Lather, rinse, repeat.

Did anyone expect leadership from Walnut Creek this time around?

Ironic that Saturday's game came on the day that the NFL instructed it's officials to eject players for helmet to helmet contact. I do believe Jake's hit was unintentional, but after seeing the hit Colt Brennan took as well I think the NCAA (and the Pac-10) are behind the curve on this.

The NFL has already made horse-collar tackles illegal (two seasons ago I believe) while the NCAA has not. The biggest concern I have is that college players are not paid beyond their scholarships, so few probably have any insurance or financial means to fall back on. I would hate to see a college player suffer a life-changing injury that could possibly be avoided. The NCAA should be ahead of the NFL not behind.

Sorry Huskies, but it wasn't a cheap shot or dirty hit on Locker.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=txSlG-iLFU0

As you can see, Locker is the one who lowers his head at the last split second, not the OSU player. UW needs to stop using Locker as a runningback, he's way too important. Things like this will continue to happen the more he's put in those situations.

Mike, I concur. If Willinghams game plan is to hang Jake out to be hit just to have the run option from his quarterback, he will be FAIR game to be tackled. Maybe next time it might be his knees. At this rate, Locker wont last 3 more years.
Pac-10 has spoke dogs, the boys got rouughed up in Corvallis. Don't think the Cougs wont tolerate it either.

Mike,
I would agree that is was not an intentional hit on Locker, but something needs to be done by the Pac 10 the keep the cheap shots away.

But the thing that will make Locker a great QB is his ability to run the football to keep defenses off guard. If they stop letting him run the football he will become 1 dimensional and easier to defend against. Also should Texas have stopped running Vince Young or Florida with Tim Tebow and his 5 rushing TD's last week?

Just asking...

D and FtB, good points. No, they shouldn't stop running him, but maybe he should watch some game film of Dixon, and try to use his speed and athletic ability to become more elusive and play a little more like Shawn Alexander (lay down). Haha. the difference between Locker and Tebow/Young is that Locker is the entire team, and UW's entire future (in terms of bringing in recruits, etc).

...not only was the OSU player's knee down before the "fumble"... but the ball was still in his possession when he "touched down" the ball beyond the touchdown line.

It's not a question of whether he hit Locker with the intent to hurt him. This is about leading with your head, which is dangerous - arguably more dangerous to the hitter than the hitee. Unfortunately this is why we lost Curtis Williams. It should be flagged to protect both the defender and the offensive player. The NCAA needs to crack down on it big time and for the Pac-10 can't make that call alone, hence them taking the high road. It's a generic response to a much bigger issue that needs to be addressed immediately, but the OSU defender absolutely should have been flagged for leading with his head on the play if the rules were how they should be.

As expected, the Pac10 tanked. What's a reprimand? "Please, fellas, do better next time!" BTW what did they mean that helmet-to-helmet is a point of emphasis? Try to do it harder? more often? That would be emphasis.
It was an intentional hit - he used his head as a battering ram. He is supposed to use his shoulder pads for tackling. I think football should go back to leather-style helmets (extra padding is now available) to protect the wearer, not to give a tackler a bowling ball to hit the opponents.

A quick scan...twice...don't see anything about Alfoa punching the back, which Riley and the OSU players talk about as a proven fact. They keep talking about penalties for reaction...

After Jake's hit, I was about as sick feeling as I have for a long time. Hated what it could mean for for a very fine young man/leader. Glad to see he's on the mend.

I was also gratified to see the dawg line fire off the line for those rushes leading to a TD. I'd love to see more of that in the future. I'm also glad to see more of the newer guys getting more meaningful PT.

Anyone see a TE lately???

All good points. Bottom line is Locker has to learn when to take to the sideline. He NEVER should have turned his head back toward the center of the field on that play. Hopefuly this will be a wake up call and he learns that he isn't doing the team or himself any good by fighting for extra yards on every single play. Some call it his toughness but at some point it becomes "not very smart" stubborness.

Let's be honest... the officials and "leaders" of the Pac-10 are a mess. They're 10+ years behind other conferences in terms of TV deals. They fall over backwards to take care of the California schools and turn a blind eye to the rest of the conference. And the officiating??? Holy smoke. Just ask Oklahoma about Pac-10 refs. For all of the smart-@$$ comments about the "puppies joining the WAC"... I've got to say, I'd actually be in support of the move! F--- the Pac-9. I felt that way 15 years ago when they ruined our football program, and I feel even stronger about it today! Any chance of UW joining a better run conference like the WAC?

