Washington State coach Paul Wulff rewards players

Wulff splashed down He had his equipment staff set up a tarpaulin simulating a red Slip 'N Slide, just beyond a practice-field end zone, and WSU spent about 10 minutes with players and coaches careening some 50 feet on the water-soaked plastic."It's nice to get a reward for working so hard," said freshman receiver Marquess Wilson.

It was a sight. In one moment, 315-pound guard B.J. Guerra stalled a few feet from the end of the tarp and was overrun by 304-pound guard-tackle Wade Jacobson.

There were races, and there were players trying to negotiate the distance standing up. Wulff splashed down, as did some of his assistant coaches."It made the day awesome," said Jacobson, a JC transfer expected to start for the Cougars.

It's a long way from the days of the Junction Boys, the book/movie that told the story of coach Paul "Bear" Bryant brutalizing his first Texas A&M team in 1954 in a wicked Texas drought during fall camp.