Mon, Dec 01, 2008
 The Wildcats won't get a chance to contain the Huskies' Jake Locker as they did last year. The versatile quarterback is out with an injury. ELAINE THOMPSON / THE ASSOCIATED PRESS 2007
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Assessment Technology, Inc Social Studies Content Writer General CORT WAREHOUSE/DRIVER Construction Komatsu Equipment Co Mechanic General CORT Warehouse Supervisor Health Care Rio Salado College PA's/Online Instructors UA SportsWildcats Football '08Tucson, Arizona | Published: 10.04.2008
piling on washington
UW coach on hot seat with record of 11-29
Tyrone Willingham has been the object of scorn for most of his three-plus seasons as Washington's coach.
This week, Arizona's Mike Stoops — no stranger to the hot seat — tried to impart a little perspective.
"Nobody looks at the circumstances that surround the facts," he said. "Be fair."
The fact is, no team in the country has it worse than Washington.
The Huskies have played college football's toughest schedule, losing to top-ranked Oklahoma, No. 8 BYU, No. 23 Oregon and unranked Stanford. UW will face the Arizona Wildcats today at 4:30 p.m. without star quarterback Jake Locker, who will miss 6 to 8 weeks with a broken thumb. The Huskies must still face USC and Cal on the road, and play Notre Dame at home.
"To play five conference teams on the road, and then play BYU, Notre Dame and Oklahoma … I'm not a rocket scientist, I'm not an athletic director, but c'mon," Stoops said.
"Put two and two together, and it makes it very, very difficult."
Willingham, 11-29 in his three-plus years as the Huskies' coach, is feeling the heat.
Last month's hiring of Scott Woodward as UW's athletic director has fueled further speculation that the program will make a coaching change sooner rather than later.
Willingham has done his best to remain unflappable, even as his team's season disintegrates.
"The first thing is, it's called being a pro and being a leader," he said. "I do believe I'm very good at my job. You've got to keep moving forward, and I have that responsibility of taking people forward — and that responsibility is very valued."
The Huskies' aggressive schedule has marred what many thought would be a breakthrough year following 5-7 and 4-9 seasons.
Meanwhile, Arizona (3-1, 1-0) seems headed in the right direction — in part because of its favorable nonconference schedule. Idaho, Toledo and New Mexico are a combined 4-10 this season — and a main reason why Arizona is off to its best start in the Stoops era.
Tuitama's outreach program
Wildcat QB heaps praise on injured friend Locker
Arizona Wildcats quarterback Willie Tuitama text-messaged Washington's Jake Locker earlier this week to ask how his thumb was doing.
It was more than just a professional courtesy, or a chance for advanced scouting.
Tuitama and Locker have been friends since this summer, when they attended two of the same camps. The two hung out at the Pac-10 Conference's media day, and have kept in touch throughout the season.
"He's one of the best players in the Pac-10," Tuitama said.
"He can run the ball, he can throw the ball, and he's one of the leaders of their team. Anytime you lose a starting quarterback that's a part of their offense … . He's kind of like Dennis Dixon at Oregon last year, where he could run the ball and throw the ball as well."
The last time
Rally to win was simple as 'Wing flip, 2 fly, 54'
● Date: Oct. 27, 2007
● What went down: The Arizona Wildcats scored 22 unanswered points in the fourth quarter to defeat Washington 48-41 at Husky Stadium. The Wildcats scored touchdowns with 11 minutes, 9 minutes and 2 minutes remaining to salvage a bad game — and possibly save coach Mike Stoops' job. "It gave us a lot of momentum," Stoops said this week. "It gave us life."
● How it read: The Star's Greg Hansen wrote: "We all know what happens to Arizona in the 2-minute drill, third-and-long, tie game. Sack, right? Intercepted pass. Illegal procedure. … Nevertheless, with 2:10 remaining Saturday at Husky Stadium, tied at 41, Arizona offensive coordinator Sonny Dykes, absorbed the moment and acted swiftly. It was third-and-seven at Washington's 27. From what he insists is a 'simple' playbook, he called 'Wing flip, 2 fly, 54.' "
● Turning point: Well, it has to be "Wing flip, 2 fly, 54." Quarterback Willie Tuitama took the snap and checked down his receivers. The first four were covered, but the fifth — wide receiver Mike Thomas — was open in the end zone. Tuitama found him for the touchdown, and Arizona took a 48-41 lead with 2:02 remaining. Antoine Cason secured the win with an interception.