Mike, we don't know what Locker or the OSU player were thinking. I do know that Locker plays hard and runs hard. It is my opinion that his head went forward not because he thought a helmet was coming but he was trying not to run up right. And he had already been hit which helped cause his head to continue forward. The defensive player lead with his helmet I hope not with the idea of hurting Locker but cetainly sending a message. And he lead high since other OSU guys had already made the stop and the only place left to hit Locker was unfortunately high. Cheap shot? I think so. Done with intent to injure? Probably. Serious injury probably not. But please don't blame Locker for that hit.

I agree with you, p10.o.s, but I thought the expression was, turn a blind eye to Calif. schools, (see no evil) and turn a deaf ear to us (I don't hear any complaints. . .).
Why is USC not given 2 years probation? Oh, yes, why is Oregon-Nike not being investigated? etc., etc.

Okay... I've been trying my level best to be patient with this coaching staff, but I can't take it any more. Blunder after blunder after blunder. And to say "we don't have enough bullets in our gun"... unreal. So, you're telling me this is the worst defensive talent we've had in over 100 years of Husky football? (Because this is the worst statistical defense EVER in Husky football history!) The coaches blame the kids, make HORRIBLE play calls, can't manage the clock, and seem unable to make adjustments. Here's a crazy concept -- maybe being a good coaching staff involves making more out of the sum of the parts. When UW was winning Rose Bowls, a (mythical) national title, and PAC-10 titles, we didn't have top 5 after top 5 recruiting class. USC, Notre Dame and a host of other schools always got more "blue chip" kids. But James and his staff turned good players into great players and forged great players into an elite team. Make a note Ty, Kent, & Tim! Maybe it's your job to take the kids and make them better!

I wanted to give Ty and company 4 years minimum to see where things stood. But at this point, things are bad and getting worse! They have got to go.

By the way... anyone want my Cal & WSU tickets? I can't watch the crap these coaches are putting out on the field one more time.

FIRE WILLINGHAM
FIRE LAPPANO
FIRE BAER
FIRE TURNER

Bigdog you are so wrong. It was a 3rd down play he was trying to get the first down thats why he was fighting for the extra yard. Also any coach will tell you that once you go less than 100% you are going to get hurt. I think most players would have been hurt a lot worse if not for Jake does everything in his life full speed he would have been hurt worse. BIGdog jake has done a much better job of not always fighting for the extra yard. Maybe try watching a game with your eyes open. Anytime you use Jake and not very smart together you are just an idiot. And comments like that are why i don't know why i read this blog at all. but i realize that for every idiot like you there are 10 people who have a clue about life and football for that matter. See pdxdawg blog from yesterday maybe it will give everyone some perspective.

I have been a little laid up so I have watched more football games the last few weeks then usual. One thing has become even more obvious. PAC10 officials need work. If the guy doesn't run in to the end zone without anyone around the score gets reviewed in PAC10. And plays that maybe should be reviewed don't get reviewed. Why wasn't Shaws catch and fumble not get reviewed. Why didn't Bernard fumble get reviewed. PAC10 says college football is a fast furious game. And pro isn't? Helmet to helmet hits can't be good for anyone. So why in this day and age is it at least a penalty in NCAA? As long as the PAC10 and NCAA sits on their hands some players, teams will take advantage of the non rule and try to hurt players. It seems the Chancelors should be looking into the PAC10 leadership from top to bottom. Hansen has been in the job too long. The officials need more training and direction. We can't continue to use insurance salesmen for officials. The game is too fast and furious. Eventually it will hit the pocket. Then the PAC10 will wake up. PAC10 officiating is already viewed, and rightfully so as the worst around. This year has done nothing to change that view. And when BIG 12, Big 10 etc. decide they aren't playing any more it will cost the PAC10. Then maybe Walnut Creek will see it differently. Until then officials will help determine the out come of games that should be determined by the players and coaches. Ask Oklahoma when they are going to play Oregon next. Never.

Yeah... I'd be very curious to know exactly where the Reggie Bush and Dwaye Jarrett investigations got stalled. It's a funny thing. Hundreds of thousands of dollars, agent contracts, free rent... What was Billie Joe's take? An alleged $50,000 loan. But in the case of these guys, we're talking severals times that much money. But of course the Pac10 wouldn't want negative press for it's crown jewel. Prove me wrong Pac10 idiots... actually take action against USC. And as for the Nike Ducks... Yeah... tell me there's no competitive advantage to a fellow giving your athletic department a blank check. How would the conference feel if Paul Allen adopted the UW as his pet team and pumped a billion dollars into our programs... I can only imagine the crys of foul! The truth is the Pac10 over reacted when it destroyed the UW football program -- they've as much as admitted it. But... then again, we're not a hyped program at this point, so they don't care if we just rot here in the NW corner of the country. f--- 'em. Let's join the WAC!!!!

