SEATTLE – Things get a little more complicated for the University of Washington football team today as students begin attending classes for the first time.
Coach Tyrone Willingham said it just means that his athletes have more to balance.
“Everything gets more difficult,” Willingham said. “You add another dimension to their lives. Life becomes more complex now. It was kind of simple when it was just football. Now you have classes that you have to navigate.”
UCLA, the UW’s opponent Saturday, also begins classes this week.
Willingham said he relies on academic advisors and professors to keep him abreast to the progress of the players. He’s also been known to sit in on a class from time to time. But Willingham said it shouldn’t take pressure from coaches or professors to know that they have a job to do in the classroom.
“Our guys should know, even though they are college students and it is the college ritual to miss a class or two, how important it is and know they don’t have the same time luxuries that other students have,” Willingham said. “Football is a huge responsibility. So therefore it is to their betterment if they are in class all the time.”
Personnel issues: Willingham said cornerback Matt Fountaine (sternum, shoulder) was “questionable” for practice on Tuesday and his status for Saturday’s game is unknown. The same is true of tackle Joe Toledo (ankle) and quarterback Carl Bonnell (thigh).
Willingham said now is around the time he begins thinking about possibly redshirting players, in particular sophomore defensive tackle Jordan White-Frisbee, who has been out with a broken foot. However, he’s not ready to commit to anything yet, he said.
“I think you have to look at it,” Willingham said. “You have to look at what’s in the best interest of the team, what’s the best interest of the individual. But none of those decisions have been made yet as far as redshirting anyone. I’ll probably start to talk to them now because it’s about that time, you’re about at midseason. It starts to get to that point where value starts to diminish a little for having them ready to play.”
Willingham said linebacker Trenton Tuiasosopo, a Mariner High graduate, is also out for the time being after having work done on his knee, which has been plagued by tendinitis.
Late start: Willingham said he doesn’t believe most players enjoy playing night games, as the Huskies will have this week with a 7:15 p.m. kickoff. But, of course, it doesn’t bother him.
“They like to get up, get to the game and go,” Willingham said. “I just take what comes. If it means I have to wait additional hours in terms of preparation, I gear myself to do that.”
Willingham thinks most of the players became accustomed to playing at night while in high school, so being ready shouldn’t be an issue. But he does take measures to fill up the morning leading to the game.
“You have to add more things on Saturday,” Willingham said. “You don’t want them to lay around all day, so you want to add some movement to their schedule.”
Talk to us
> Give us your news tips.
> Send us a letter to the editor.
> More Herald contact information.
