Day 13 - Shorts and Shells
by John Berkowitz on Apr 22, 2009 7:49 PM PDT
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PrintIt wasn't the most noteworthy of practices today, as the team gets ready for the Saturday's annual spring game. No word yet on how the coaches plan to divide up the team, but I suspect we will see is little more than a glorified scrimmage.
With injuries mounting, the staff decided to go with shorts and shells today. According to reports, the QB's had another strong outing. It seems they are starting to get comfortable with the offense,m while the WR's continue to step by holding on to the ball.
Josh Gage, Vonzell McDowell, Chris Polk were in red today. E.J. Savannah, Donald Butler, Kurt Mangum, D'Andre Goodwin and Vince Taylor were not practicing today. Everrette Thompson and Skyler Fancher were still on crutches.
Alvin Logan is showing what he can do at safety so mark this down that the move is going to be a permanent one. He lit it up at practice today. He picked up the lone interception of the day at the one yard line.
Elliot Silvers, the Director of the Big "W" Club, says that around 200 former players have RSVP'ed for activities on Friday and Saturday. Among those slated to show up for special events are Corey Dillon, Olin Kreutz, Mark Bruener, Benji Olson, Damon Huard, Lawyer Milloy, Marques Tuiasosopo and Dave Hoffmann.
I want competition," he said. "The most important thing I have to develop are players that have a full understanding of what's going on and have position flexibility. We also have to create the competition, because we don't have a lot of numbers
Let me get this right - the Washington Huskies and Washington State Cougars are being offered as much as $10 million each for six years to move their rivalry game to Qwest Field? That’s an easy decision: Take the money and run. This whole thing has to be driven by the Cougs, who obviously have the most to gain by swapping their once-per-year non-conference game with a guaranteed sellout.
A bill to fund a KeyArena renovation (and lots of other King County projects) is dead, according to its chief sponsor, Sen. Ed Murray, D-Seattle.
The bill, substitute Senate Bill 6116, had been expected to come up today for a Senate vote. But when majority Democrats met in caucus, it became clear there wasn't enough support.
Murray told Olympia reporter Andrew Garber "It is dead... too much opposition in the Senate Democratic caucus."
Bob Condotta of the Seattle Times
"There is so much teaching that we have to get done and we are trying to play fast,'' he said. "But the intensity we play in, especially when we get in pads, it gets pretty intense and we have to sometimes limit our reps because it gets so physical. We can take the pads off and we can maximize our reps and really emphasize the speed and the running factor, which we are trying to become more of, we're trying to become a ffaster team, yet when our pads our on, guys want to click in that we are a physical team, as well.''
When asked after practice Wednesday to shed some light on the new look, Sarkisian displayed a lip-zipped grin, opting to keep the suspense until the actual revelation.
"They're not that drastic," said Sarkisian, noting the players would have likely worn them for the final scrimmage, but that Nike couldn't turn them around in time. "We're still purple and gold."
The rumor floating around practice was that the uniform will look almost identical to the one of the 1991 national-championship team.
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Either way it goes with the Apple Cup is a loss for UW
Go to Qwest and UW gets a little more money so they don’t have to lay-off people who have already failed at their jobs. The cost to UW being the destruction of the rivalry, game day experience, and the dangerous precend of playing games a Qwest.
Don’t go to Qwest and UW continues as the only Pac-10 school to continuously get hosed by the rivalry revenue sharing agreement.
Go to Qwest and UW gets a little more money so they don’t have to lay-off people who have already failed at their jobs.
Brutal but true for the most part. The athletic department still needs a lot of attitude pruning.
by John Berkowitz on Apr 22, 2009 8:15 PM PDT up reply actions
I'm not so vengeful that I take enjoyment out of the thought
but we wouldn’t have such pressing needs if they had run the AD properly
by discovolante on Apr 22, 2009 8:18 PM PDT up reply actions
And by run the AD properly, I mean not hanging football out to dry all these years
There were other problems as well, but that’s the crux of the matter.
by discovolante on Apr 22, 2009 8:21 PM PDT up reply actions
I remember talking to a guy when Lambo was the coach...
…he was livid about how Hedges had run the AD. He said she grew the dept and it’s expenses immensely. I think it was mainly adding staff where there hadn’t been any before.
Washington Husky Football-1991 National Champions
Call me a Cassandra
But together with the news above from Olympia, I think we’re on the slippery slope to the demise of Husky Stadium. You can’t expect a desire for moving the biggest game of the year to Qwest to coexist with support for an expensive upgrade at Montlake. State politics have never favored the football program, and you can assume that there will be little support from upper campus.
You’re up against a combination of greed and old grudges, and abdication of the Apple Cup takes away the argument against greed. First & Goal has set the bait, and will likely find the whole season relatively easy to reel in.