Well, if Fresno State, Boise State, and Hawaii, etc., keep going up and up, it might not be a bad idea

I wonder if Bonnell had been in the whole game if we'd have won?...

This is the right result. You could just as easily have called Locker for leading with his head, which he does regularly, like every other hard runner from high school on up. And every hard tackler. I'm not saying it's good, I'm saying that's how it's done.

The injustice here is that Ryan Tolar will miss another half. He might have been guilty of a facemask, but his only after-play action was to push the guy who had grabbed him by his facemask -- tearing his helment off. Once the guy let go, so did Tolar. That was a bad call.

The Pac-10 is a bit of an embarrassment in terms of officiating, isn't it. Last year's debacle between Oregon and Oklahoma comes to mind. Too bad. Of course the bigger tragedy is that the Dawgs failed to capitalize on the gift to, you know, win the game!

blidawg... I certainly didn't mean to take anything away from Jake. He is the heart and soul and future of this team and I don't want to see him hurt and I know he is very smart. Not a very good choice of words on my part. In regards to the play, I guess I thought he was pretty well stopped and like you say, injuries occur when you're not playing full speed. I guess we could argue over if he should have turned his head but I'm not into arguing... just winning and no serious injuries. Peace

Caldawg,

It was not a cheap shot on Locker, Jake lowered his head after the defender was coming in for the tackle. Unfortunate? Hell yeah! Cheap? I don't think so. Intent to injure? That is a big accusation to make I hope you have something more to back that up than just because you think so. We all need to remember that this is just a game and the world will not end if the Huskies lose a football game and trust me I am a die hard that hasn't missed a home game since 90.

You guys are scaring me. I came to Boise from Washington and always wanted to see Boise join the PAC-10 with BYU or Utah. But now I am not so sure that is a good deal since the California schools seem to run the show. I am still bitter at Bill (Stanford) Walsh for whining until Don James quit in disgust.
Here is my plan: UW, WAzzu, Oregon, OSU, Arizona, ASU, BSU, BYU, and Utah break and form a new conference. Watch the PAC-10 dry up then. Smoke this one.......

um...NO THANKS

I think the traffic must have frayed the Husky fans' nerves. Among the angry posts is one gem - having Paul Allen adopt the Huskies "as his pet team." He bought the Trailblazers in Oregon, and quickly turned them into an inept criminal enterprise. He could build UW a new stadium to showcase when Game Day is there next October to honor the 8-0 Huskies who will be sailing along under the leadership of Messrs. Turner, Willingham, Baer, and Lappano. Oops, my crystal ball just corrected itself to 0-8 Huskies. Stay the course.

D, I mentioned that Jake's head was down. That is what was expected from a hard runner. If you look at the film, Jake was locked up, and probably out of bounds at the time of the hit. It wasn't a late hit, but it was not needed in the way it was delivered. And there isn't a team out there that has UW on their schedule this year and years to come that wouldn't like to have Jake out of the game. Not seriously injured but out. And very least send a message. Take a look at the film again and tell me that wasn't a cheap shot. And you are right the world will not win, thank God, if Huskies don't win. I have followed the Huskies since 1960. Live in the bay area, have season tickets and that have watched a lot of football. That hit was not needed.

huskiejv, you will never be the big dog again with the California schools running the show!

I like that plan, Fear. Won't happen though, but I like the looks of it.

Look, no one can say whether it was or was not intentional. I think by Al Whatshisname's account that he prayed afterwards shows he's a good guy who meant well but was probably playing hard. Jake's head did come down to meet him, a typical runners move. I blame the adults running this league and the coaches shepherding the players. NCAA is poorly run, Pac-10 is pro-Cal schools, the refs are undeniably horrible and there needs to be rules to protect all of the players, not just QB's. Horse collars and helmet to helmet being illegal are no brainers. Coaches need to get control of their players. This has to be a purely amateur game for it to be a fair and safe one. It's neither at the moment with the hypocrisy that exists at every level above the player.

Add Nevada or Hawaii to make it an even 10 schools and look at the road trips. Down in Boise, our best road trip is to Reno. DUH...
Beats going to Berkley.

This is where I believe we should be at... If Tyrone and his boys can't pull in a good amount of the remaining most sought after recruits, he has to go. We have had one major recruit after another leave save jake locker.

