Can UW find the way to San Jose?

Published 9:00 pm Monday, November 24, 2003

SEATTLE – University of Washington athletic director Barbara Hedges said Monday she is working hard to sell the 6-6 Husky football team to the Silicon Valley Football Classic.

The question is whether the Classic will listen.

Classic officials said either Washington or UCLA (6-6) will play in the bowl game, set for Dec. 30 in San Jose, Calif. The bowl will have sixth choice among Pacific-10 Conference teams and the second choice among Western Athletic Conference teams. The Huskies and Bruins tied for sixth in the Pac-10.

The most likely opponent is Fresno State, a team Washington plays to open next season.

Hedges said that it is her impression that bowl officials want to make a decision fairly quickly, possibly in the next couple of days.

“They didn’t specifically say before Thanksgiving, but I think, as everybody wants to do, you want to make the decision as quickly as possible,” Hedges said. “Hopefully, it will be in the next couple of days.”

UCLA would seem to have the edge. On one hand, the Bruins soundly beat the Huskies 46-16 in Pasadena Oct. 4. Also in the Bruins’ favor are the great number of UCLA alums in the South Bay Area and the school’s close proximity to the San Jose area.

On the other hand, the Bruins have lost their last four games by a total of 130-62. Washington is coming off a 27-19 victory over eighth-ranked Washington State in the Apple Cup.

Hedges said she has committed to 8,000 tickets, although she said she didn’t think the university could sell that many. However, the location, she said, would be attractive to season-ticket holders, the game is after Christmas and San Francisco is nearby.

“There are a lot of positives about this bowl game,” Hedges said.

The bowl pays each team $575,000. It guarantees 50 hotel rooms for four nights. It requires teams to arrive by Dec. 27. It is not a profitable trip.

“You will have to be very careful to break even,” Hedges said.

UW coach Keith Gilbertson said the team would be an easy sell, what with the passing duo of Cody Pickett and Reggie Williams, along with good, young players in tailbacks Kenny James and Shelton Sampson.

Also, he said, Washington had three victories against very good teams in Washington State, Oregon and Oregon State.

“I think our guys would really like to play another game,” Gilbertson said.

Other bowls affiliated with the Pac-10 appear to be settled.

USC appears destined to play Oklahoma in the BCS title game in the Sugar Bowl; Washington State figures to play either Kansas State or Nebraska in the Holiday Bowl; Oregon could play Minnesota in the Sun Bowl; Cal could play either Pitt or West Virginia in the Insight Bowl; and Oregon State is the likely pick to play New Mexico in the Las Vegas Bowl.

Michigan clinched a Rose Bowl bid. If Pac-10 champion USC does qualify for the BCS title game, the Rose Bowl can pick an at-large team to play the Wolverines. That could be either LSU or Texas.

Option is an option: The 2004 Huskies may well include a strong element of option football, at least as strong as when Marques Tuiasosopo ran a good amount of option in the Huskies’ Rose Bowl year of 2000-01.

“It’s something we know; it’s something we’ve had success with,” Gilbertson said. “We believe in it and it would be fun for us to sprinkle that in and make people have to defend it.”

One reason is the number of young tailbacks with a wide array of things they do well. For instance, Chris Singleton and Kenny James can develop into outstanding inside runners. Shelton Sampson, Gilbertson said, “has big-time speed. Once he gets to the edge, he’s dangerous.”

An enticing addition is Louis Rankin, a 6-foot, 190-pounder who redshirted this year. Another speed-burner, Rankin scored 41 touchdowns during his senior year at Lincoln High School in Stockton, Calif.

“He’s somebody we’re real excited about,” Gilbertson said.

Should the Huskies choose to jump into the option, Isaiah Stanback seems a natural to start at quarterback, with his running ability. The Huskies also would benefit from a bigger back, a role fullback Zach Tuiasosopo could fill, Gilbertson said.

General hospital: Gilbertson said if the Huskies are chosen to play in the Silicon Valley Football Classic, senior tailback Rich Alexis (torn quad) and tight end Ben Bandel (ankle) likely would play. Also, safety Owen Biddle would have a chance to heal the stinger in his shoulder.

Guard Tusi Sa’au (back) and tight end Joe Toledo (back, ankle) probably would not play, Gilbertson said.

Short bursts: UW safety Evan Benjamin was named the Pac-10 Defensive Player of the Week for his two-interception, 10-tackle performance Saturday against Washington State. He also had one tackle for loss … Gilbertson said he would soon talk with wideout Reggie Williams’ and Williams’ father about turning pro. It is widely assumed that Williams will forego his senior year to enter his name into the NFL Draft in April … UW defensive tackle Terry Johnson said he has not decided about the draft, but Gilbertson said Monday that he probably would leave early for the draft … Gilbertson said the No. 1 recruiting priority is at quarterback. He also wants to get a certain number of offensive and defensive linemen. Because the team is so young, Gilbertson said, the Huskies may not sign a full class of 25. He said the team may turn to the junior-college ranks for some immediate defensive help.