I dearly wish it were otherwise, and remain hopeful that someone with smarts and influence can still pull this out of the fire. Though as many of the pundits are saying, it may just be a new world that we have to get used to.
When?
Any word on when the annoucement of the uniform changes are coming? Rumor has it that the version of the 91 national championship campaign uniforms are being seriously looked at.
Let me tell you boyz something. Even though the helmet and the pants didn’t match correctly, I loved those uniforms. I want the shine back. Our purple pants currently look dirty and drab (no shine), but back in the day they were bright and eluminating. This earth tone gold we’ve had sucks! Whos lame idea was that? I think one reason they went with the earth tone gold is because it matches kaki (sp?).
All I saw was purple
Beige, they're beige Crazi...
…exactly! Who was the nut job that came up with that. Look around, Dempsey, the website, etc. that horrible beige is everywhere!
Washington Husky Football-1991 National Champions
No wonder we lost our toughness?
“We’ve went to a striking beige color that shows up well during TV broadcasts…how special!
Washington Husky Football-1991 National Champions
On the shiny pants
I think it was around Ricks second or third year they finally got the helmets and pants to match, then Barbara got with Nike and came up with the prairie tan and lavender look fotr all sports. Lambo didn’t have to worry about matching the gold pants with his purple helmet. This really reminds me of the Air Force, usually after we got a new Chief of Staff, within a year there would be a uniform change, often not for the better.
Yeah I didn't get that...
…they finally got it right in 2001 and somehow decided that everytime a new head coach comes in the unis have to change! Don’t mess with something that isn’t broken!
Washington Husky Football-1991 National Champions
More on Scroggins vs. Heaps
http://washington.scout.com/a.z?s=147&p=2&c=859014
While Scroggins claims not to have an early favorite, he admitted that Tennessee, Washington and LSU were definitely in his top three.
This could get really interesting.
Sorry
“While Scroggins claims not to have an early favorite, he admitted that Tennessee, Washington and LSU were definitely in his top three.” – this was a quote from the article.
Husky Stadium
Where do we go from here? Are we just going to try again next year and if that fails keep trying? That’s all a steer can do…TRY!
Washington Husky Football-1991 National Champions
Husky Stadium
We need our own Phil Knight to show up and save the day. But in this economic climate its highly unlikely.
There’s always next year…
by PhinneyDawg on Apr 23, 2009 10:22 AM PDT up reply actions
No demonization intended
Mr. Gates is an outstanding individual with a proud background. My comment was essentially a half jest comparison to Phil Knight.
While Mr. Gates is an extremely wealthy individual, he espouses philanthropy and progressive taxation of the “rich” (he even authored a book supporting preservation of the Estate Tax). He is co-chair of the largest charitable foundation in the world, and is said to have personally raised nearly $2 Billion (yes, Billion) for the UW endowment.
As a prominent UW Regent, Mr. Gates has also been cool toward the emphasis of football and “big-time” athletics at the UW. It is assumed that along with the majority of the Board, he supports the move of the Apple Cup to Qwest.
Now whether you agree with his politics or philosophies, I think that you’d have to agree that this guy is no Phil Knight. And if you’re hoping that as a wealthy patron he’ll ride in on his white charger and fund Husky Stadium, you’ll probably be waiting a long time.
There has been a flurry of message board talk the last few years accusing Gates of being “cool” on the UW’s football program. Evidence please?
I'm guessing that it started when
He was quoted in the P-I, October 19, 2007, as follows:
""I think we should go out and sell the stadium," Regent William Gates said, much to the chagrin of former Gov. Dan Evans, who is heading a 14-member stadium renovation committee."
Without digging more for verifiable quotes, I suspect that there’s also a feeling that the Regents have not used their influence in Olympia (on behalf of the stadium) as much as possible. And because Mr. Gates is one of the longest serving members, and much of the deterioration has occurred under his influence…
On the other hand, Mr. Gates donated $25K each from his own personal funds and his charitable foundation for athletic facilities upgrades in 2000. And what was he really thinking when the above quote appeared?
Amidst the agitation of the the Husky faithful, I suspect that Mr. Gates’ analysis is more complex than reported, and think that you’re probably correct in that he has been excessively vilified. And now as I write this, it’s being reported that WSU and the UW have pulled out of the Qwest deal, which changes the calculus of this matter again.
But one parting shot: William H. Gates, Sr. still ain’t Phil Knight—and as a proud Husky, I’ll take our guy.
From a purely financial perspective, it would make the most sense to sell the land Husky Stadium is on and build a brand new facility further up Montlake Ave – I suspect the UW would come out way ahead financially if that were the case. Art Thiel suggested this a while back and he was vilified for it, but I can see his point. And maybe that’s what Gates meant by his comment.