Another thing I dont like. Why does lappano tell every one he is going to limit locker to 10 carries a game. The first couple possessions the beavers knew they were gonna run the option to Rankin. We do need to develop Locker's Pocket passing but don't limit it to just that... especially at the beginning of the game. Let him roll out, run the option. Once he is in the game , then let him run some basic passing patterns.

LA Husky, I agree with what you are saying, mostly. And we don't know what was being thought by anyone. But I do believe it was a cheap shot. I say that because Jake had been slowed down. His head was down because he was trying to push forward which we all do by leaning forward and putting our head down. I don't think the OSU need to come in that high and should have in fact been trying to hit a little lower and use his arms. If Jake had not had his head down that hit would have been in the jaw or neck area. Jake isn't going down by a hit to the sholder. So the guys should have been trying to hit and wrap. I have to look at the film again but I think his arms were down. My objective is not to point blame, but I know what I saw. It is time for the NCAA and PAC10 to take notice. And that is my concern. They aren't looking at the big picture. If it is good enough for the NFL why not the NCAA? I would like to see, within reason everything done that can be done to protect these guys while not ruining the game of football.

Re: referee calls, spearing, etc...there's a fine line between concern and whining...when you're in 10th place out of ten teams the perception is y'all are whining...

"Sorry Huskies, but it wasn't a cheap shot or dirty hit on Locker.

As you can see, Locker is the one who lowers (he's being tackled, dude!) his head at the last split second, not the OSU player. UW needs to stop using Locker as a runningback, he's way too important. Things like this will continue to happen the more he's put in those situations.

Posted by Mike at 01:34 PM, Nov 12, 2007"

Are a coog? Quacker?

Spin it anyway you like, Mike!

Locker was in a defenseless position. Meaning he couldn't avoid the helmet tackle! One beaver hit him low and a second at mid-section and the idiot beaver used ONLY his helmet. His arms were at his sides.

Find out what the NFL is doing about 'inadvertent tackles.'

That's funny! You have the same handle as me. Did you register after me?

Re: referee calls, spearing, etc...there's a fine line between concern and whining...when you're in 10th place out of ten teams the perception is y'all are whining...

Posted by jh at 03:35 PM, Nov 12, 2007

What's your teams claim to fame?

Great posting, mike...your question will really help UW get up to 9th place and from under the albatross known as Willingham.

I was so happy to see Jake walk back in the stadium, mostly for that kid and his family, but also because UW football has just seemed so snakebitten over the last 5 years, and finally it felt like we were catching a break.

The Locker injury has really highlighted the irrationality of the attacks on this coaching staff. Yeah, Locker shouldn't run, he should just be a pure dropback passer to protect him. Great point, that would really play to his strengths and give us the best chance of winning, wouldn't it. I mean, that's just idiotic.

As far as the commenter who was asking "is this the worst talent the Huskies have had on defense in 100 years," the answer is probably no. It's not so much that we're bad as that the talent level across the conference has caught up. We all dream of the good old days of Washington football, but in those days we competed for recruits with UCLA and USC only. Oregon State never sniffed a recruit good enough to get an offer from Washington (neither did Oregon, for that matter). In an era of tighter scholarship limitations, media-savvy 18 year-olds and Phil Knight, it's a different game, and a bad recruiting class can have ripple effects that last for years.

Firing this staff is not going to cause a bunch of Lawyer Milloys and Steve Emtmans to suddenly materialize and return everything to normal. If you want those type of players back in the program, it's a slow build.

Ty Willingham is an old time Washington type of coach. Unless the negative spin gets out of hand to the point it affects recruiting (honestly, I doubt many recruits care what you chuckleheads think, so it probably won't), I think this will turn next year and the following.

Even with Bonnell starting for Locker, all 3 of the remaining games are very winnable, though it will take a better game than the incredibly disappointing Arizona game. Let's go do it and keep the momentum going forward.

Go Dawgs!

And your opinion could sail a thousands ships.

Is that how you were taught to play football? Or did you ever play football?

This was not a game representative of the best of Pac-10 football, as evidenced by the fact there have been no ejections in a Pac-10 game previously this year. We know that feeling is shared by the administrators and coaches at both institutions, and all involved will work to see such conduct does not happen in the future,"

Same old Fuskies

So the NFL deems helmet to helmet contact too dangerous and the Pc-10/NCAA do not? How is this possible? If a kid gets hurt NFL officials will provide extremely valuable expertise and the Pac-10 and NCAA will pay through their teeth.

This issue is not whether this was intentional or not, it's why there wasn't a flag on a clear helmet to helmet hit. Once again, the PAC 10 misses the point entirely.

