Harris back with team, but won’t be playing soon

Published 11:38 pm Wednesday, September 10, 2008

SEATTLE — A swollen upper lip held together with the help of some stitches is the only visible reminder of the most frightening moment of Washington’s loss to BYU.

Darin Harris spent that Saturday night at Harborview Medical Center after leaving Husky Stadium in an ambulance, but is now back with the team, though he won’t be playing anytime soon.

“I’m just happy to be able to talk and stand, and I just thank God for keeping me alive,” said Harris, who suffered a concussion but no neck or spine injuries after going head first into the ground. “Being able to talk and walk and still function. But I probably won’t be able to play for a while they say. That’s the bad part.”

Harris said he has no recollection of the fourth-quarter play, or even the moments before and after.

“I don’t remember,” he said. “I remember everything up to the third quarter. I don’t remember the hit or anything. I just remember waking up in the hospital with a tube down my throat and a catheter in me.”

Despite the scare, he says he has no fears of getting back on the field once he is cleared.

“No, I just want to play,” he said. “It’s my last year. I don’t want to miss any games, but I have to. It’s part of the game.”

With Harris out, Tripper Johnson is listed as the starting strong safety, though recently converted tailback Johri Fogerson indicated to reporters that he thinks he will start Saturday. Neither Tyrone Willingham nor defensive coordinator Ed Donatell would confirm that, but both said Fogerson will likely get significant playing time.

Harris is hardly the only Washington safety dealing with an injury.

Nate Williams, who had a sore back after totaling a team-high 13 tackles against BYU, practiced wearing a red jersey signifying no-contact at Wednesday’s practice. Victor Aiyewa, who was expected to start at strong safety prior to the season, continues to battle a groin injury and was not at the early part of practice.

Jason Wells, meanwhile, is still trying to recover from last year’s torn ACL, and may be headed towards a redshirt season.

Polk likely out for the season: Freshman tailback Chris Polk, the starter in each of Washington’s first two games, has a torn labrum in his left shoulder, Willingham said. While no decision has yet been made, Willingham said Polk will probably have surgery, which would end his season. Because Polk has played in only two games, he would likely be able to get a medical redshirt and not lose a year of eligibility.

More on Savannah: Willingham spoke a little bit about departing linebacker E.J. Savannah, who on Tuesday was granted his release to seek a transfer, mentioning his disappointment in the way things worked out.

“To me it’s very disappointing anytime anyone leaves your program for any reason or any circumstances,” Willingham said. “We’ve spent as a staff, as a community, a lot of time and energy trying to assist and trying to help. So that is disappointing when you invest that kind of investment and you don’t get any kind of return. But again, the goal and the hope is for all of the young men to be successful and if this is the best route for him to be successful, then we want to help him do that.”

Contact Herald Writer John Boyle at jboyle@heraldnet.com. For more on University of Washington sports, check out the Huskies blog at heraldnet.com /huskiesblog