AP

Washington State head coach Paul Wulff directs offensive linemen Chris Prummer (57) and Vaughn Lesuma (55) during the opening practice of the 2008 college football season, Tuesday, Aug. 5, 2008, in Pullman, Wash.

PULLMAN, Wash. - There's this weird T-shirt making the rounds, showing new Washington State football coach Paul Wulff, his eyes glowing yellow, with the caption "Hungry Like The Wulff."

"You're kidding," the coach said. "I hadn't seen that."

It's to be expected, perhaps, that many WSU fans are focusing on Wulff as training camp moves into its second week, rather than on players who are predicted to finish last in the Pacific-10.

Wulff, who came out of low-profile Eastern Washington University, is looking forward to moving out of the spotlight.

"I'm looking for that to be over," Wulff said, adding, "I'd rather be in the back of the pack."

The Wulff pack?

Wulff, a former center for WSU, replaced Bill Doba eight months ago.

He inherited a team that returned 15 starters from last year's 5-7 squad, including nine on defense. But the defense allowed a Pac-10-worst 32.4 points per game.

The offense lost five starters, including record-setting quarterback Alex Brink and receiver Michael Bumpus. Back is most of the offensive line, plus all-Pac-10 first-team receiver Brandon Gibson.

The Cougars will also feature a no-huddle, up-tempo offense guided by new offensive coordinator Todd Sturdy, who came over from EWU with Wulff. That offense averaged 33.6 points per game last season for Eastern, as the Eagles went 9-4.

But it's a complicated offense to execute as the players struggle to play at that speed.

With Brink gone to the Houston Texans, the starting quarterback job is currently in the hands of 6-foot-6 senior Gary Rogers. But he is being challenged by Kevin Lopina, who transferred from Kansas State two years ago.

The leading returning rusher is Dwight Tardy, who gained 676 yards on 143 carries before tearing his left ACL on the final play of a 214-yard effort against UCLA on Oct. 27. Tardy has recovered quickly and is practicing.

The Cougars open the season Aug. 30 against Oklahoma State in Seattle.