He doesn’t quite have author Robert Ludlum on speed dial – not yet, anyway – but even Washington Huskies football coach Steve Sarkisian knows 2009 already has had enough bizarre late-game suspense to last for years to come.
It’s also valuable experience the UW’s first-year coach knows should come in handy later in his career.
“Our kids believe that games are never over,” Sarkisian said Monday, two days after the Huskies lost 24-17 in the final seconds at Arizona State. “Our kids believe no matter who we’re going to play, we’re going to play with them as long as we prepare really well, practice really well and do all the things it takes to get ready for a ballgame.”
Five of UW’s seven games have been decided by eight points or fewer.
The last time that happened was 2001, in coach Rick Neuheis-el’s third season, when he directed the team to the Holiday Bowl.
And except for a 34-14 loss at Stanford, four of the Huskies’ past five games have gone down to the final minute.
“We’ve played a lot of close games,” UW linebacker Mason Foster said. “It’s just missed opportunities.”
It’s also a measuring stick of how far the Huskies have come one half-season removed from an 0-12 campaign in 2008.
Consider:
• The UW dropped a 48-14 decision to Arizona a year ago. The Huskies won this year’s matchup, 36-33, on a late interception that bounced off a player’s foot.
• Who could forget Southern California’s 56-0 pasting in 2008? The UW didn’t, and returned the favor with a 16-13 upset in September.
• Notre Dame ran away and hid in the first quarter in last year’s 33-7 victory in Seattle. The Huskies lost in overtime, 37-30, earlier this month.
• And last week’s opponent, ASU? The Sun Devils won, 39-19, in 2008.
Remember this is all coming in Sarkisian’s first season.
In Jim Owens’ first year, 1957, his Huskies were in three close games by midseason. Don James had two in 1975 – a 14-13 win over Navy and a 24-21 loss to Stanford.
During his weekly press conference Monday, Sarkisian was asked if the recent close games – both wins and defeats – had taken their toll emotionally on the squad.
“I think the natural (feeling) would be, ‘Man, our team is discouraged because we lost such a tight ballgame last week,’” Sarkisian said. “In just talking to our kids to get a feel where they’re at, they’ve taken it as a positive – ‘Coach, we fought back, we had a chance to win a game. We didn’t win it, but, man, we’re getting better.’”
This Saturday, the Huskies get Oregon – the conference’s most-prolific scoring team over the past two-plus seasons.
“In seven weeks, our kids have been through more this year than they’re going to be in again the rest of their career, or in the NFL or anywhere else,” Sarkisian said. “The stuff these guys have experienced ... you can’t write a book better than this.”
Extra points
Defensive tackle Cameron Elisara (neck stinger) wore a protective red jersey and did not practice Monday. Everrette Thompson received most of the snaps in his place. ... Approximately 8,000 tickets remain for Saturday’s Oregon game after about 500 were returned by the Ducks. ... South Kitsap High product Benji Olson, an offensive lineman, will be honored as the “Husky Legend” this week. ... The team practiced outdoors on the home turf for an hour.
Todd Milles: 253-597-8442
todd.milles@thenewstribune.com
