Fanhouse NCAA Football Blog - washington

Jake Locker Will Skip NFL Draft, Return to Washington

FanHouse Newswire — 2009-12-14T18:00:00 00:00

SEATTLE (AP) -- Washington quarterback Jake Locker announced Monday he will return to Washington for his senior season, quickly putting to rest any lingering questions about his future.

In a statement released through the university, Locker said he will not make himself available for the 2010 NFL draft and instead will return to the Huskies for one more shot at restoring the program to prominence.

"After a great deal of careful thought and deliberation, I have decided to return to Washington and play my senior year," Locker said. "I am very excited about this team's opportunities and potential for the upcoming season and I am looking forward to being a part of it."

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Game-Winning Touchdown in Dispute: Did the Ball Hit the Ground?

Michael David Smith — 2009-10-12T17:50:00 00:00

by Michael David Smith

Filed under: Arizona, Washington

Washington linebacker Mason Foster was named Pac-10 defensive player of the week on Monday after he scored the game-winning touchdown off a deflected interception in Saturday's win over Arizona. But there's one big problem with Foster's big play: Many viewers don't think his interception should have counted at all.

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Concussions and Repercussions

John Walters — 2009-10-09T15:25:00 00:00

by John Walters

Filed under: Notre Dame, Washington, Injuries, Daily Domer

SOUTH BEND, Ind -- The first and last plays of last Saturday's Washington-Notre Dame contest had something more in common than being the bookends of one of the most entertaining games waged in South Bend in years.

Each play featured a jarring hit that left one player with a concussion ... and those two concussions were only half the total the game rendered on its participants.

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Tim Tebow Returns to Practice

Brian Grummell — 2009-10-06T18:19:00 00:00

by Brian Grummell

Filed under: Florida, LSU, USC, Washington, SEC, Injuries

Its a simple headline but the implications are immense. Florida quarterback Tim Tebow returned to practice -- albeit in a limited manner -- Tuesday. This more than a week after a concussion against Kentucky left him a physical, hospitalized mess on national television. Florida has yet to publicly name Tebow's backup John Brantley the starter ahead of this week's game against LSU.

Its probably head games, but even if Tebow is 'cleared' Florida would have to be insane to play him. Head injuries are no joke and Tebow has well earned that baby rhinocerus nickname. Mix in his all-out style with LSU's terrific hitting and its an easy call: sit him. LSU is prepared for either quarterback and delaying only makes Meyer look desperate while potentially undermining Brantley before his first career start.

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Irish Stand Tall Against Washington

John Walters — 2009-10-03T22:40:00 00:00

by John Walters

Filed under: Notre Dame, Washington, Daily Domer

SOUTH BEND, Ind. -- "Charlie, can you talk about what a relief it is to win by seven points as opposed to three?"

That was the opening post-game salvo, posed by local radio announcer Steve Moritz, following Notre Dame's 37-30 overtime win versus Washington Saturday afternoon/evening.

'Touche," answered Weis, his face a portrait of relief and joy.

Walters' Notebook: Another Irish Drama

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Starting 11: Willie Martinez Edition

Clay Travis — 2009-09-23T14:00:00 00:00

by Clay Travis

Filed under: Georgia, Oklahoma, Texas, Texas Tech, Washington

Defensive coordinator Willie Martinez has to go at Georgia.

Bulldog football fans know it, Mark Richt has to know it, anyone with a semblance of intelligence about sports knows it. My favorite part of watching Saturday's games was seeing Willie Martinez on the sideline after Georgia's defenders gave up one big play after another to Arkansas. Often, you could just see him in the background, arms raised, a puzzled, crestfallen look on his face. My favorite shot was in the third quarter after a Georgia defensive back stood flat-footed and didn't move as a wide receiver ran right by him.

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Sarkisian Groomed for Upsets Like This

Lonnie White — 2009-09-20T01:43:00 00:00

by Lonnie White

Filed under: USC, Washington, Pac 10, Coaching

For those who know Washington's Steve Sarkisian and have followed his journey from unknown junior college quarterback to first-year Pac-10 head coach, the Huskies' 16-13 victory over USC on Saturday should not come as a surprise.

That's because Sarkisian is a true idealist and competitor who had prepared himself for this moment for years.

And USC coach Pete Carroll -- the ultimate optimistic who loves every challenge -- knew this as well as anyone.

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Yet Again, USC Ends Up Roadkill

Brian Grummell — 2009-09-19T19:12:00 00:00

by Brian Grummell

Filed under: USC, Washington, Pac 10

USC once again followed a tired pattern Saturday, losing its Pac-10 road opener to Washington thanks to a bevy of offensive problems. Sophomore quarterback Aaron Corp, starting in place of injured freshman Matt Barkley was ineffective, tossing a pair of interceptions inside the Washington 30-yard line as USC fell to the Huskies 16-13. Washington kicked a 22-yard field goal with seconds remaining to eclipse the No. 3 Trojans.