● It's history: The high-wire act in Seattle turned around a miserable season. Arizona won two of its next three and ended 5-7.
Cats at front of class
Untested UA passing 'D' ranked tops in nation
The Arizona Wildcats have the nation's top-rated passing defense, and for good reason: Few teams have challenged them with deep passes this season.
Toledo and New Mexico relied on screens to move the ball. UCLA kept its offense vanilla, in part because it was without its top three players.
And Idaho was, well, Idaho.
"Nobody throws deep," safety Nate Ness said. "But as long as we're getting the job done, man, I don't care. A W's a W."
Look for that to change today against Washington. Arizona's defensive coaches will likely stack the box to combat the Huskies' power running game. That likely would put the Wildcats' defenders in man-to-man coverage against Washington's receivers, leaving the door open for deep pass attempts.
Bring it on, cornerback Devin Ross said.
"Thus far, they haven't gone deep on me. Hopefully they do, because I want to get balls, and I want to get interceptions," he said. "I'm ready to make a play."
IN HIS OWN WORDS
Why I chose UA over UW
Grant verbally committed to the University of Washington in 2004, just before his senior season at Puyallup (Wash.) High School. But the Huskies' tenuous coaching situation and Arizona's need for offensive linemen prompted a change of heart.
Grant, the Wildcats' starting right tackle, talked to the Star this week about his decision to choose the UA:
"I'm from the (Seattle) area, literally 30 minutes south, so I'd go to games there all the time. My favorite player was Cody Pickett — he was a great quarterback. We had at my high school Billy Joe Hobert, who went there, too.
"Washington approached me and offered me (a scholarship) in the summertime, and I committed there because it was my dream school to go to.
"But things change. … (Washington) kept me in the dark. I didn't know what was going on with their coaching situation. They didn't even tell me who was on their list of possible coaches. … I didn't want to go somewhere where I didn't know what was going to happen. My dad told me (UA coach Mike) Stoops was down here, and it sounded great. We sent some film down, then I came down for my visit, and it was a great fit. I've been waiting to play U-Dub for three years now.
"I want to play these guys, and do what I can to just dominate. It's excitement. It's the rush. It's like, you're ready to go. It's the magic of the moment."
Unofficial coach
Injured center Kerley has healthy sense of humor
Arizona Wildcats center Blake Kerley is adjusting to life on the injured list.
He even has a new, civilian nickname: Coach.
"That kind of started off as a joke," Kerley said. "I told the equipment guys that if I'm going to be out here, I want a hat and a watch. And if I'm going to travel (with the team), I want a belt. You know the coaches get the Arizona belt. I need the belt.
"Now I have all the strength coaches calling me Coach Kerley."
Kerley's spirits are up, almost two weeks after the three-year starter tore his left anterior cruciate ligament in a win over UCLA. Kerley was drive-blocking his defender when Bruins defensive end Reginald Stokes rolled over the back of his leg.
Doctors diagnosed a tear immediately after the grisly injury. Kerley still can't bear to watch the replays.
"I purposely avoided it last Monday, and I don't really want to see it," Kerley said.
Kerley will be on the home sideline for today's game. Though he has no official role, Kerley said he plans on helping offensive line coach Bill Bedenbaugh. He'll keep a low profile.
"Shoot," he said. "I might get my other knee broken if I get that far out on the field."
Not your ordinary dog
Put creative hat on to decide Huskies' new mascot name
Washington is naming its mascot, and you can help. The pending retirement of Spirit — official name: Whitepaw's Arlut Spirit of Gold Dust — means the University of Washington must find a name for its new mascot, a live Alaskan malamute.
Fans can submit nominations through Thursday. The university will pick the top few names and present them to fans on Oct. 20 for an online vote.
The bar has been set high. Dating to 1922, UW mascots have been named Frosty, Wasky, Ski, Denali, Regent Denali, King Chinook, Sundodger, King Redoubt and Prince Redoubt.
HE SAID IT
"When I got back to Tucson, I got a voice mail from my little brother saying, 'They were blowing you up on TV. They were saying that you were the homecoming king (in high school).' Man, I have to change that in my bio." — UA center Blake Kerley, on his brush with fame after the Cats' Sept. 20 win
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