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<< Previous   of   Next >>   ADVERTISEMENT   ADDITIONAL ITEMS • University of Washington athletics (External Link)   CONTACT THE HERALD Report scores and results to 425-339-3470 or 1-866-6-SCORES (Call after 4:30 p.m.) E-mail information including items for Tuesday's Communities Sports Roundup and Thursday's Outdoor Calendar, to sports@heraldnet.com Kevin Brown, Sports Editor kbrown@heraldnet.com   Published: Sunday, February 10, 2008 Ty's future linked to this year's strong class By John Sleeper, Herald Writer SEATTLE -- Two bits of the obvious came to the fore this week on National Signing Day. One, the University of Washington football program gained a boatload of talent in its highest-ranked class since 2001, the class gathered in immediately after the Huskies beat Purdue in the Rose Bowl. Two, a great many members of the Class of 2008 had other options, many with programs that currently fly higher than does Washington, which finished last season 4-9. That means they listened to what the coaching staff and player hosts had to say about the future, rather than the negative publicity that's surrounded the program for much of Tyrone Willingham's four-year tenure as head coach. "In almost every case, kids didn't seem to let it bother them," UW recruiting coordinator and linebackers coach Chris Tormey said. "As we touched base with them, we always brought it up, but it wasn't an issue in our discussions." Whatever the staff told the kids, it outweighed speculation about Willingham's job status; the firing of defensive coordinator Kent Baer and special teams/tight ends coach Bob Simmons; the resignation/firing of athletic director Todd Turner; report after report of dissatisfied boosters, including former Everett mayor Ed Hansen, who put up $200,000, bound for the UW Law School had school president Mark Emmert fired Turner and Willingham; and a series by one of the metro dailies of rampant criminal activity surrounding the 2001 Rose Bowl team. That's a lot to ignore, which leads to the theory that these kids believe they can turn things around … which leads to the question of whether Willingham will be around to coach them when they're ready to contribute. That's a question that only Emmert and Turner's replacement can answer. The issue is patience, which is in short supply at Montlake and has been for some time. In the background of Washington's 2008 season will be a briar patch of cynicism and doubt. Alums and big-time boosters still angry that Willingham remains on the sidelines won't appreciably alter their disposition in the highly possible event that the Huskies start the season 0-3 in games at Oregon and at home against BYU and Oklahoma. As skilled as the incoming class is, how many will be physically and mentally ready to contribute in any meaningful way against opponents who have the advantages of two or three more years in the weight room and on the field? Only the elite are sufficiently physically developed to withstand the pounding of big-time college football as freshmen. The rest, as defensive line coach Randy Hart once told me, "get their shoulders torn off" and should redshirt for their own safety. So who could possibly be ready for 2008? Tight end Kavario Middleton (6-foot-6, 240 pounds)? Nose tackle Alameda Ta'amu (6-2, 348)? Receivers Chris Polk (5-11, 200), Jermaine Kearse (6-2, 175) and Cody Bruns (5-11, 170)? Defensive end Everette Thompson (6-6, 255)? Defensive tackle Craig Noble (6-3, 285)? Defensive lineman Senio Kelemete (6-4, 255)? That's eight of the 26, and we may be pretty liberal with the list. Washington lost five of its six defensive linemen, which gives Ta'amu, Thompson, Noble and Kelemete possible playing time. The Huskies also lost five receivers to graduation, which leaves spots open. "Some of these guys can walk on campus and be No. 2 (on the depth chart) on Day 1," Willingham said. "That allows them much greater opportunity to be involved and a chance to be a starter." Otherwise, Willingham's employment depends largely on the same cast as last season, including the problematic defense of a year ago. Can Willingham survive a four- or five-win season, even with the promise of this all-star recruiting class? Remember, his five-year contract runs out at the end of the season. Montlake history says no. Bob Bender was shown the door after he recruited his finest class. Turner ousted June Daugherty after an NCAA Tournament season and a sizzling class coming in. Emmert's mindset was obvious when he let Turner go, mentioning a difference they had between the importance of winning (Emmert's position) and the importance that a student-athlete have a positive experience (Turner's). It's the same question about siding with patience and continuity vs. win now or else. That figures to be the designation of the 2008 season, the future of UW football and Willingham's involvement in it. Sports columnist John Sleeper: sleeper@heraldnet.com. For Sleeper[`]s blog, "Dangling Participles," go to www.heraldnet.com/danglingparticiples.

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