Emotion could be UW’s Apple Cup equalizer

Published 9:00 pm Friday, November 21, 2003

SEATTLE – Keith Gilbertson admits he’s an emotional man, and it’s shown this week.

From the time the University of Washington head football coach addressed the media on Monday, Gilbertson has been forthcoming in his feelings and absolute in his convictions, even under the hailstorm of criticism, gambling-pool issues and other outside distractions.

Make no mistake, the last two games have cut to the core. A 27-22 loss at Arizona and a 54-7 blowout at Cal have staggered the program and have prompted the naysayers into chest-beating glee.

This issue isn’t that the losses happened, but in that the way they happened. In looking at the last six quarters, Gilbertson questioned effort. Some say the team quit.

Whatever is true, the six quarters were marked with uninspired, unemotional play. To fight that, Gilbertson has conjured emotion in himself and, he hopes, in his players.

The Huskies are 5-6 and face a very good 9-2 Washington State team. Washington is banged up and will have young players on the field, perhaps before they’re ready.

Emotion, though, can be the great equalizer, especially in Husky Stadium. And Gilbertson is hanging on to emotion like a bullrider desperately clings to his Brahma.

“When the job landed the way it did,” he said, “I said that one of the things that is paramount to me is that, guys who walked out that tunnel, guys who wore the helmet, guys who coached here who were great head coaches and great assistants – I feel I have a responsibility to them. I still do.”

How would 18- to 22-year-olds react to that? Who knows? But it’s not keeping Gilbertson from bringing up the proud past of Husky football. He watched the Rose Bowl teams of the ’60s and, as offensive coordinator, was a huge part of the 1991 national championship team, along with the Rose Bowl champions of 2001.

Mixed in those highly successful years, however, were some down times as well. But even through the low times, Gilbertson said, the Husky teams always fought hard. They may not have been the most talented teams on the field, but they gave every ounce of energy in every game and every practice.

That, more than anything, is what Gilbertson wants his players to tap into. And nothing gets Gilbertson’s eyes misty as when he talks about tough guys who never gave less than all-out effort.

“It’s about toughness, and if you look at all those teams, they didn’t all go 11-0 or 12-0,” Gilbertson said. “A lot of them had to fight back through seasons that weren’t going good or fought back from a devastating loss, whatever that was. They always fought back. They always competed. They hit people. They were courageous. And they were tough.”

Washington doesn’t have the multiple national championships that a Notre Dame has or an Alabama has or a Texas has. The Washington tradition, Gilbertson said, is effort.

And if effort is lacking on the 2003 edition of Washington football, Gilbertson takes it personally.

“The tradition is some real accountable guys, who went down the tunnel, maybe not as athletic as the team they were playing, but they competed, played hard, found ways to win and found ways to come back,” Gilbertson said.

The question is whether the current crop of Huskies has that. Gilbertson said it’s not for him to answer. Outside linebacker Greg Carothers and offensive tackle Khalif Barnes have been adamant that the players, not the coaches, bear the responsibility of a down season.

But neither could put a finger on what’s been bringing down a team with such talent, one that many picked to win the Pacific-10 Conference.

“If knew that, I’d be in the White House,” Barnes said.