SEATTLE — Washington is only five games into a 13-game schedule, but it could be argued that including the nearly month-long August training camp, the Huskies come out of their bye week halfway through the season.
And while a 2-3 record is not what the Huskies had hoped for, there is still plenty of optimism heading into the second half.
“Everybody feels good,” center Juan Garcia said. “I feel good, the whole team feels good. I feel like we can still go 8-0. Other seasons when I’ve been here, its gets to the point where it’s like, man, you know, we’re probably going to miss out on a bowl game, but everybody feels good.
“We still need to put a game together. I’ve told you guys, when we put a game together — we just need to break out, and I hope it’s this weekend — but one of these games it’s going to happen when Husky football just breaks out.”
Since the beginning of the season, the Huskies have talked about a newfound confidence and swagger. That doesn’t appear to have changed despite a three-game losing streak.
“Ideally we’d like to be 5-0, so I think we’re short there,” quarterback Jake Locker said. “But overall I think the morale and the attitude of the team is where we want it to be. Everyone is positive, everyone is really confident, and that was one of our goals going into the season.”
After taking a week off and watching football on TV, players are itching to get back on the field to back up that confidence.
“I think that guys are really dialing in, really trying to make this a mission these last eight games,” defensive tackle Jordan Reffett said. “We can do some great things. We’ve got eight games left. We can get to 10 wins. We’ve got big goals, and it’s exciting to see what can happen. We’ve got a long way to go, though.”
Safety situation: Free safety Jason Wells, who injured his knee against USC, is expected to have surgery soon and could be done for the season. Who will replace him is uncertain.
Mesphin Forrester, who has started at strong safety, was listed as the starting free safety on this week’s depth chart, while Darin Harris is listed as the starter at strong safety. Harris, who filled in for the injured Wells against USC, is ahead of freshman Nate Williams but that position could still be up for grabs.
“There’s going to be a lot of movement,” coach Tyrone Willingham said. “We have to list someone there. Darin stepped in and played the other ballgame, so obviously, he is today the obvious starter, but we’ll see how it progresses.”
Speaking of the secondary: Cornerback Jordan Murchison, who returned to the team last week after being suspended while facing assault charges, is progressing, Willingham said, but it is unknown how soon he will be game ready.
“He’s seems to be doing OK, and how that relates to what his status will be, we don’t know,” Willingham said. “We won’t rush it. When he’s ready to go and everything fits, they he’ll play.”
When asked why he allowed Murchison, who pleaded guilty to fourth-degree assault charges, to return, Willingham said he looks at any situation involving legal troubles on a case-by-case basis.
“Just looking at all the events that took place, as I do with every young man,” he said, “every case is independent of each other, and I look at the facts and if I think it’s the right thing to do for that young man and the program, then I bring him back, or I give him the invitation to come back. If things aren’t right, I don’t feel right, then no, I won’t do that. In his case, it will be ongoing and we will see exactly where everything fits.”
Another late start: Washington’s Oct. 20 game will kick off at 4:30 p.m. and be televised on FSN Northwest. The Huskies already have played games against Syracuse (8 p.m. EDT), UCLA (7:28 p.m.) and USC (5 p.m.) that started at 5 p.m. or later and will play 7:15 p.m. games at Arizona State and Oregon State. Washington’s season finale against Hawaii also will likely be an evening kickoff.
Game times for Washington’s final three games have not been announced.
Two receivers may be eligible: Wide receiver recruits Anthony Boyles and Devin Aguilar, both of whom failed to qualify academically for this season, have reportedly obtained passing test scores and could enroll at Washington by winter quarter.
“There are obviously a lot of rumors flying about those guys that they do have reported test scores back, but I kind of refrain to make any comments on that until everything is done,” said Willingham, who noted that there is still a lot of paperwork to get done before anything is official.
Willingham went on the say that “the rumors are exciting.”
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