Kevin Garrett, projected to be Oregon's starting weakside linebacker, will definitely miss at least the Washington game after being suspended for a recent DUI arrest, Ducks coach Mike Bellotti said today.

That news is included in this blog post from Rob Moseley of the Eugene Register-Guard, recapping a conference call Bellotti held with reporters today.

Garrett made 21 tackles last season and won the starting job in the spring. His backup is listed as sophomore Spencer Paysinger, who made four tackles last season.

Official confirmation came today of what we reported here a couple of times recently was likely to happen --- incoming QB recruit Dominique Blackman will not be able to enroll until January.

Blackman said today he was denied admission to UW after he had tried to retake two classes on-line to raise his GPA high enough to combine with his test score to make him eligible.

Blackman said he was told that since he wasn't able to finish those classes in time to enroll and complete UW's summer bridge program that he would not be allowed to enroll until January.

"It's good and bad,'' he said. "The bad is I'm not able to come up there now and compete. The good is that my clock doesn't start until January so that gives me a chance to get an extra spring ball under my belt. That could really help me out in the future.''

Blackman's situation is essentially the same as that of receivers Anthony Boyles and Devin Aguilar a year ago. Both were denied admission in the fall but enrolled in January and participated in spring ball, and now enter the 2008 season with five years to play four.

While Blackman said he hoped to compete for playing time this season, reality is he was almost certain to redshirt unless injuries hit the position as UW has Jake Locker entrenched as the starter and redshirt freshman Ronnie Fouch, who has gone through two spring balls, as the backup.

UW also has Luther Leonard of Evergreen High coming in this fall to add depth.

Blackman is one of three members of the Class of 2008 who may have to delay their enrollment, and won't be available when practice begins Monday. Also still attempting to complete academic requirements are RB Demitrius Bronson and DT Craig Noble. Neither is expected to be present when practices begin and both may have to delay enrollment until January, something UW coach Tyrone Willingham told the Times last week at Pac-10 media day.

Blackman said he hopes to come to Seattle this fall so he can be close to the program, possibly living with linebacker Kurt Mangum. If not, he said he will stay home and get a job.

"I tried to hustle to finish my classes,'' he said. "But things didn't go as planned. But I guarantee you when I get up there that I'll make some plays.''

The I'd-really-better-mow-my-lawn-at-some-point-today edition:

--- The pre-season USA Today Coaches poll is out and while seven Pac-10 teams received at least one vote, the Huskies were shut out (also not getting any votes were Stanford and Washington State). Once again, Tyrone Willingham is a member of the panel as is Rick Neuheisel, neither of whom obviously voted for the Huskies. Five UW opponents are rankned --- USC (2), Oklahoma (4), Arizona State (16), BYU (17) and Oregon (20). Another five at least got one vote --- all but WSU and Stanford.

--- The Arizona Republic has a season preview of Washington today with the headline "Turmoil hangs over Washington proram.'' I'm not sure that's quite accurate. I'd say it's uncertainty, and not turmoil, which hangs over the UW program, which to me are different things. I'd also disagree that the UCLA game is the most important of the season. I think the first three will tell so much about where the season that they have to be considered more pivotal. An awful lot figures to already be known by the time UCLA comes to town.

--- This Oakland Raiders update features the news that Marques Tuiasosopo hit Marcel Reece on a touchdown pass in practice the other day.

--- Speaking of ex-Husky QBs, Isaiah Stanback is apparently playing a lot better since his talk with Michael Irvin the other day.

--- Kind of a funny anecdote about Greyson Gunheim not being where he was supposed to be in this story on Raiders training camp.

--- Irish Eyes ranks all of Notre Dame's opponents in terms of their strength at running back and receiver and puts UW 11th in each, which is to be expected.

All for now as the lawn awaits, taunting me with its growth (though maybe I'll again get bailed out by the rain).