Copyright © 2009 Ed Bagley
In a scant 60 minutes, the University of Washington’s entire football program went from a lingering negative impact since the departure of legendary coach Don James in 1993, to a positive impact when the Huskies opened their 2009 season against No. 11-ranked Louisiana State University.
Don James is affectionately known as the “Dawgfather” on the U-Dub campus. He is the role model for successful coaches at the University of Washington. James won 22 consecutive games from 1990 to 1992, a national championship, and took the Huskies to 6 Rose Bowls (4-2) and 15 bowl games (10-5) in 18 years.
His 153-57-2 record (a 72% winning percentage) is the standard by which all others are measured. When the Dawgfather speaks, even 16 years after being an active coach, hundreds of people line up to listen intently, and well they should. Fans greet him the reverence and respect he has earned.
Sixteen years of not performing up to Husky football standards had gone beyond tarnishing the image of Washington as an every-year Pac-10 contender and premiere national program to a dismal, inexcusable 0-12 team last year. Clearly, change was not only in order, it had become a “life and death issue” that was not going away.
Enter University of Washington’s President Mark Emmert and new Director of Athletics Scott Woodward and “BAM!”—like Emeril Lagasse putting spice into a recipe—the Huskies had a new head coach, Steve Sarkisian, and a new defensive coordinator and assistant head coach, Nick Holt. Both came from University of Southern California’s program, where Sarkisian was the assistant head coach and offensive coordinator, and Holt was the defensive coordinator.
USC has been the most consistently successful football program in the country during the past 7 years. The Trojans have won at least 10 games a season for the past 7 years, and have been in 7 consecutive BCS (Bowl Championship Series) games—winning 6 of 7 BCS games, including the National Championship against Oklahoma in 2004. Their only BCS loss was to Texas in the 2005 National Championship Game.
Both the consecutive 10-win seasons and the number of BCS appearances are records. Along with head coach Pete Carroll, Sarkisian and Holt were an integral part of USC’s success, and now they are patrolling the field and sidelines at Husky Stadium.
The doors which barred key boosters, parents, fans and supporters from attending Husky practice and participating in Husky nation under the old regime were thrown open again. No more silence and no more exclusion as the old brain trust systematically screwed up the program almost beyond repair.
In through the open doors flew new enthusiasm, a new start, a new system, and a new chance for the great unwashed and undisciplined to come back into the fold. Now former players and coaches are once again welcomed and encouraged to participate in the Huskies’ drive to success.
The Huskies, who have had to endure 14 straight losses, endured another one in their opener at home against LSU. But there was a clear difference: the Huskies won the battle of ball movement but lost the war, 31-23, while something very important happened.
The LSU Tigers and their coaching staff said and did all of the right things leading up to the kickoff, but inside they were really full of themselves in spite of themselves, all smart and snotty and ready to stomp the Huskies silly. But, as Mark Twain once declared, “the news of his death has been greatly exaggerated.”
The Tigers left Husky Stadium realizing they had to do everything humanly possible to come out with a victory. There would be no crowing on the flight back to Baton Rouge. Amen. Husky football is back with a roar, young talent, intensity and a newfound hope for excellent execution on every play.
Forget a play-by-play description of what happened when the No. 11-ranked LSU Tigers came to Seattle. Here is all you need to know to realize the Huskies are back:
1) Washington received the opening kickoff and promptly moved down the field in a 10-play, 79-yard drive that culminated with a 17-yard touchdown pass to James Johnson. Johnson, who is 6-0 and 193, is a true freshman. He had 6 catches for 63 yards in his first college game.
2) Chris Polk picked up 90 yards on 21 carries for a 4.2 average per carry, including a breakaway run of 33 yards, and other runs for 12, 12, 9 and 9 yards. Polk, who is 5-11 and 210, is a redshirt freshman.
3) Jake Locker went 25-for-45 for 321 yards and 2 touchdowns—the 17-yarder to James Johnson and a 9-yarder to Kavario Middleton. Locker, who is 6-3 and 226, is a junior who is learning to be an NFL pocket passer under Sarkisian’s new system. Locker is a running threat with speed, and picked up 51 yards in 12 carries, including runs to convert first downs and keep drives alive.
Locker was responsible for giving up points in Washington’s second drive of the night. He threw into coverage on a sideline pattern and Tiger linebacker Jacob Cutrera intercepted the ball and returned it untouched for 29 yards and a defensive TD. All things considered, Locker did well in his first attempt under a new system as an NFL pocket passer.
4) In addition to completing passes to James Johnson (6 catches for 63 yards) and Kavrio Middleton (5 for 45), Locker also completed passes to 7 other receivers—Devin Aguilar (4 catches for 76 yards), Johri Fogerson (2 for 58), Chris Polk (2 for 34), D’Andre Goodwin (2 for 19), Jermaine Kearse (2 for 12), Jordan Polk (1 for 12), and Paul Homer (1 for 2). Locker was going through his reads.
5) Homer is a senior fullback and Goodwin a junior wide receiver, but 5 others are sophomores—wide receivers Aguilar, Kearse and Chris Polk, tailback Fogerson, and tight end Middleton—while Jordan Polk is a redshirt freshman tailback, and Johnson is a true freshman. Ah, youth and talent.
6) Sarkisian’s new look offense outgained LSU by 157 yards, 428 to 321, and the Huskies ran 83 plays to LSU’s 48.
7) Sarkisian’s offense went beyond midfield and into Tiger territory on 9 of 11 drives. The Huskies were moving the ball. Forgerson did let a ball drop in the end zone that should have been a Husky TD, and Chris Polk did fumble on the Tiger 5-yard line on another drive. The Huskies are still young, still inexperienced and did make mistakes, but they also put on a show that spelled P-R-O-G-R-E-S-S is on the way.
Five times the Huskies were in the red zone and had to settle for field goals and endure a turnover. The LSU Tigers had to be shaking in the cleats, wondering if they could hold the fort from a varied attack.
The message is now clear—Washington Husky football is back. Steve Sarkisian is going to spread the field, he is going to get a lot of players involved on the field, and he is not afraid to play young, talented position players immediately.
