Published: September 08, 2006 01:41 am            

Huskies trying to come back

It wasn’t very long ago, Washington football was the pride of the Pacific Northwest.

From 1975-1992, Don James had the Huskies running like clockwork, collecting a bushel of Rose Bowl titles and a national championship in 1991.

There’s even a 28-17 thumping of Oklahoma in the 1985 Orange Bowl Sooner coach Bob Stoops is quick to point out.

“We talked to our players about the 1985 game, when they beat us in the Orange Bowl,” Stoops said. “(The Huskies) are a prideful, strong program with a strong tradition.”

But since those glory days of the early 1990s, hard times have hit the Huskies.

After James stepped down following the 1992 season, things haven’t been quite the same.

Jim Lambright went 44-25-1 over six seasons. In 1999, Rick Neuheisel bolted from Colorado, expecting to restore the program. He claimed a Rose Bowl title in 2000, but an NCAA scandal concerning his involvement in an NCAA Tournament pool ended his tenure.

Since, the Huskies have been mired in a purple haze. Their last winning season was Neuheisel’s last year, going 7-6 in 2002.

Over the last three years, the Huskies have gone just 9-25, including 2-9 last season under first-year coach Tyrone Willingham.

He admits there’s some rebuilding to do.

“We’re making progress,” he said. “The only way you measure that is by wins and the first year we did not have enough wins. Hopefully, we’ll improve that this year.”

Washington did manage to top San Jose State 35-29 in last Saturday’s season opener. It might not sound like much and it isn’t.

But when you consider it was the Huskies’ first season-opening victory since 2001, it was a step in the right direction.

Quarterback Isaiah Stanback, who might be the best athlete OU faces all season, is the key to the immediate future.

The senior from Seattle has a strong arm and sprinter’s speed. He finished fifth in the 100 meters at the 2006 Pac-10 Track and Field Championships.

“We’re excited about what Isaiah brings simply because it’s rare to have that gifted an athlete at quarterback,” Willingham said. “He’s truly a gifted one.”

Last Saturday, he threw for 168 yards and rushed for 102 on 17 carries. Louis Russo caught five of those tosses and running back Louis Rankin also piled up 145 yards on just 10 carries.

Defense remains an issue. The Huskies allowed 24 points or more six times last season. Allowing San Jose State to roll up 373 yards and 19 first downs doesn’t give an indication that trend will end soon.

There’s no doubt Washington’s place in college football history is well-earned. Its place in the present is what Willingham is trying to elevate.

He believes the tough times will end soon.

“I know this stuff is cyclical,” he said. “There’s going to be ups and there’s going to downs. Good programs and even great programs around the country are subject to the ups and downs. You only hope that they are short-lived.”

John Shinn366-3536jshinn@normantranscript.com

        

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