"We had two guys quit after first few games last year. My job is to expose their ass right now."

Just a few games into last year, during his second full-year leading the program at Washington State, Jake Dickert had two players quit on the team.

That experience provided the second-year Coogs coach with a new perspective heading into his second camp in Pullman.

"We don't dwell on the past, but we do learn from it," Dickert shared after today's fall camp practice.

"We had two guys quit after the first couple games last year. My job is to expose their ass right now. If you're going to be that guy, I'm going to find out right now."

Finding the weak links on your team is an area of focus for a lot of coaches as training camps get started around the country, but Dickert's comment makes it clear that it is a very intentional concentration for him and his staff heading into their season opener against Portland State at the end of the month.

Dickert and company are looking to rebound after a 5-7 season last fall that saw them lose two-year starting quarterback Cam Ward to Miami in the transfer portal after throwing for over 3,200 yards each season with the Cougars and before even taking a snap for the 'Canes Ward was selected as the preseason ACC Player of the Year yesterday.