The last time Rick Neuheisel coached at Husky Stadium, he left a winner, leading Washington to a 41-29 win over Oregon State.

That was Nov. 9, 2002, and the Huskies have won on their home field only a dozen times since then: six in two seasons under Keith Gilbertson and six in four seasons under Tyrone Willingham.

At 7:15 tonight, two eras of UW football collide as Neuheisel returns for the first time as coach of the UCLA Bruins, and Willingham coaches his final home game as a Husky.

That coincidence has been the primary story line in the days leading up to tonight’s nationally televised game, and both coaches have taken the high road.

Willingham: “I don’t think it’s that big a deal. My situation is done. Everyone knows what is going on with me. So, that’s pretty much old news, today’s fish wrap. He’ll come in and he’ll be directing his team. He has proven with his record he’s an excellent coach.”

Neuheisel: “I have great respect for Coach Willingham. I know how hard he works. My first year in the Pac-10, he was the Pac-10 Coach of the Year and had the conference champions in Stanford. So, I know there isn’t any lack of effort, and I know that they are going to play their tails off this weekend. And so will our team. And even though the records don’t indicate it, it should be a whale of a college football game.”

Before that game can begin, Neuheisel must make his way from the visiting locker room to the visiting sideline. And despite guiding UW to its last Rose Bowl, he doesn’t not expect a hero’s welcome.

“If my family comes, there will be some people clapping when I come in,” he said. “It will be what it will be. There will be some people that will be angry and look at me as the guy that caused some of the problems that exist; and there will be some people that will want to be excited about my being on the field. But the fact of the matter is that hopefully they are coming to watch a bunch of good, young kids play hard.”

Neuheisel’s first UCLA team is 3-6 overall and 2-4 in the Pacific-10 Conference. The Bruins come in with a two-game losing streak.

Willingham’s fourth and final UW team is 0-9 and 0-6. The Huskies come in with a school-record 11-game losing streak, longest in the nation.

That sets up a game in which weakness-vs.-weakness may determine the outcome: Washington scores 15 points per game, UCLA allows 31; UCLA scores 19 points per game, UW allows 41. UCLA rushes for a Pac-10-low 78 yards per game, UW allows 236.

“One of the things that we’ve not done as well as we’d like to do is stop the run game, and that’s an area that they haven’t been productive in this year,” Willingham said. “But then when you look at (UCLA tailback Kahlil Bell), and knowing the history of that back, you know he can run the football and you get very concerned because you know they have athletes at the position that are fine athletes. So I get concerned more than anything else than looking at anything that they haven’t done.”

Washington hasn’t won since Nov. 17, 2007. The Huskies hope to avoid a full year of losses for all the obvious reasons, but also to send this senior class out of its home stadium with a good memory to help ease the disappointments.

Nineteen Huskies playing their final home game will be introduced for the final time.

“Of course, the season has not gone how all the seniors thought it might go,” said linebacker Trenton Tuiasosopo, whose family connections link directly to the Huskies’ glory days. “... I thought I was going to come here, do some damage. Try to make some noise my freshman year. Sophomore year, trying to get on the roster, travel squad. My junior year, maybe go to a bowl game. Senior year, clean things up and be looking good as a team of old.”

Don Ruiz: 253-597-8808

blogs.thenewstribune.com/uwsports

HUSKIES GAMEDAY

UCLA (3-6 OVERALL, 2-4 PAC-10) AT WASHINGTON (0-9, 0-6)

Kickoff: 7:15 p.m., Husky Stadium

Television: FSN. Radio: 950-AM.

The series: UCLA leads, 36-29-2. The Bruins have won six of the past seven meetings, including a 44-31 victory last season at the Rose Bowl.

What to watch: The return of former UW coach Rick Neuheisel has dominated the game-week conversation. On the field, both teams sense a chance at a rare victory. In some cases, the team’s problem areas pair interestingly; such as with UCLA’s running game, which ranks last in the Pac-10, going against UW’s run defense, which ranks ninth. This is Senior Day, and 19 Huskies playing their final home game will be introduced. This game also marks the final home appearance for UW coach Tyrone Willingham.

What’s at stake: Washington is still looking to shake its status as the only winless team in the NCAA Football Bowl Subdivision and end its 11-game losing streak, which is a school record and the longest in the nation. The Huskies’ last win came on Nov. 17, 2007 against Cal, so UW needs a victory today to avoid a full winless year. A Bruins’ loss assures a losing record and eliminates them from bowl eligibility.

TNT pick: UCLA, 27-24. Both teams have plenty of weaknesses, but the Bruins have been able to overcome theirs three times, while these Huskies never have.

Prime numbers

UCLA

3 Kevin Craft, QB, 6-4/195, Jr.

Replaced Ben Olson (foot) in camp; but Olson might be available.

4 Terrence Austin, FL/KR, 5-11/161, Jr.

Leads Pac-10 and is seventh nationally in all-purpose yards.

25 Kai Forbath, K, 6-0/196, So.

Sixth on school’s career field goal list, and has made eight in a row.

36 Kahlil Bell, TB, 6-0/219, Sr.

Team rushing and TDs leader despite missing time with ankle injury.

51 Reggie Carter, LB, 6-1/220, Jr.

Leads team and fourth in Pac-10 with 7.4 tackles a game.

WASHINGTON

13 Ryan Perkins, PK, 5-10/205, Jr.

Final home game; skipping senior season due to knee problems.

32 Luke Kravitz, FB, 6-0/228, Sr.

Grew up as a Husky fan, gets final home introduction tonight.

37 Johnie Kirton, DT, 6-3/296, Sr.

Started as TB, moved to TE, and ends home career as a DT.

57 Trenton Tuiasosopo, LB, 6-2/243, Sr.

Final home game for latest in line of UW Tuiasosopos.

58 Juan Garcia, C, 6-3/305, Sr.

Fought back from leg, ankle and foot injuries for sixth and final season with Huskies.

Don Ruiz, The News Tribune