Since many fans can remember, WSU football has been lauded for its ability to recruit and develop NFL-caliber quarterbacks.

Pac-10 legends like Jack Thompson, Mark Rypien, Timm Rosenbach, Drew Bledsoe, Ryan Leaf and Jason Gesser put up fantastic numbers while in Pullman. However, a school that proclaims itself as “Quarterback U” has been mired by a rash of injuries and inconsistent play from the position over the past two years.

Why? Poor line play, questionable coaching schemes and terribly misjudged recruiting decisions.

The Cougars fielded four quarterbacks this season. The offensive line was abysmal, depressing, awful. Call it what you will; it was bad. Kenny Alfred was the only ray of hope, and not even a talented quarterback like Colt McCoy could have led this team to a winning record with such poor blocking.

Though Athletics Director Jim Sterk endorsed Paul Wulff through next season, it would be wise to take a serious look at the job offensive line coach Harold Etheridge is doing.

During Etheridge’s two year-tenure, Gary Rogers broke his neck, Kevin Lopina broke his neck and tore his oblique, Marshall Lobbestael blew out his knee and Jeff Tuel seriously injured his kneecap. This trend of injuries to the Cougars’ most important players clearly indicates that some sort of changes should be made before 2010. Cougar linemen looked especially confused and disjointed throughout much of this season, despite the fact they were thought to be one of this team’s strengths heading into the year.

Even with a highly inconsistent line, there still were big plays. Unfortunately we simply did not have the right man to distribute the ball for much of the year. While Lobbestael was my personal favorite to win the starting job heading into fall camp, his propensity to turn the ball over disappointed all who rested the program’s hopes on his shoulders.

The most infuriating aspect of Saturday’s 30-0 Apple Cup pounding was thinking how we might have played if the previous coaching staff headed by Bill Doba did not let the one obviously talented recruit slip through their fingers. Heisman Trophy contender and Boise State quarterback Kellen Moore was interested in becoming a Cougar. However, WSU passed up the Prosser High School product because of his 6-foot-1, 180- pound stature.

“I’ve loved WSU for a long time,” Moore said in a 2006 article on Cougfan.com.

Despite his interest, WSU failed to even offer the impressive gunslinger a scholarship. They somehow overlooked his 11,323 passing yards and 172 touchdown passes in three years starting for the Prosser Mustangs, while determining his success wouldn’t translate to the D-I level. How has the decision worked out for the Cougars? Moore has lost one collegiate start in two years while the Cougars have won a meager three games.

Imagine Moore throwing beautiful fades to receivers Jared Karstetter and Jeffrey Solomon down the Martin Stadium sideline in front of a rejuvenated, devoted Cougar fan base. Seats to Martin Stadium’s future loge and luxury suites would be sold out, and WSU would land its first legitimate top 25 recruiting class. Tuel would step in ready to take the reins in 2012, thus the Cougars would be a consistent force in the Pac-10 for years to come.