Mkristo Bruce's Diary: Week Two

PULLMAN -- Coug fans, Coug fans of all ages! It's another entry in the Cougfan.com diary of Mkristo Bruce! If you think you know, you have no idea. Since the first week, the players have upped the difficulty level -- increasing the iron and amping up our intensity. Only the strong survive around here. There's no room for half-measures if we want to win the Pac-10 championship. While I’ve been working out during these voluntary summer sessions, there have been some young guys turning my head.

One young player I simply cannot wait to see take the field is Michael Willis. He's a big guy with great speed -- he can really move. I don't know that some of the Pac-10 veterans I've seen can do the things he does. Already in skelly, he's doing stuff that's far from ordinary.

So I say -- Where there’s a Willis, there’s a way!

The next guy is Jason Roberts, whom Adam Braidwood and me have taken under our wings. Jason is an extremely aggressive player who will be a future star at WSU and I can’t wait to see him get on the field.

Another kid I really see maturing is the "Catching Samoan", Anthony Thompson. At first Tony was shy and rough around the edges, and I whipped him around the field for a little while. Then one day Tony blocked me, and he blocked me really good. Ever since that day, I noticed a complete change. He's lifting, running, and working ten times harder to be the best.

These are some of the new guys to look out for in Cougar football.

NOW FOR THE GOOD STUFF -- defensive linemen. We'll start with Aaron Johnson. Aaron is a huge kid that we call Moose. He created a name for himself along the defensive line last season and has nothing but more potential left in him.

Next we have Ropati Pitoitua who we call Poti. This sky scrapin’ Samoan is a force to be reckoned with. I’ve seen him put a 300 pound man and 3 children on his back and run a 4.4 in the 40 yard dash. Backwards. Well, maybe that's overstating it but you get the idea.

Then there's Odell Howard. "The Big Guy" is an athletic force who can make the offensive lineman miss. He's great with his hands, has great potential.

One other guy I have to mention is Bryan Olson whom we call B.O. He's another one of our senior leaders on the Cougs. Ever since I've been here, he's always been there for me, helping me get better and getting better himself. Now in his senior year, I believe he'll seize the opportunity and battle for turns at the tackle position.

YOU ALL MAY have noticed I've left someone out. Well, that’s because he needs his own section.

Adam Braidwood is not only the leader of the defensive line, but a great team leader too. If I had to pick one guy to go to battle with, it would be Adam. And so would a lot of other guys -- I know, because the question was posed one day and the answer was unanimous -- Adam Braidwood. All I know is Adam is the player the d-linemen look to for direction, and he's doing a tremendous job this summer.

But on that note, Adam and I have to go do some extra work on our technique, so until next time Coug fans! If you have any questions, post them on the CF.C message boards and I’ll do my best to answer them!

Mkristo, No. 94

Mkristo Bruce is a junior defensive end from Renton's Liberty High, where he was an all league linebacker and quarterback. In 2004, Bruce started all 11 games at Washington State, leading the Cougs in both sacks and tackles for loss. Along with wide receiver Michael Bumpus, he graciously volunteered to give CF.C readers a window unto the world of pre-season Cougar football preparation with a weekly diary.