UW NOTEBOOK: Savannah says farewell to Husky program

Published 11:21 pm Tuesday, September 9, 2008

SEATTLE — E.J. Savannah’s rocky but productive University of Washington football career officially came to an end Tuesday evening.

The school put out a release stating that it has granted Savannah’s request to seek a transfer. Savannah, a junior linebacker from Bellevue High School, led the team with 111 tackles last season, but has been away from the team since fall camp opened in early August.

Washington coach Tyrone Willingham said at the beginning of fall camp that Savannah was dealing with academic and other undefined issues that were keeping him off the team.

Savannah was also suspended at the start of spring football last April, and was held out of the starting lineup last season on multiple occasions for disciplinary reasons.

Savannah was expected to help lead a linebacking unit that would be the strength of the defense. In Savannah’s absence, former walk-on Josh Gage has moved into the starting lineup along with Donald Butler and Mason Foster.

According to the UW release, the school will support Savannah’s desire to transfer provided it is not to a Pac-10 school. Savannah, who redshirted as a true freshman, would have to sit out a year if he goes to a Division I school, then would have one year of eligibility left.

“Our top priority is to help E.J. earn a college degree, whether that is at the University of Washington or at another institution,” said Willingham. “We have provided him with a tremendous support system during the last three years. I hope he is able to learn from his experience at Washington and become successful in whatever he chooses to do in life.”

Polk possibly out long-term: Freshman tailback Chris Polk, who left Saturday’s game with a dislocated shoulder, is not expected to play this weekend, and could be out for the season.

Having played in just two games, Polk would be able to apply for a medical redshirt were he lost for the season.

“Right now we’ll be reading his MRI this morning and it probably looks doubtful that he’ll be ready for next week, and by the time we get to the afternoon, it could be long term,” Willingham said when asked about Polk’s injury Tuesday morning.

Asked if the injury could end Polk’s season, Willingham answered, “Yes, could be.”

Other injuries: Tight end Michael Gottlieb continues to be day-to-day with a hamstring injury that has kept him out of Washington’s first two games.

Gottlieb said the injury has lingered longer than he thought it would, and that he hopes he can play this week, though he isn’t sure of the likelihood of that happening.

“It feels good today,” said Gottlieb, who did suit up for practice Tuesday. “I guess all I can really say is it’s day-to-day, because I’ve been overestimating my return date since the beginning of this thing. I’m planning on playing, I feel good right now, but sometimes I’ll be fine then I’ll wake up the next day and it’ll be sore.”

In addition to Polk, other players not at the early part of Tuesday’s practice were safety Victor Aiyewa (groin) and Byron Davenport (ankle).

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