Radioactive Communist Zombies

Jake Locker: One More Year!

Baseball Lasts Too Long

Did you realize that if there's a game seven of the World Series it will be played on November 5th?  As the Halftime blog on USA Today's website states (emphasis original):

Unless this season ends with a Dodgers-Angels Freeway Series we may yet see Bud Selig take a knee and pray for global warming.

Because here's the thing: If there's a Game 7 of the 2009 World Series, it will be played on Nov. 5. (And isn't it wonderful when you can blend a great sports event with the annual migration of penguins?)

We've already had one game snowed out.  The Halftime blog has a proposal:

It's time to shorten spring training by at least a week, start the season earlier with emphasis on games in warm-weather cities, and put as much of the frosty weather as possible on the front end of the schedule.

I'm for anything that would shorten the interminable baseball season.  I've always said spring training should start March 20th (you know, first day of spring) and the regular end by September 22nd (you know, first day of fall).  I know the teams won't be able to play five million games a season but think about those poor millionaires.  Do you realize some reported the temperature at the start of Game 3 of the Philadelphia-Colorado playoff was 28 degrees?  Won't somebody please think of the over-paid baseball players?

UW 36, Arizona 33

Before last night's University of Washington Huskies football game against Arizona in Husky Stadium, I was wondering which Husky team would show up: The one that beat USC and almost beat Notre Dame or the one that lost to Stanford.

And for a while it seemed to vacillate between the two.  While there were some brilliant plays by the Huskies they were consistently out-played by Arizona.  But luck was on the Huskies' side late in the fourth quarter.  As Steve Kelly of the Seattle Times describes it:

Down and apparently out, Washington linebacker Mason Foster intercepted a quirky pass that bounced off the foot of Arizona's Delashaun Dean and returned it 37 yards for the unlikeliest touchdown in a most improbable 36-33 win.

A two-point conversion put the Huskies three points ahead and then a pass interception by the Huskies ended Arizona's hope for a game-tying field goal.

It was a lucky, ugly win.  But it put the Dawgs 3-3 so far this season.  If they keep this up they'll be 6-6 on the season and that'll make them bowl eligible for the first time in years.  But every game is going to be tough.  In two weeks they face 5-1 Oregon who are currently on top of the Pac-10 standings.  About the only possible easy game will be against the WSU Cougars in the Apple Cup.  But as every Washingtonian knows: anything can happen in the Apple Cup.

UW Huskies are Ranked

From laughing stock to ranked in three games.  Last season the University of Washington Huskies couldn't buy a victory and had the PAC-10's first no-win season.  Now, after beating #3 USC the Dawgs are ranked.  Okay, it's #24 out of 25 rankings.  But we'll take it.

The USC Trojans slipped to #12, the largest drop in the polls. (UPDATE: Actually, BYU had the largest drop in the polls, from #7 to #19.)

Is it too soon to hope for a winning season?

Huskies Beat USC!

In an upset that pretty much no one expected, the University of Washington Huskies beat the USC Trojans 13 - 16.  USC was, before this meeting, ranked #3 in the nation where UW is coming off their worse season ever.  But with a new coach and new attitude, the Dawgs are now 2-1 (1-0 in conference).  UW hasn't beaten USC since 2001.

I was at the game (which is why this post is so late; had to drive home). 

After USC's first drive in which they seemed to run unopposed into the end zone, I thought the game was going to be over quickly.  But Washington came alive and its defense didn't allow USC one single 3rd down conversion and force three turn-overs.  USC has more yards, more sacks, and more first downs.  But UW had more points, including a tie-breaking field goal with 3 seconds left in the game. 

I snapped the following picture with my cell phone (thus its poor quality) as fans rushed the field after the game (click for full sized view):

Next week the Huskies play the Stanford Cardinal at Stanford.  Stanford is also 2-1 (1-0 in Conference after beating the WSU Cougars).

Go Huskies!

Washington Huskies Lose to No. 11 LSU

It's that time of year again when I actually watch sports on T.V.  Specifically, I watch the University of Washington Huskies.  Last night in a late game was their season opener.  I don't think anyone expected them to beat #11 LSU Tigers, and they didn't.  But this was a different team than last year's that didn't win a game (a PAC-10 first).  The Dawgs jumped out to an early lead and their defense stood up against the Tigers.  But in the end a couple of key turnovers and a steady pounding by the Tigers meant LSU came away with a victory.

Locker looked good last night but still needs to connect with his receivers better.  But he can still run and still get first downs.  You'd hardly guess he was out most of last season.

Next week the Huskies play Idaho.  That's a game they have a much better chance of winning. 

Is it too Early?

Is it too early to write off the Mariners?  Once (briefly) on top of the AL West they are now five games behind at .452.  They've lost seven of their last ten games.  They are looking pretty bad suddenly.

Can only hope this is the trend for the rest of the season. 

Sarkisian is Huskies New Head Coach

UW confirmed today that USC Offensive Coordinator Steve Sarkisian is the new head coach, replacing the very unsuccessful (and fired) Tyron Willingham.

As the Seattle Times reports:

"I'm going to bring a lot of passion to these kids. We just have to change the way they think," Sarkisian said after being introduced as Washington's third coach in five years Monday morning . . . "It's going to happen fast," Sarkisian said at a news conference at Husky Stadium's Don James Center . . .

"It" being the turn around the Huskies so desperately need.

Who knows? Sarkisian has a herculean task in front of him.  The Huskies are the first Pac-10 team to ever go 0-12 and haven't won a game since last season (2007).  But he's been a successful offensive coordinator at one of the best college football programs.

Let's give the guy a year or two to turn things around.   

It's Over

Put us out of our misery.

The worst football season in University of Washington history--in Pac-10 history--is mercifully over.  The last game of a 0-12 season a 3-48 loss to California, and the 14th lost game in a row.

Coach Willingham is on his way out.   Reports are that the job has been offered to USC offensive coordinator Steve Sarkisian.  I have no opinion on Mr. Sarkisian but it would be harder to do worse than Willingham.

Of course, us fans long for the days when the Dawgs often were on top of the Pac-10, often in the Rose Bowl, and often won it.

But I think we have more rebuilding to do before that happens.  If only we could beat Oregon and the Cougs.    

Mid-Season Coaching Change at UW?

The University of Washington Huskies are, after a 33-7 rout by Notre Dame yesterday, at 0-7 for the season and in last place in the Pac-10.  Things are looking bad for UW coach Tyrone Willingham who is 11-32 with the Huskies.

An article in today's Seattle Times speculates that Willingham may be short on time at UW:

But Willingham very well could be gone at any time. Athletic director Scott Woodward has stated many times that he does not believe that an in-season coaching change is a prudent move, yet the Huskies have now dropped nine straight dating back to last season and are assured of not going to a bowl game for the sixth consecutive year.

Yesterday's solitary touchdown against the Fighting Irish was against players who "never play" according to Irish coach Charlie Weis.  This Husky team is in trouble.

How much is Willingham's fault?  Due to his recruiting, he has a passel of very young players.  Perhaps in a few years they'll be great and the Huskies will be playing much better.  But right now, who knows.  Star quarterback Jake Locker is out with a broken thumb that he got blocking.  Why was a quarterback blocking?  If Locker hadn't gotten hurt it would have been considered a brilliant tactic.

So a combination of poor coaching and bad luck has brought the Huskies to their only second 0-7 season in their history.

But who will replace Willingham?  And who can do more with what is there to work with?  Firing the coach will do little to improve the performance of a very young team.