Howell Back

Published 9:00 pm Tuesday, September 19, 2006

We just got through talking to Dan Howell for the first time since he returned to the team after the death of his father, and as you always do when talking to him, you walk away incredibly impressed.

The guy is one of the real stand-up, character guys on this team and is clearly going to make something of himself in the future. He says he likes being a salesman, but I’d say his future is in politics (which maybe is sales).

He was clearly still a little stunned by the whole situation, and rightfully so, but answered the questions with grace, charm and a sense of humor and, as is always the case with him, with his head held high. When he talked about his father, you understand why he carries himself that way.

He said his dad had heart surgery for an ongoing problem five days before he died (which was the Sunday following the Oklahoma game). All indications were that the surgery was a success and his mom assured Dan that his dad was going to be fine, including calling him the day his dad died to say that Keith Howell Sr. was going to make it. Dan only found out his dad passed after coming out of team meetings and getting a call from his older brother.

Dan spent all of last week with his family, missing the Fresno game, and said reality has only started to set in now that he’s returned to Washington and is away from family. He said his dad always answered the phone when he would call home, and yesterday was the first time he called home when that didn’t happen.

He said he will have no problem focusing on the game this weekend, but also said that doesn’t mean he won’t be thinking of his dad. Instead, he said it helps to have his dad on his mind all the time, and it serves as motivation.

All in all, it was one of the better interviews we’ve had this season, and while you try not to get personally invested in a team you cover, interacting with Howell certainly makes you pull for him to have success.