SEATTLE – It didn’t take head coach Keith Gilbertson long to answer the question of what he liked about the Washington Huskies’ first opponent, Fresno State.
“Where do you want me to start?” he asked.
Indeed, the Bulldogs may come into Husky Stadium Sunday as slight underdogs, but the Huskies figure to have their hands full.
Bulldogs coach Pat Hill will use his biggest offensive strengths, tailbacks and line, to their full advantage. Up front, the Western Athletic Conference Bulldogs look the part of a Pacific-10 Conference team, with its interior line weighing 320, 285, 320, 300 and 265. That includes big-time tackle Logan Mankins, who is recovering from reconstructive knee surgery and guard Dartagnon Shack, who filled in well for Mankins last year at left tackle, but now moves to his more natural position at guard.
“He really played outstanding against top-caliber people,” Hill said of Dartagnon. “He’s a little undersized at 285, but he’s very strong and very quick.”
Tailback Dwayne Wright took the starting job from Rodney Davis last year and ran for 1,038 yards.
Quarterback Paul Pinegar missed five games in 2003 with a torn pectoral muscle. When he returned, his arm tired easily and he was limited to short- and medium-range throws.
Pinegar is healthy this time around and can throw to any one of three fine receivers in Joe Fernandez, Jermaine Jamison and Adam Jennings. All three have experience.
Tight end Stephan Spach is a crushing blocker who is occasionally rewarded with a TD pass when the opponent least expects it.
Defensively, the Bulldogs have a superb duo of ends. Brian Morris was granted a sixth year of eligibility by the NCAA. He led Fresno State with 10 sacks and 151/2 tackles for loss. Garrett McIntyre added 71/2 sacks.
Strong safety James Sanders is a candidate to play in the NFL.
But the most impressive thing about Fresno State is its willingness to go anywhere to play. Last season, the Bulldogs traveled to Tennessee and Oklahoma. After they play Washington, they go to Kansas State. In other years, they’ve traveled to Oregon, Colorado, Oregon State, Wisconsin, Ohio State and UCLA
It comes from necessity. Bulldog Stadium holds just 41,000, hardly enough for a big-time program to agree to a home-and-home series. The plan is, however, to use the big paydays from playing at larger venues to expand the stadium to 70,000.
“I really hope than within the next few years, it will be OK for the Pac-10 to say, ‘OK, Fresno State’s a team that, not only we can play but will be good competition for us and will help us at the gate.’
“I look at Cal and they’re going to Southern Miss and Air Force. We’d gladly get on a bus and drive up to Berkeley. Or gladly go to L.A. to play USC. Yet, they choose not to. Hopefully, in time, we can earn the respect of those programs.”
Starters still unknown: UW starters at right guard and right tackle still are undetermined in the season’s first two-deep depth chart.
Sophomore Stanley Daniels and junior Tusi Sa’au are battling at guard, while senior Ryan Brooks and junior Ron Meadow are competing at tackle.
Other battles have been decided. Shelton Sampson is the backup at tailback behind Kenny James. Redshirt Louis Rankin was pushing for the spot.
Sophomore Corey Williams won the No. 2 receiver spot, alongside senior Charles Frederick. Sophomore Quintin Daniels and redshirt freshman Bobby Whithorne back up Williams and Frederick, respectively.
On the defensive line, junior Mike Mapuolesega is one end and sophomore Dan Milsten is at tackle, opposite Ala and Hopoi.
Also, junior Evan Knudson beat redshirt freshman Michael Braunstein at placekicker. Sophomore Sean Douglas will punt and kick off.
Redshirt freshman Anthony Russo and sophomore Sonny Shackelford will return kickoffs. Frederick will be the punt returner.
Freshmen open eyes: Three true freshmen are on the depth chart, all in backup roles. Jordan White-Frisbee backs up Manase Hopoi at defensive tackle, Greyson Gunheim backs up Brandon Ala at defensive end and Dan Howell is second-team inside linebacker behind Scott White.
Memories: Washington’s 1984 team, which beat favored Oklahoma in the 1985 Orange Bowl, will be honored during Sunday’s game as the “Husky Legend.” The day also will include special recognition to the defensive coordinator of that team, Everett native Jim Lambright, who went on to serve as UW’s head coach from 1993-98.
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