From winless to rankings: UW is back in the hunt

December 6, 2008 concluded the University of Washington’s worst football season ever. The Huskies finished winless and became the first Pac-10 team to ever go 0-12. Then head coach Tyrone Willingham was fired and the search for a new leader began.

Enter Steve Sarkisian.

Sarkisian, a former USC assistant and offensive coordinator, was hired as the Washington Huskies head football coach to help infuse an energetic, youthful and winning attitude back into a once proud football program. He worked at getting the team behind him and his plan for returning them to glory. He worked at getting the community behind him and not giving up on the team. He opened practices for everyone to see and proved things were going to be different. In short, Steve Sarkisian wrangled in the hope before it was completely lost on everyone. The hope that the UW football program, former National Champions, can once again become winners.

The Huskies can never be accused of taking the easy way out by playing a soft schedule having never played a Football Championship Subdivision (formerly Division I-AA) since 1978. Even after their worst season ever that holds true. To start the 2009 season the Huskies opened with a home game against then No. 11 ranked LSU. Very few gave the Huskies a chance of winning, or competing, against the Tigers from Baton Rouge. But they did compete. And they gave LSU a legitimate scare although the Huskies lost 31-23.

Next came the Idaho Vandals. A team UW beat 42-23.

For their third straight home game of the 2009 season the Huskies were dueling Sarkisian’s former team, USC. The Trojans came in ranked No. 3. and, although beat up and missing several starters due to injury, they surely would beat the Huskies with ease.

“Not so fast my friend!”

The two teams slugged it out keeping the score close all day. USC didn’t play well, but that doesn’t diminish the fact that Jake Locker and the Huskies kept up stride for stride and executed when needed. In fact, Locker led his team on a 68 yard drive that ended on a Erik Folk 22-yard field goal giving them the lead only 3 seconds remaining. There was nothing left USC could do, but go down in defeat to Washington 16-13.

“It’s unbelievable,” Sarkisian said. “It’s a great moment for our program and hopefully sends a message of where we’re headed.”

And where are they headed? Of course, that remains to be seen. But, they’re certainly on the right track toward getting back to prominence. I do believe they’ve a lot of work to do, yet. But for now, the Washington Huskies have gone from winless to rankings in only three short games of the season. After beating the USC Trojans and earning a 2-1 record thus far, they have earned themselves a No. 24 ranking.

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