Incredible how we all see the same play and some still call it a cheap shot. I am convinced that beer has eaten away some of your brains people. Locker did the leaning and shifted just before the tackler, Afalava, came in. Now we're all thankful that no one was hurt. I was at the game and it was a scary scene. In Corvallis the ambulance does not come onto the field unless something bad happens.

And the Huskies guy, Wilson Afoa (?) clearly did punch Yvenson Bernard in the face. The referee didn't see it, but it happened. Afoa is no better than a thug, that's clear. He has no business playing college football with that kind of attitude.

Finally, Bernard never fumbled. It all goes to show that with the biased officiating that the Beavers still won.

I still like Tyrone Willingham and think he is a good coach. My belief is UW will be better next year and awesome in the coming years.

No bigger Dawg fan here but the most important event that came out of this weekend was Jake walking away from the incident. Personally I don't feel the hit was worthy of a flag and my beef is more with the UW coaching staff for running Locker this much. You would have to be ignorant to think an injury wasn't going to happen sooner or later with as much as he is asked to run. Think pass first Jake and run only when needed. Learn to slide! :)

The Husky RB's and the O-Line need to kick butt and get that running game going. If we need to pass, protect the QB and let him find open receivers which by the way need to make more of an effort to get open.

Let it rest and let's work on just getting better as a football team.

We all hate the success the Ducks are having but let's tip our hats to them. Cougs will never be in the lime light so we can, as usual, just laugh at them as they attempt to flex their mouth.

Cheers!

Caldawg,
I think you are not seeing the hit clearly. The hit that hurt Jake was the initial contact not the last defender who came after Jake was down. The guy that came a little late hit his own guy more than Jake and the helmet to helmet hit is what strained Jake's neck.

I don't know about Cheap, but I'll take Alafalva's words from an interview. I saw him turn in and I put my helmet into his helmet. Look it up, it was in the Reg Guard on Sunday. Defenses have been aiming for his helmet all season. USC, ASU, and now OSU.

My guess, is Locker saw the hit comeing and hunched up for protection as he went for the first down.

And I think the fight on the goal line was a result of a couople of hands to the face mask by the Beavers. Tolar and Johnson both got hands to the face.

And, after watching the NFL this weekend, any helmet to helmet contact is flagged intentional or not. And if coaches such as Riley want to hide behind the NCAA's snail pace and say he thought it was a good hit, he is worthless.

Was the hit malicious? No I don't think so. Did he lead with his helmet? Yes, and that just doesn't turn out good for anybody...usually the hitee. Nobody has talked about Brandon Johnson's helmet getting ripped off at the goal line. The other thing no one is talking about is Jake Locker, Isiah Stanback, Dan Milsten - 3 Huskies in 4 years with career ending to potentially life threatening injuries at the hands of the beavs. Nate Longshore went down in the OSU game to what many believe to be a dirty shot.

Give the coaches a little credit here...last two weeks the huskies D has played better....gave up 1 offensive TD on Saturday - and it was off a Rankin fumble return to the 3 or 4. The offensive play calling has been better as well...the TD to Russo - GREAT play call (still questionable at times like at the end but it has improved). Also, don't forget, if Jake's passing were a little more consistent, we'd probably have a couple more wins....on Saturday, he missed Russo WIDE OPEN down the sideline two plays before the punt block for TD - 14 point swing in less then a minute. Not complaining about Jake at all, so don't read it that way. Just part of him moving from a great running QB to becoming a great QUARTERBACK overall.

For everyone "blaming" Jake for the hit, and for those giving up their tickets......GO! Take Off. Become a Duck fan. It is painful going through this time of football, but we have no place for Qua-Cou-Eavrs on the Husky train. Here's to momentum in to 08. Here's to Jake making a full recovery. Here's to Husky football getting back to where it belongs!!!!!!

Dawg, Longshore never played a down against OSU. He was NOT cheapshotted on the sidelines while holding a clipboard. He was injured the previous week against UO.

I'm sure the Huskies have never, ever put the hurt on another opponent and made him leave the game for even a single series in their history. I'm sure they're all choirboys. Just like all the players on OSU. Gimme a break, bud, there are bad apples in EVERY fan base and on EVERY campus in the US.

It's amazing how two fan bases can watch the same game and come to totally different conclusions. Neither fan base is going to be very objective. The reality most probably lies in the middle somewhere. If the tables were turned on the Locker hit and it had been OSU's QB getting hurt, the Husky fans would be spouting the same stuff that the Beaver fans are and the Beaver fans would be spouting the same stuff the Husky fans are. Ridiculous, I can take neither of you guys seriously. Give me a link to an in-depth opinion (not just some wire report) with no connections to either school and I'd like to check it out.