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<< Previous   of   Next >>   ADVERTISEMENT   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: Tuesday, November 4, 2008 UW finds kindred spirit in Sun Devils Arizona State comes to Husky Stadium on a six-game losing streak. By John Boyle Herald Writer SEATTLE -- There is obviously very little to be optimistic about for Washington football these days. The Huskies are 0-8 this season, and have lost 10 in a row going back to last year. That ties a school record for consecutive losses, matching a 10-game skid in 1968 and 1969. But if the Huskies are looking for some tiny bit of hope to cling to this season, if they're looking for a chance to turn this into a run-of-the-mill terrible season instead of a debacle of historic proportions, they can perhaps find it this week with Arizona State coming to town. Like the Huskies, the Sun Devils are hurting this year. Arizona State came into 2008 with high expectations following a 10-3 season that earned Dennis Erickson Pac-10 coach of the year honors in his first year in Tempe. But after starting 2-0 and climbing to 15th in the rankings, Arizona State lost a shocker to UNLV, and the Sun Devils still haven't recovered. ASU has now lost six in a row, and comes to Seattle trying to avoid its first seven-game losing streak since 1922. And to put into perspective how much times have changed since ASU's last seven-game losing streak, consider the following: that streak took seven years to build, starting with the final game of 1915 season and carrying into 1922 after there was no varsity team in 1920 or 1921. Three of those losses came to Prescott High School, Phoenix High School and Mesa High School, and the streak ended with a tie to Phoenix High. The Sun Devils have also lost six in a row twice, going 0-6 in 1929, and losing six in a row between the 2001 and 2002 seasons. "Obviously the New York Giants aren't coming in there to play them," Erickson said in his Monday press conference with the Arizona media. "I'm sure that they look at us as a game that they can win ... It's two teams who haven't won; we haven't won in six games and they haven't won at all, so it's two football teams that are dying to win a football game. That's kind of what it's all about if you are going to take the game and look at it. It's two teams that are just dying to get a win." The Huskies started 0-8 this season against eight teams that all currently have winning records, but things get much easier from here. Between now and a season-ending game against 21st-ranked Cal, the Huskies face ASU, Washington State and UCLA, teams that have won a combined six games overall and three in the Pac-10. And while the winless Huskies are in no place to head into any game overly confident, they can at least go into this game thinking there is a more realistic chance at winning than in many of the previous games this season. "That's the key," Washington coach Tyrone Willingham said. "We're not trying to get ahead. We need to get ourselves looking at one game, but if you can follow that up with UCLA, I think you got maybe three or four conference wins in the next couple teams -- could be slightly more, slightly less -- but, no, we could be able to take advantage of that and do the things we need to do. We need to just get back to basic football. If we do that, yes, we'll be able to push the door." If the Huskies are going to end their losing streak, one thing they'll need to do is find a way to play hard and stay focused while taking orders from a head coach on his way out. The Huskies continue to insist that they're still playing hard for Willingham, who will not be retained after the season ends, but Saturday's 56-0 loss to USC seemed to indicate otherwise. Willingham said he thinks the players are, for the most part, still responding to him and his coaching staff. "I think so," he said. "You always have some guys that don't. That happens on a team when things are going well. You always have a guy that doesn't agree with this or with that, but I think the majority of our guys are still listening and doing the things we ask them to do." And asked if he has second-guessed his decision to finish out the season, Willingham responded, "No. Not at all, no." The struggles across the mountains: As the Huskies and Washington State Cougars continue to lose week in and week out, people have begun to compare the two programs and their woes. Tyrone Willingham, however, hasn't taken time to think about WSU's struggles or feel bad for Washington State first-year coach Paul Wulff. "No," Willingham said when asked if he sympathizes for Wulff. "I got my own issues I'm worried about. I'll let Paul deal with his issues." UCLA game time set: It was announced Monday Rick Neuheisel's return to Seattle on Nov. 15 will be a night game. The Huskies and Bruins will kick off at 7:15 p.m. and be televised nationally on FSN. Injury updates: Freshman receiver Cody Bruns suffered a minor concussion against USC, but should be able to practice today. Defensive tackle Cameron Elisara, who left the game with a neck stinger, is also expected back when practice resumes today. No players of the week: Given the 56-0 result Saturday, it's not a big surprise that there were no players of the week named for the loss the USC. The Huskies did recognize the practice of three scout-team players, however, naming Drew Schaefer, Tyrone Duncan and Jovon O'Connor the service team players of the week. Herald Writer John Boyle: jboyle@heraldnet.com. For more on UW sports, check out the Huskies blog at heraldnet.com /huskiesblog READER COMMENTS Be the first to comment. You must be a registered user and verify your e-mail address to post comments to blogs or articles on HeraldNet. To register, click here. To read other terms and conditions, click here. Log out

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