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Some perspective is needed Near the end of Jim Owens’ era and the beginning of Don James’s, the NCAA instituted some significant scholarship limitations. These reductions in scholarships effectively allowed Washington to join UCLA and ‘SC as an upper tier member of the Pacific 8 conference, starting in 1977, four years after the first set of limits were established and two years after James replaced Owens in 1975. In 1977, the UW (10-2) beat Michigan, 27-20, in the Rose Bowl, ending a 13-year drought of Rose Bowl appearances. Before these scholarship reductions were established, USC and UCLA recruited high school players out of California away from the other schools in the conference, players that never saw action on the field but who could have contributed at other institutions. Further scholarship reductions occurred in 1978, leveling the playing field even more for UW. James benefited from these reductions as did Owens in his early days at UW when one-platoon football ruled the day. Both of them were outstanding coaches who took advantage of NCAA rules changes that limited the population advantages the California schools enjoyed. Harkening back to the good old days of James or the early Owens era appears remote for Tyrone Willingham from the standpoint of any significant, forthcoming NCAA rules changes. Ty will have to do it on his own, not that he would have it any other way. Although Willingham has inherited some talented players left over from Rick Neuheisel's experience, the quality of the last recruiting class, which was rated fifty-fifth in the nation by scout.com, limits the depth of his team. The 2004 class, though rated twenty-second in the nation, lost several key players who contributed to its relative high ranking. Neuheisel’s 2003 class was rated eighteenth in the nation and his 2002 class was ranked twenty-third. After UW’s Rose Bowl victory in 2001, Neuheisel brought in a class ranked in the top ten. This lack of depth was apparent in both the Air Force and California games, where the Huskies were outscored 35-7 in combined fourth quarters (14-7 in the Air Force game and 21-0 in the Cal game). In the first and third quarters of the Cal game -- when troops were fresh -- the Huskies played the Bears to a standstill, to a 14-14 tie. In the first and third quarters of the Air Force game, the UW is ahead 10-3. Assuming Idaho lacks similar depth, the UW shouldn't have any problems with the Vandals, in a game played on Saturday. Besides a lack of depth -- resulting from the last two recruiting classes -- here are some other factors contributing to the UW decline: -- Washington has had three different head coaches in the last 24 months. -- Most likely, many of Neuheisel’s leftover recruits are dismayed and disgruntled by the way he was treated by the UW and NCAA. Neuheisel was awarded $4.7 million in a lawsuit he filed against them ($2.2 million from the UW and $2.5 million from the NCAA). As charismatic and sincere as anyone ever coaching at Washington, Neuheisel commanded loyalty, devotion and respect from his players. In retrospect, UW officials should have supported Neuheisel during the NCAA witch hunt that ensued after key NCAA officials were interviewed by the media subsequent to the initial “gambling” story. Some intense scrutiny of relevant NCAA bylaws would have emboldened them. Not doing so likely cost the UW millions. -- An overzealous local media overplayed the Neuheisel imbroglio and the prescription drug fiasco in a non-stop coverage that had to lower team morale, back then and to a lesser extent now. Media members continue to hack away at the athletics program, referring to it as "Probation Nation." The Seattle news media omitted some key facts in their coverage of Neuheisel’s participation in the two auctions, facts that would have altered the public’s negative perception of Neuheisel before his case went to trial. Several other facts concerning his alleged lying to both superiors and NCAA investigators were overplayed and misrepresented by the media. Such overcooked, sensationalized coverage had to affect recruiting adversely. -- The recruiting mistakes Neuheisel made in his 2001-2003 classes were not ameliorated by the 2004 (Keith Gilbertson) and 2005 (Gilbertson and Willingham) classes. By and large these mistakes concern the recruitment of quality linemen. -- Before the season began, the coaches were concerned about the lack of speed in certain areas of the team. After the spring game, Tim Lappano, the offensive coordinator, said he was disappointed with the running game. After its first two games, UW is averaging 98 yards per game on the ground. -- The team lacks playmakers, a push up the middle from its defensive line, and an offensive line that can block effectively for both the running and passing games. The lack of such was quite apparent before the season started. Other than that, everything’s fine. J -- Lowering the depth of the team even more, two J. C. transfers counted on to help out at cornerback were unable to enroll in school because of academic deficiencies. This season is a critical juncture for the new coaches and team. Coach Willingham needs all the support he can muster from fans and alums. A fan base that continues to carp away at and criticize the coaches and athletic department will only make matters worse for the team, its coaches, and in the long run, for itself. Richard Linde (a.k.a., Malamute) can be reached at malamute@4malamute.com |
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