-3, 285, Sr.; center - Marc McCloskey, 6-4, 308, Jr.; tight end - Eric Moore, 6-5, 240, Jr.; quarterback - Chad Davis, 6-2, 200, So.; slotback - Jay Dumas, 6-2, 170, Jr.; running back - Derek Sparks, 6-0, 220, Jr.; flanker - Albert Kennedy, 6-3, 200, Sr.

Defense

Ends - Dwayne Sanders, 6-7, 245, Jr., and DeWayne Patterson, 6-1, 250, Sr.; tackles - Chad Eaton, 6-4, 285, Sr., and Don Sasa, 6-4, 292, Sr.; outside linebackers - Ron Childs, 6-1, 216, Sr., and Chris Hayes, 6-0, 202, Jr.; inside linebacker - Mark Fields, 6-2, 238, Sr.; cornerbacks - Torey Hunter, 5-9, 176, Sr., and Ray Jackson, 6-2, 203, So.; strong safety - Singor Mobley, 6-0, 187, Sr.; free safety - John Rushing, 5-11, 198, Sr.

FRESNO STATE

Offense

Wide receivers - David Dunn, 6-3, 210, Sr., and Charlie Jones, 5-10, 170, Jr.; tackles - Chris Conrad, 6-7, 280, Fr., and Jason James, 6-5, 305, Sr.; guards - Brian Malcolm, 6-2, 285, Jr., and Dan Han, 6-4, 310, Jr.; center - Gary Osmundson, 6-3, 275, So.; tight end - Todd Koenig, 6-7, 250, So.; quarterback - Adrian Claiborne, 6-3, 200, So.; tailback - Michael Pittman, 6-0, 200, So.; fullback - Sal Mejico, 5-10, 220, Sr.

Defense

Ends - Chris Rockwell, 6-5, 255, Sr., and Danny Williams, 6-4, 250, So.; nose guard - Demetrius Edwards, 6-3, 285, Sr.; outside linebackers - Steve Casner, 6-3, 230, Jr., and Ron Papazian, 6-1, 225, Sr.; middle linebacker - T.C. Wolfgramm, 6-0, 220, Jr.; rover - Gene Smith, 6-4, 235, Jr.; cornerbacks - Larry Cook, 5-11, 175, Sr., and Woody Green, 5-11, 195, Fr.; strong safety - Omar Stoutmire, 5-11, 195, So.; free safety - Lance Thomas, 5-11, 190, Sr.