A Hasty departure from the team

SEATTLE — The J.R. Hasty era came to an end at Washington having never really gotten started.

Hasty, the biggest name in Tyrone Willingham’s first recruiting class, decided this week to leave the team, Willingham announced Thursday. A 2005 graduate of Bellevue High School, Hasty rushed for 2,519 yards and scored 50 touchdowns during his senior season, and 5,493 yards in his career.

Those numbers never translated to stardom at Washington, as many thought they would.

Hasty redshirted as a freshman, and was named the offensive scout team player of the year. He was then declared academically ineligible for the 2006 season.

This year, the Huskies signed five tailbacks — Nate Williams has since moved to defense — and two pushed Hasty for the backup tailback job early on. What started as a three-man battle between Hasty, Brandon Johnson and Curtis Shaw eventually narrowed to just Johnson and Hasty. Hasty had one carry against Syracuse in the season opener, but didn’t play again until Washington’s loss at Arizona State, where he carried five times.

The final straw just might have been last week’s loss to Oregon, when Johnson played and Hasty did not. Hasty’s Washington career ends with him accumulating 18 yards on just six carries. Though he and Johnson were listed as co-backups on this week’s depth chart, offensive coordinator Tim Lappano said Tuesday that Johnson was the backup behind Louis Rankin.

Willingham said he thought Hasty left because of “the perception of not having an opportunity and playing time.”

Willingham said nothing specific happened to slow Hasty’s development or take away from his playing opportunities.

“I don’t think anything happened with him,” he said. “Obviously when we brought in other players the intensity of the competition increased, and that’s what happens.”

Hasty, who did not return phone calls from The Herald for this story, has two years of eligibility left, but would have to sit out a year if he transferred to another Division I-A school. He would not have to sit out if he moved to a I-AA school.

Legends Center opens: Today marks the opening of the University of Washington’s new Legends Center, a 4,200 square foot facility intended to capture the heritage of Husky Football. Artifacts on display include Washington’s 1991 national championship trophy, trophies from the Orange and Rose Bowls, game-worn jerseys, helmets, Lawyer Milloy’s Super Bowl ring, and photos of players and coaches. There are also TV screens that show highlights of former players, games, and plays, as well as highlights of former Huskies who played in the NFL.

The Legends Center, which is located north of Husky Stadium, and just east of Edmundson Pavilion, will be open three hours prior to each home game. Just be ready to have the Husky fight song stuck in your head if you visit.

The $6.1-million project includes a renovated weight room, improved coaches offices, and a lounge for recruits. The driving force behind the changes, said athletic director Todd Turner, was a desire to better educate both fans and recruits about Washington’s football history.

When he first came to Washington before taking the AD job, Turner said he “didn’t walk away with any impression of the history of Husky football.”

That’s something Washington hopes to change with the opening of the Legends Center.

“We’re trying to create a much better impression about our commitment to football,” Turner said.

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