COUGARS MAKE MOST OF THEIR LEFTOVERS.

Byline: Bob Rodman The Register-Guard

Even in the out-of-the-way community of Pullman, Wash., one that must seem a million miles from absolutely nowhere, dreams can - and do - come true.

Athletes who can play college football often go elsewhere. Athletes who want to play college football, want to play it with their hearts and souls, frequently surface at Washington State.

"It's not always about the best athlete," said Scott Davis, a WSU sophomore who doubles as a 5-foot-11, 225-pound linebacker.

"It's about who wants to play the hardest. Here, you get a chance."

And a good many of the Cougars, who play host to Oregon in a Pac-10 Conference game on Saturday, seem to make the most of that chance.

Need evidence? In the last three-plus years, Washington State is one of the two winningest programs in the Pac-10 Conference, each with a 33-9 record.

The other big winner? Mighty USC, co-defending national champion and currently ranked No. 1 in the nation.

Washington State also has played in three straight bowl games, winning two of them.

How do the Cougars do it?

"We take chances on guys that other schools would not," said Robin Pflugrad, Washington State's assistant head coach, tight ends coach and recruiting coordinator. "We look for overachievers.

"Our whole program is based on players who have come in under the radar. I don't believe we've ever had a Parade All-American here, maybe one, and he didn't pan out."

But the list of those who have is long and impressive. Kyle Basler, the Pac-10's leading punter, migrated to tiny Pullman from even tinier Elma, Wash.

Will Derting was a first-team all-Pac-10 linebacker last season. He came from Okanogan, rather a ranch near there in the wide, open spaces of north-central Washington. The closest telephone Derting could use to talk to a recruiter was 20 miles away.

Sam Lightbody, a 6-foot-9, 320-pound senior offensive lineman, was not one of those athletes overlooked.

"I got a lot of attention because of my size," said the resident of Huntington Beach, Calif., "but I was not one of those so-called blue-chip guys."

Lightbody had his share of scholarship offers - Fresno State, Hawaii and San Diego State - but only one Pac-10 program ponied up a ride for the big fellow, who had spurred interest in, but not scholarships from, Arizona State, Minnesota, Colorado and Oregon.

"I like Oregon," he said. "I also wanted to compete in track (throwing the discus and shot, which he did at WSU). But Washington State offered and I took it."

So did Alex Brink, the former Sheldon High quarterback who led the Irish to the 2002 Class 4A state championship, passing for 36 touchdowns and nearly 4,000 yards that season.

All that success, however, stirred little interest among college recruiters, save for Portland State, Idaho and Boise State, each of which offered Brink a scholarship.

"I committed to Boise State and a week later Washington State called," the redshirt freshman said. "I took a trip to Pullman, liked it, was offered a scholarship and took it."

Brink said that he was a "little disappointed" that Oregon and Oregon State were pursuing other athletes "but it all worked out real well. I like it here, I like the school (he's targeted sports management for a major and is in the honors college) and I'm in the Pac-10."

Derting is the Cougars' leading tackler with 30; Davis is No. 2 with 27. Lightbody has the NFL's offensive line coaches drooling. Brink, despite not starting a game yet, has played in three and ranks fourth in the Pac-10 for pass efficiency (completing 13-of-25 for 278 yards, one touchdown and one interception).

"I think some of our players come in with a little chip on their shoulders," said Pflugrad, who played his high school football at North Eugene and continues to list his hometown as Eugene after coaching stops at South Eugene High, Portland State, Montana, Arizona State, Northern Arizona and now WSU.

"Some of the other Pac-10 schools did not recruit them and when we play them, our guys are fired up."

The Cougars, new and old, know what's what. Pullman in no way resembles the bright sunshine of Tempe or the bright lights of Los Angeles.

"We can't flex our muscles over facilities and a large budget," Pflugrad said. "We can't compete with the Oregons, Arizona States and Washingtons facility-wise."

So the Cougs locate potential Cougs, their talent possibilities and their character, talk family, education, football and opportunity, and then take a chance.

And, in some cases, so do the athletes.

"I wanted to go someplace completely different," Lightbody said. "My first trip here was in December during the first snow of the season. At first, I thought I made a mistake.

"It took about a year. It was a huge change. But I love this place. It's like, wherever you go, the store, school, anywhere, everybody's a college student."

Brink agreed. "The whole place is centered around the college," he said.

"It's awfully hard to get distracted by the big-city life," Davis said, "because there is none."

OREGON FOOTBALL UPDATE

Aloha, coach Bellotti: Oregon's Mike Bellotti has been selected to serve as one of the head coaches for the Hula Bowl, a postseason all-star game to be held Jan. 22 at War Memorial Stadium on the island of Maui in Hawaii.

Mark Richt of Georgia will be the other head coach, as selected by the American Football Coaches Association. Bellotti is in his first year as a member of the AFCA's board of trustees.

Bellotti said he turned down the chance to coach in the Hula Bowl two years ago while he was searching for a new defensive backs coach, John Neal. One benefit of coaching the team, Bellotti said, will be the input he provides to the player selection process, potentially opening the door for more of his own players to participate.

The Hula Bowl is scheduled to be televised live by ESPN at 5 p.m. PST.

Tickets returned: Approximately 500 reserved seats for the Oct. 16 matchup between Oregon and Arizona at Autzen Stadium were returned by the Wildcats and are now available through the UO ticket office.

The $32 tickets can be purchased in person at the Casanova Center ticket office between 9 a.m. and 5 p.m. Monday through Friday; over the phone by calling 346-4461 or 1-800-WEBFOOT; or online at www.goducks.com.

Lining up: Bellotti said Justin Phinisee will start in place of Marley Tucker (elbow) at rover against Washington State on Saturday.

In place of right tackle Robin Knebel (ankle), also out against the Cougars, either senior Mike DeLaGrange or true freshman Geoff Schwartz will start, Bellotti said.

Also declared out for Saturday's game is receiver Brian Paysinger, who suffered a compound dislocation to one of his fingers during a drill Monday. Demetrius Williams (toe) and Matt Toeaina (ankle) will both play against the Cougars, Bellotti said.

Next game: Saturday at Washington State at 2 p.m. There will be no live telecast.

CAPTION(S):

Sam Lightbody was among the top linemen in the region, but Washington State was the only Pac-10 Conference school to offer him a scholarship. Washington State University