That Flushing Sound

Well, I've climbed down off the ledge I've been on since Saturday at around 6:30. That was the approximate time when the Husky Nation felt like they were in the curbing scene in American History X. Our fearless leader, Isaiah Stanback, trying desperately to lead the Huskies out of a deficit to Oregon State, suffered an injury caused by a French mustard apparently. The "Lisfranc sprain" suffered by Predator requires surgery and he will miss the remaining games this season. His career at Washington is over.

For Stanback, it has been a career without a clear legacy. Stanback saw his first major action at wide receiver, where his jaw-dropping quickness left Husky fans in awe. He played with Reggie Williams and Charles Frederick, and was the star of the last recruiting class brought in by Neuweasel. His desire to play quarterback, coupled with visions of Michael Vick dancing in the coaches' heads, brought him back to the position he was originally recruited for. His incredible physical talent has been equally marveled at as his Fox News-esque accuracy in the pocket. This year, however, Stanback seemed to have found a comfort zone and shown flashes of brilliance. He has lead this year's team out of the doldrums and to a 4-2 record at the midway point of the season, causing the Husky Nation to foam purple and demand 7-8 wins. However, his injury, and the candidates to take over, have given the Nation purpleballs.

The Huskies are just two wins away from bowl eligibility and that goal, which has gone from unthinkable to certain to in doubt all in the span of two months, is the real dilemma that the coaching staff must face. 8 wins is gone and now, the hopes for 6 has dimmed, but still alive. But is that good enough, after rising so quickly, so fast? Because here's the question at the soul of the whole argument and larger, the Husky faithful;

Do the Huskies continue to rebuild the program or play for this season?

The two different schools of thought have two different answers under center.

First, Carl Bonnell is the current backup and heir to the job. He's a junior, who transferred from Wazzu after originally choosing the Cougs out of high school. Handing him the keys to the job is almost as vomit inducing as handing them to a Duck transfer. (Oh, have you met Johnny Durocher? He's the third string quarterback and his play in the one game he appeared in last year smelled worse than Eugene.) However, Bonnell has two years experience and according to coaches, legitimately pushed Stanback for the starting job in the preseason, though I liken this probability to the "She's got a great personality" realm. Bonnell looked uncertain and lost when he came into the game last week. However, he showed some impressive flashes two years ago during stretches of play, but lost all of last year to injury. Now, he's already been named the starter for this week's game, but the speculation has reached a fever pitch about The Savior.

Second, the lobbying has already begun to take the redshirt off freshman Jake Locker. With the expectations he's already been saddled with, Locker's initials might as well be J.C. As a true freshman, Locker has seen as much game time in college as I have. He plays quarterback on the scout team, which is to say he does his best impression of the coming opponent's quarterback to prepare the Husky defense as well as possible for the opponent's gameplan. He's spent more time pretending not to be a Husky quarterback than preparing to lead his own team. Locker's also going to be the favorite next season to start as a redshirt freshman and play (hopefully) four years at the position. Four years, if they don't play him this year.

So, do you go with the guy with the experience to try and get the two wins to piece together a bowl game? Or instead, do you go with the future star now and hope his talent overcomes his inexperience?

Bonnell will probably be serviceable, and be able to piece together a win over Stanford and one over either Wazzu or Arizona State. Locker could show his inexperience and lose every single game from here on out, or he could show the genius we're all hoping for and win 2+.

We're on the business end of a Fear Factor choice; Cow Eyes vs. Horse Penis for a million dollars. At this point, we should stick with Bonnell and go for two wins with what is by far the better known quantity. Eating a year of Locker's eligibility would raise far more questions than answers and could harm his confidence and future success, should things go south. There is way more to lose if Locker plays this year than there is to gain.

If the Nation is serious about getting to a bowl game being success, then let's do it with Bonnell and get a second victory on top; Jake Locker's 4th year of play.