Wolf Lodge Wa

Washington St. coach Paul Wulff: Q&A

Paul Wulff has experienced both the highs and lows of Washington State football.

He played on the offensive line for Cougars teams that won just three games each in 1986 and '87. Then he played on the 1988 team that won nine games and finished in the AP top 20 under Dennis Erickson. As a senior, he played for Mike Price, who went on to lead the Cougs to two Rose Bowl berths.

Wulff enters his fourth season as head coach at his alma mater with a 5-32 record, but he knows the distance that must be covered to properly complete an extensive rebuilding project. So as Washington State aims for its first winning season since 2003, Page 2 interviewed the former Eastern Washington head coach during his recent visit to ESPN headquarters. Here's what transpired:

Page 2: How sick are you of hearing "Paul Wulff is on hot seat"?

Wulff: It gets old, because I knew when I got there that we had a rebuilding job. I didn't know the extent of it. I didn't realize it was going to be as big of a job as it ended up being. But we're on pace, and we're doing great things. Our talent is way better. Our discipline is way better. Our grades are way better.

We got docked scholarships [for a low academic progress report score] the first year I got there. We had to dismiss a lot of kids that had off-field issues. We only operated with 72 scholarships my first year and 73 my second -- from a total of 85 -- and then 77 in my third. No human in the world is going to win enough games in those years for someone not to be called "on the hot seat."

It could've been Vince Lombardi there. It could've been Bill Walsh. No one was going to win games until we brought in enough talent, got some experience and got 'em older. ... We were playing seven freshmen on defense out of the 11 last year a lot of the season. You can't ask anyone to win at any level of college with that amount of youth on your program.

18 Tips for Visiting Great Wolf Lodge in Grand Mound, Washington

Before heading to any big-ticket, big-adventure resort, it’s always best to ask an expert for tips. I asked three BC and Washington State moms who have repeatedly visited Great Wolf Lodge for their best tips, and added a few more tips from my own research. Of course, these are just opinions and suggestions. You may have your own spin on a Great Wolf Lodge stay.

The bunk-style suite rooms (Wolf Den, KidKamp and Kid Cabin) are cute and fun, “but we have found that you are not in your room long enough to make them worth the cost if you can fit in a smaller room,” says frequent Great Wolf Lodge visitor and Kelso, Wash., mom Melissa Parcel. Check Great Wolf Lodge’s website with special deals and coupon codes when booking; remember that the resort fee and taxes do add a decent amount to the final price.

For a quieter room, request a room away from the stairwells and on the opposite side of the I-5 freeway. Ask when making the reservation and upon check in. Although there’s a rule about “quiet time” in the evenings, guests do say that unaccompanied children playing MagiQuest down the hallways can be an earful.

If you think you want the on-site breakfast buffet — after considering point #9 below — book it in advance when making your hotel reservation. The total for four people is $40 when purchased in advance and includes drinks. If you buy buffet on-site, it’ll cost $13.95 per adult and $8.95 per child, and does not include drinks.

To avoid crazy lines at these Washington water slides and to take advantage of great deals, head to GWL during the midweek. But ask if the hotel’s hosting a convention during your stay, suggests Korene Torney, a Victoria, British Columbia mom to two girls. Conventions can stretch the hotel’s capacity.

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