USC's Pac-10 troubles are well established, having lost to Oregon State in 2008, Stanford and Oregon in 2007, UCLA in 2006 and Cal in 2003. The road openers have been predictably troublesome, with the Cal and Oregon State losses in that mix. Of particular embarrassment, USC coach Pete Carroll lost to disciple Steve Sarkisian, who only last week snapped a 15-game losing streak for the troubled Washington football program.

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Despite Leaky Defense, LSU Wins in Washington 31-23

Jim Henry — 2009-09-07T12:30:00 00:00

by Jim Henry

Filed under: LSU, Washington

It was a good win, but not good enough for LSU's expectations. In fact, Tigers coach Les Miles called LSU's road game at Washington Saturday night a "setup game." Call it a blind date that nearly went terribly wrong.

Miles pointed out how LSU traveled the farthest it has ever been -- 2,550 miles to Seattle -- for a football game. He cited how the opener was played in rain and mist. He reminded fans the Huskies didn't have any distractions -- classes weren't in session last week -- and they returned a talented, experienced quarterback in Jake Locker.

"But we prevailed," Miles said. "We're 1-0 and looking forward to the rest of the season."

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The FanHouse Walk: Giving Football the Old College Handshake

Brian Grummell — 2009-08-17T15:24:00 00:00

by Brian Grummell

Filed under: Florida, Washington, Wisconsin, Pac 10, SEC, Coaching, Division II, FCS

Every week during college football's endless offseason, The FanHouse Walk will put last week's stories to bed and deliver the essentials to bridge that agonizing space between now and September.

Good Cop Bad Cop -- The American Football Coaches Association is trying to inject some sportsmanship into an opening week pregame near you. The AFCA has put forth a non-binding proposal that teams shake hands en masse before each Week 1 game, roughly four minutes before spending the next four hours in violent, competitive, collision-heavy contact.

Kudos, I guess. It's well-meaning and doesn't necessarily do any harm, but this seems more for show than sincerity given the necessarily violent nature of the game. As AFCA honcho Grant Teaff says, "It is symbolic, but it is, we think, a very important initiative." Meanwhile, the NCAA rules committee has cooked up its own, much more dangerous plan to counter unsportsmanlike play.

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Huskies' Locker Signs With Angels

Gary Washburn — 2009-08-16T14:39:00 00:00

by Gary Washburn

Filed under: LSU, Washington

The University of Washington should be relieved that quarterback Jake Locker signed a professional baseball contract with the Los Angeles Angels because it could potentially free up another scholarship.

Locker, a 10th round pick of Los Angeles, confirmed Saturday night that he has agreed to terms on a deal and likely will receive a signing bonus. Because of that he will need to relinquish his scholarship to retain his amateur football status, giving coach Steve Sarkisian another coveted scholarship.

Locker said he will play his final two seasons for the Huskies and may pursue the NFL. Baseball, something he played in high school and during college summers, is merely a fallback.

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Pac-10 Predictions: Can Rest of League Finally Bear Down on USC?

Gary Washburn — 2009-08-09T10:30:00 00:00

by Gary Washburn

Filed under: Arizona, Arizona State, California, Oregon, Oregon State, Stanford, UCLA, USC, Washington, Washington State, Pac 10

So is this the year someone besides USC wins the Pac-10 title and gains the automatic BCS bowl berth?

If there is ever a year for USC to get chased from behind and caught, this is this year. The Trojans are breaking in a new quarterback in Aaron Corp and replacing several departed starters to the NFL draft.

So who's it going to be? Cal? Can the Golden Bears overcome early-season trap games and win the games they are supposed to and make it interesting? Can Oregon beat USC at home and win difficult road games and take the title? And how about Oregon State? Do Mike Riley teams always have to start 1-3 before getting into high gear?

And what about the rest of the field? Is this Stanford's breakout year? Is UCLA ready to become a Pac-10 factor again? And is Arizona really the third worst team in the conference as it was picked by the media? These are all intriguing questions that will be worked out in the coming weeks.

Our standings preview and records predictions are after the jump.

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Pac-10 Media Day Notebook

Gary Washburn — 2009-07-31T10:15:00 00:00

by Gary Washburn

Filed under: Arizona, Arizona State, California, Oregon, Oregon State, Stanford, UCLA, USC, Washington, Washington State, Pac 10

LOS ANGELES -- USC was picked to win the Pac-10 football title for the seventh consecutive year by the media, and yet the coaches from all nine competitors -- including Arizona's Mike Stoops (right) and even USC coach Pete Carroll -- touched on the uncertainty of the Trojans this season.

USC received 28 of the 32 votes with California receiving three while third-place Oregon collected one vote. The Trojans will be breaking in a new quarterback and several new defenders since 11 players were taken in the NFL Draft. Perhaps this is the year another school emerges and takes the crown out of Los Angeles, but they approached Thursday precariously and with respect. There were no declarations that USC is going down or the reign is over -- not even from UCLA coach Rick Neuheisel.

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Sarkisian Expects Jake Locker to Sign With Angels

Gary Washburn — 2009-07-30T14:25:00 00:00

by Gary Washburn

Filed under: Washington, Pac 10

LOS ANGELES -- Steve Sarkisian is trying to restart a winning tradition at the University of Washington and having quarterback Jake Locker will help that cause.

