With Williams hurt, UW sets up special fund

By JOHN SLEEPER

Herald Writer

SEATTLE — The University of Washington athletic department has established a fund to help support the long-term care of injured strong safety Curtis Williams.

Williams, a senior from Fresno, Calif., suffered a spinal-cord injury against Stanford Oct. 28 and remains hospitalized at Stanford Medical Center. Doctors have offered no long-term prognosis for Williams.

The fund will assist Williams and his family with expenses over and above those covered by family, university and NCAA catastrophic injury insurance programs.

"The fund is very similar to the one established at Penn State (for injured player Adam Taliaferro)," UW athletic director Barbara Hedges said. "We patterned the fund after the one at Penn State."

The Curtis Williams Fund will assist with health care deductibles, home health care benefits, rehabilitation expense benefits, special home and motor vehicle accommodation benefits, college education benefits and other related expenses. Portions of the fund also may be used for transportation and lodging for Williams’ family during the player’s hospitalization.

Donations may be sent to: The Curtis Williams Fund, c/o The University of Washington, 1200 Fifth Ave., Suite 500, Seattle, WA 98101.

Fans also may contribute at Saturday’s game against UCLA at Husky Stadium’s five main entrance gates, the Don James Center, the pregame Tyee tailgate and the postgame Fifth Quarter function.

UW coach Rick Neuheisel said Williams’ condition remained virtually the same since his last report on Friday. Williams is experiencing some sensation in his upper body. His breathing has improved, but he still is on a ventilator.

Injury report: UW tailback Paul Arnold is likely out for the rest of the regular season with a degenerative condition in his back. The only treatment is rest, Neuheisel said. Arnold may be available for a bowl game.

Fullback Pat Conniff is likely out for the UCLA game with a dislocated shoulder. Also hurt are linebacker Tyler Krambrink, who broke a bone in his hand but may play with a cast, and cornerback Anthony Vontoure, who injured a hand ligament but may play this week.

Huskies honored: The Pac-10 named tailback Willie Hurst and linebacker Derrell Daniels as the conference’s offensive and defensive players of the week, respectively.

Hurst ran for 116 yards on eight carries and scored two touchdowns and a two-point conversion in Washington’s 35-32 victory over Arizona on Saturday.

Daniels had a game-high 14 tackles, including one tackle for loss, and recovered a fumble against the Wildcats.

Placekicker Josh Frankel of Oregon was the special teams player of the week, kicking two field goals against Washington State, including the game-winner from 47 yards.

Apple Cup on TV: The annual Apple Cup game, pitting Washington and Washington State, will be at either 12:30 p.m. or 3:30 p.m. Nov. 18 in Pullman. On Sunday, ABC will announce which game it will telecast at 12:30 p.m., either the Apple Cup or the Oregon-Oregon State game. Fox Sports Net will telecast the game ABC doesn’t choose, at 3:30 p.m.