Monday update

Published 9:00 pm Sunday, August 13, 2006

As is often the case, especially at this time of the season, little came out of Tyrone Willingham’s daily press briefing. He touched on a few subjects, though not much in terms of specifics.

Two things of interest were that right now, junior college transfer Jason Wells would start at free safety alongside strong safety C.J. Wallace. Wells apparently has impressed coaches with his work ethic and is ahead of Chris Hemphill and Mesphin Forrester.

The second potentially interesting piece of information is that Willingham hinted at the possibility that some of the players who have been out with academic situations could join the team, possibly as early as this afternoon’s practice. We’ll try to let you know if any of those players actually are on the field later this afternoon. When asked about Ashlee Palmer, Aaron Mason, Anthony Atkins and Leilyon Myers, Willingham said their situation is “pending,” one of the words he decided to use often on Monday.

The other phrase he’s picked up using is “a bump on the head,” and endearing way of referring to a head injury. Those with “bumps on the head” include linebacker Scott White, defensive end Darrion Jones and offensive tackle Ben Ossai. Freshman running back Matt Mosley also had a “bump on the head” but is back at practice. Jordan Reffett (knee) and Erick Lobos (foot) are both out.

Willingham also raved about the work ethic of redshirt freshman Daniel Te’o-Nesheim, who is slated to start at defensive end. Te’o-Nesheim was coached in high school by former Husky Bern Brostek. I talked to Te’o-Nesheim Monday and he seems like a nice and somewhat shy guy (he appologized at the end of the interview for not being a better interview) and said it took awhile to get used to playing at this level. But he seems like someone who is going to be a pretty solid leader eventually.

I also talked to Jordan White-Frisbee, who is coming off of a foot injury that kept him out all of last season and in the spring. Pretty much any time I was out at practice last year or in the spring, White-Frisbee was walking the stairs of Husky Stadium, and he called himself the “Stair Walking King” Monday. But he says he’s healthy now and is just trying to get his weight under control. He wouldn’t say how much he weighs now (he’s listed at 335 in the media guide) but wants to get down to the low-300s.

Dan Howell won another gold jersey during Monday’s morning practice, and Te’o-Nesheim won one as well. Howell can’t not win a gold jersey, it seems, and along with Isaiah Stanback seems to be an early pick to be the real leaders of the team.

Willingham said he got a good vibe from fans during Saturday’s Picture Day and got the impression that fans are encouraged by the direction of the program, based on the order and respectfulness that his players have shown in the community.