Yet, he realizes that Locker is such a gifted athlete, there will be other demands for his services, such as baseball. And Sarkisian said he believes Locker will sign a professional baseball contract with the Los Angeles Angels, who drafted him in the 10th round in June's amateur draft.

Locker, a rising junior, coming off missing the final eight games with a broken finger, is slated to start for the Huskies and finished 16-for-18 in the UofW Spring Game.

"Eventually that will probably get done," Sarkisian said. "He's been very patient (but) I think it will get done, a deal with Angels."

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Will Year of Transition in Pac-10 Lead to USC's Ouster?

Gary Washburn — 2009-07-29T23:00:00 00:00

by Gary Washburn

Filed under: Arizona, Arizona State, California, Oregon, Oregon State, Stanford, UCLA, USC, Washington, Washington State, Pac 10

LOS ANGELES -- Perhaps there was a reason Pete Carroll pleaded with Mark Sanchez to return to USC for his senior season. He knew his Trojans would lose their gorilla grip on the Pac-10, and that is the enduring theme entering the conference's media day Thursday at the LAX Sheraton Hotel.

The Trojans are not the prohibitive favorites, but the precarious favorites with a slew of teams chasing them. But there's one major catch in their pursuit, most of the conference teams -- outside Washington -- are breaking in a new or less experienced quarterback. USC should be voted the favorites Thursday, but who is second?

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Washington Tackle Skyler Fancher Nabs Purse Snatcher Despite Broken Leg

Michael David Smith — 2009-07-17T09:58:00 00:00

by Michael David Smith

Filed under: Washington

Skyler Fancher is an offensive tackle for the Washington Huskies who broke his leg during spring practice, requiring two surgeries. But he's still surprisingly nimble for a big guy, as a purse snatcher on the Washington campus found out the hard way.

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Football Remains Focus as Jake Locker Mulls Angels' Offer

Gary Washburn — 2009-06-10T20:36:00 00:00

by Gary Washburn

Filed under: Washington, Pac 10

The Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim selected Washington quarterback and summer collegiate baseball player Jake Locker in the 10th round of the amateur player draft Wednesday, and the former Pac-10 freshman of the year said he would be interested in signing with the club.

Locker, who hit .273 in 10 games with the Bellingham Bells of the West Coast Baseball League last summer, is slated as the Huskies' starting quarterback. He has maintained football is his primary focus.

"Definitely," he said when asked about the possibility of signing in a teleconference. "If we can come to an agreement about a contract in terms - it's something that I'm looking into now. But again, they understand that it would probably be a couple of years before I was playing baseball anyway."

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Nick Montana Commits to Washington

Gary Washburn — 2009-06-10T14:50:00 00:00

by Gary Washburn

Filed under: Washington, Pac 10

Nick Montana, the son of Pro Football Hall of Famer Joe Montana, has given an oral commitment to the University of Washington, his Oaks Christian High School coach, Bill Redell, told FanHouse.

Montana, who is listed at 6-feet-1, 180 pounds, is ranked the No. 13 quarterback in the class of 2010 by Scout.com and gives new Washington coach Steve Sarkisian a potential program-changing quarterback. Montana threw for 33 touchdowns and seven interceptions as a junior and possesses many of the same skills as his famous father, according to Redell.

"He can run, he's got tremendous feet, he's got great timing on his passes," Redell said. "He's got great touch on the ball. He's got great leadership ability. He's the type of kid who can throw on the run, like his dad could."

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How to Program the Pac-10 Network

Clay Travis — 2009-05-18T16:19:00 00:00

by Clay Travis

Filed under: Arizona, Arizona State, California, Oregon, Oregon State, Stanford, UCLA, USC, Washington, Washington State, Pac 10, Fans, General CFB Insanity

Pity the poor Pac-10; its revenues are barely half of the SEC, Big Ten, and, shudder, the ACC.

As a result, the Pac-10 is exploring a route that has already made it rain on the SEC and the Big Ten, starting their own network. The Big Ten started their own network in conjunction with FOX and netted $66 million from the network last year. Rather than start their own network, the SEC partnered with CBS and ESPN. Beginning this year the SEC will bring in -- wait for it -- $205 million a year just from television rights. Why does that matter? The Pac-10 conference had revenues of just $88.78 million in 2007. Yep, by 2009, the SEC will triple the Pac-10 in sports revenue. That's a huge deal in the arm's race that is major collegiate sports.

Fortunately, as a lover of all things college football, I'm here to help the Pac-10 ensure their network is a hit. How do we do that? Programming, baby, it's all about the programming.

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Tyrone Willingham Apparently Won't Coach in UFL After All

Michael David Smith — 2009-05-14T14:30:00 00:00

by Michael David Smith

Filed under: Notre Dame, Stanford, Washington

On Tuesday we noted a report that former Stanford, Notre Dame and Washington head coach Tyrone Willingham had accepted a new job as an assistant coach in the upstart United Football League. But now it appears that Willingham won't be a UFL assistant after all.

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