You raise an interesting and
Unpopular point. It’s hard to argue that a stadium couldn’t be better sited than the current one, except for one thing—that damned view. Nobody wants to surrender what is considered a UW trademark and major selling point for the entire city/State. The UW’s analysis at the time also said that new construction would be more popular than renovation of existing.
So I don’t think that you’ll get very far with this in today’s climate. However, it’s still an intriguing point, with lots of if-then possibilities. If the present efforts fall apart, I’d urge you to renew this topic at the appropriate time.
How do we expect...
next year to be any different? What is going to change?
Washington Husky Football-1991 National Champions
Next year is what it’s going to have to be. Doesn’t help any in trying to get a head-start on the light rail tunnel digging, but whatever.
Problem is:
We’ve been warned that once the Light Rail construction is started, a logistical window will close on any opportunity for major stadium renovation, until complete. The final stadium design will also then be subject to any unanticipated features of the Light Rail construction. And, the engineering/construction costs will be significantly higher due to factors imposed by (a then existing) Light Rail.
The opportunity is NOW for Husky Stadium...
…we’ve got stimulus money for OTHER projects and I just don’t see anything changing next year. In fact I see less of a reason to do it. I say we get this thing started. Start with the lower bowl. Maybe you have to do it in phases and if that’s the case then so be it.
Washington Husky Football-1991 National Champions
NOW is waiting for light rail?
Anything waiting for the completion of light rail will suffer a slow death (an approved form of government torture). I was neutral on the logic of the stadium upgrade, but UW and WSU fans convinced me how important it was NOT to play at Qwest. Turns out the coaches and players are interested in it.
Frankly, when I go to practice, I see a super location and a bunch of old boards falling apart, along with unpassable isles. The UW admin blew it 10 years ago, and now they are waiting for a train that will go into multiple cost overruns and delays. Husky stadium will soon be as bad off as the “Ave”. Sad.
The reality is...
…we may have to do it ourselves. It’ll take longer but at some point you say, let’s get started. I don’t want to be in the position to put a lot of time into this thing for another year only to keep being told “NO”.
Washington Husky Football-1991 National Champions
The Truth be Told
The main reason why Husky Stadium is not getting funded is due to the lack of success on the field. If this program is competitive then surely more support for rennovation would be there.
This thing is going to get done, it’s just a matter of needling thru all the politics. A Seattle icon like Husky Stadium is not going to be allowed to rot away. What we’ve got to do is put the program back on the map so that the stadium is “sold out” every home weekend. Get this place rockin’ again and no one will be able to turn down a rennovation project. To the folks who are on the fence in regards to the Huskies and Cougs, I’m quite sure they are thinking why put money into something that is not competitive. If Sark and Holt can turn this thing around and become the dominant program it once was, then I believe the folks sitting on the fence will be more persuaded to sign the bill. When that day happens we can erect a sign that says “THE HOUSE THAT SARK BUILT”. Until then we need to concentrate on rebuilding the program…
All I saw was purple
Hec Ed was renovated...
…why ? because it was sorely needed. I could argue that Husky Stadium had and still has greater needs. The lower bowl has been exposed to the elements for what ? almost 90 years. It is in “dire” need of a complete replacement. I’m not so sure the basketball program was very competitive at the time and it was still renovated. Everyone knew that it was overdue and they finally got it done. I guess what I’m saying is that I disagree that we “wait” until we are competing for conference championships again. The need is dire and it needs to be done regardless.
Washington Husky Football-1991 National Champions
Hec Ed was an aging dinosaur
When folks put plans together in terms of large construction projects, they look at cost comparison first. They look at what it would cost to rennovate the existing structure (building) and compare it to what it would cost to build a brand new facility. In regards to Hec Ed, I’m almost certain that this form of study was used to determine how to solve the indoor athletics facilities that Hec Ed provided.
What we got was a complete make-over of the building. I don’t think any structural or foundational work was done to the building. Major cosemetic stuff. Yet Husky Stadium (like you said) is in need for structural and foundational improvements, along with the cosemetic stuff.
I don’t want to wait any longer then you on this thing dawgfan, but it sounds like we are forced to “be patient” like Chris Gregiore indicated. One thing that would be a definite response-getter for the legislatures is “if” and “when” someone get’s hurt at Husky Stadium, because the stadium in not in compliance with today’s version of safety standards. That would get the legislature attention in a heart beat. It has major law suit written all over it and for the state legislatures to sit on their hands with this is just plane BAD! This is a state-owned facility. And if an accident were to occur then surely the state would be liable. If something is not done, it’s going to happen.
All I saw was purple
Enjoy the Game Today and I better have a lot of reports when you get home!
Have fun and thanks in advance.
William Gates Sr.
I saw a few negative comments about William Gates Sr and thought they were way off the mark. Mr Gates and his late wife are two of the very best friends the University of Washington has ever had.
William Gates Sr is not the problem and will never be the problem
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