SEATTLE – It was in the first quarter of the first collegiate football game for University of Washington freshmen defensive linemen Greyson Gunheim and Jordan White-Frisbee.
“Edgy” is a mild term for what they were feeling.
They’d thought about this moment since they set foot in the Husky Stadium in their recruiting visits. Each admitted to nerves in the days leading up to Sunday’s game against Fresno State. White-Frisbee, a 6-foot-6, 330-pound defensive tackle from Inglemoor High School, slept fitfully the two nights leading up to game day and contemplated losing his lunch before the contest, but decided against it.
“It was more excitement than nervousness,” he said.
Finally, defensive line coach Randy Hart grabbed White-Frisbee by the jersey and told him to get ready for the next series.
Gulp.
“I’m getting ready,” White-Frisbee said. “It’s third down and I’m getting psyched. I’m getting pumped. Then … “
… safety Dashon Goldson recovered a fumble by Bulldogs tailback Dwayne Wright, giving the UW offense the ball and nixing White-Frisbee’s UW debut.
“I just said, ‘Awwwww,’ and went over and sat back down,” he said.
In the second quarter, Hart again approached White-Frisbee and told him to get ready. Again, he pumped himself up and got himself mentally ready for his first action …
… until outside linebacker Evan Benjamin picked off a pass, again sending White-Frisbee to the bench.
“Happened twice,” he said. “It was pretty funny.”
White-Frisbee got in the game for four plays, one in which Bulldogs quarterback Paul Pinegar took a knee at the end of the game. But it was a day he will remember the rest of his life, starting with running out of the tunnel and onto the field with his teammates while 66,000 stood and roared.
“I was living a dream,” he said. “It didn’t really seem real.”
Gunheim called the noise “a whole bunch of buzzing in your ears. Tons of people. It was insane.”
“I was trying to keep a straight face,” he said, “but I just couldn’t do it because I was so amazed at everything.”
Gunheim, a 6-4, 240-pound defensive end from Sebastopol, Calif., took part in about 15 plays, going up against two 300-pound Bulldog tackles. He didn’t record a tackle, but felt fine about the way he played in his first time.
“I did OK,” he said. “I definitely could have played better. Practicing against the players we have in practice prepared me. I didn’t feel they (Fresno State linemen) were a whole lot better.”
White-Frisbee and Gunheim are playing out of necessity, eschewing a redshirt year because the Huskies’ thin numbers on the defensive line requires them to.
“They’re not ready, but we’ve got to get them ready,” Hart said. “They played. We know we’re not deep enough that we can not get somebody ready down the road. We’ll spring it on them early, rather than spring it on them late.”
Asked if he was surprised at the playing time, White-Frisbee merely laughed.
He and Gunheim were two of the three true freshmen who saw time on the defensive side of the ball Sunday. Linebacker Dan Howell was the other. UW head coach Keith Gilbertson said more should be on the way, such as linebacker Trenton Tuiasosopo, a Mariner High School graduate, and free safety Darin Harris.
But Sunday, it was White-Frisbee’s and Gunheim’s opportunity, based mostly on their physical readiness to withstand punishment.
“They both came in bench-pressing very, very well,” Hart said. “They both came in physically ready. The most important thing is that you don’t get them hurt, that they’re physically strong enough not to get hurt. Mentally, they’re nowhere near where they’ve got to be, but they’re going to have to grow up quickly.”
Short bursts: Gilbertson said that injured tight ends Joe Toledo (back) and Ben Bandel (knee) are not officially out of action for the year, he is preparing as though they are. Jon Lyon is considered the starter, backed by Dash Crutchley, Robert Lewis … Quarterback Isaiah Stanback (ankle) and tackle Ryan Brooks (ankle) have been slowed by injuries, but should be ready Sept. 18 against UCLA … offensive lineman Juan Garcia (broken ankle) has been running and may start practicing in pads in two to three weeks, Gilbertson said … The team added 11 walk-ons to the roster this week, giving the squad a total of 115 bodies.
Changing sports: The talent playing pickup basketball games at Hec Edmundson Pavilion the past two days could fill up a Puget Sound All-Star team.
Just a few on the list: Luke Ridnour and Nick Collison of the Seattle SuperSonics; Huskies Nate Robinson, Brandon Roy, Will Conroy and newcomer Ryan Appleby, the former Stanwood High School star who transferred from Florida; former Husky center David Dixon; New York Knick and former Rainier Beach star Jamal Crawford; and Freddie Jones, Indiana Pacer and ex-Oregon star.
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