The Trouble With Hope
The hamlet of Seattle known as Montlake has been in funk the last couple years. OK, that's like calling Carrot Top mildly annoying. It's been a disaster. At the University of Washington, basketball has taken over as the iconic sport with its epic surge to the national spotlight, something unthinkable only 4 years ago. The combined total of 3 wins in two years, a coaching change, and constant state of chaos has relegated the program to near obscurity. And it brought its most dedicated fans to the point of going Waco.
And then, without so much as a Willingham whisper, the program did a 180. Unexpected victories have lifted the program out of its sullied routine and placed the Huskies at the top of the Pac-10 at 4-1, far ahead of the last place finish that was universally prognosticated. Isaiah Stanback has turned into two-way weapon and is leading the offense with his arm and legs. The perceived lack of playmakers is but a distant memory with the emergence of Sonny Shackelford and Anthony Russo. The defense has grown a pair and has become one of the toughest in the conference. Linebacker Scott White went from leaving the team to Pac-10 player of the week. It's like Erika Christensen going from Swimfan to Traffic.
This team looks like a team with a future. Like a team with heart. Like a team that can shock the world.
Unfortunately, that's what sudden, unexpected success can do to fans. The purple Kool-Aid is being served and the Husky Nation is drunk with expectations. I'm not sure what to say, because I mean, I'm a diehard. I want this so bad. A win over USC Saturday would push the Huskies achingly close to their rightful place in college football's hierarchy. However, the truth is that USC is damn near an NFL team, and the Huskies are a team playing with diminished talent and depth. Right now, they're the ugly girl that made Homecoming Court because the cheerleaders got busted at a kegger. The whole conference is bad this year and they played two cake non-conference opponents. Plus, they have yet to put together a full game. Arizona was one quarter, Oklahoma and UCLA were one half. For a victory over USC, Peter Griffin and Homer Simpson would have to hold hands at an AA meeting.
On paper, this game is a nightmare. Worse, the Husky Nation has lost its mind. We are two wins from bowl eligibility and a light year from USC. Call me a Negadawg, but this team is playing on borrowed time and when (not if) they get 6 wins, it will be a massive accomplishment. At the rate we started, the fans have gotten in over their heads and when the Dawgs come back to Earth, I'm worried that the blood lust will be at Predator-like levels. And so, here's our only chance of winning, speaking of Predator...
1. Stanback needs to play smart and calm. I can't stress this enough, UW cannot turn the ball over. USC is like Iceman. That's how he flies, ice cold. No mistakes. He waits for you to get bored, frustrated, then boom. He's got you. The USC defense is going to throw everything at him and he's gotta take it all with his head about him.
2. The defense needs to take some chances. Smart chances. A first down all-out blitz. C.J. Wallace going for a pick over the middle, instead of the tackle. Block a punt. They need to put USC's offense on its heels, throw them off their gameplan, show them something they weren't expecting.
3. UW's offensive line needs to show that they're as good as they looked against the previous opponents. All five linemen have played every snap this season and they've played like a real Husky line. USC's front seven move faster than a Prison Break promo. Give Isaiah a breath.
4. Most important and again, as Stanback goes, so goes UW. He has not been sharp throwing the ball this season, save for a few quarters. He still seems to be unable to control his right arm, sending passes too high or leading receivers too far. He'll need to be crisp, accurate, and smart. He's made amazing progress this season and this will be the yardstick. No matter what the coaches say, the game's on his shoulders. Period.
The purple visor will stay in the vault this Saturday. My bookie's calls will go unanswered. But I'll plant a Mark Foley sized one on Isaiah if he plays his best game.
And then, without so much as a Willingham whisper, the program did a 180. Unexpected victories have lifted the program out of its sullied routine and placed the Huskies at the top of the Pac-10 at 4-1, far ahead of the last place finish that was universally prognosticated. Isaiah Stanback has turned into two-way weapon and is leading the offense with his arm and legs. The perceived lack of playmakers is but a distant memory with the emergence of Sonny Shackelford and Anthony Russo. The defense has grown a pair and has become one of the toughest in the conference. Linebacker Scott White went from leaving the team to Pac-10 player of the week. It's like Erika Christensen going from Swimfan to Traffic.
This team looks like a team with a future. Like a team with heart. Like a team that can shock the world.
Unfortunately, that's what sudden, unexpected success can do to fans. The purple Kool-Aid is being served and the Husky Nation is drunk with expectations. I'm not sure what to say, because I mean, I'm a diehard. I want this so bad. A win over USC Saturday would push the Huskies achingly close to their rightful place in college football's hierarchy. However, the truth is that USC is damn near an NFL team, and the Huskies are a team playing with diminished talent and depth. Right now, they're the ugly girl that made Homecoming Court because the cheerleaders got busted at a kegger. The whole conference is bad this year and they played two cake non-conference opponents. Plus, they have yet to put together a full game. Arizona was one quarter, Oklahoma and UCLA were one half. For a victory over USC, Peter Griffin and Homer Simpson would have to hold hands at an AA meeting.
On paper, this game is a nightmare. Worse, the Husky Nation has lost its mind. We are two wins from bowl eligibility and a light year from USC. Call me a Negadawg, but this team is playing on borrowed time and when (not if) they get 6 wins, it will be a massive accomplishment. At the rate we started, the fans have gotten in over their heads and when the Dawgs come back to Earth, I'm worried that the blood lust will be at Predator-like levels. And so, here's our only chance of winning, speaking of Predator...
1. Stanback needs to play smart and calm. I can't stress this enough, UW cannot turn the ball over. USC is like Iceman. That's how he flies, ice cold. No mistakes. He waits for you to get bored, frustrated, then boom. He's got you. The USC defense is going to throw everything at him and he's gotta take it all with his head about him.
2. The defense needs to take some chances. Smart chances. A first down all-out blitz. C.J. Wallace going for a pick over the middle, instead of the tackle. Block a punt. They need to put USC's offense on its heels, throw them off their gameplan, show them something they weren't expecting.
3. UW's offensive line needs to show that they're as good as they looked against the previous opponents. All five linemen have played every snap this season and they've played like a real Husky line. USC's front seven move faster than a Prison Break promo. Give Isaiah a breath.
4. Most important and again, as Stanback goes, so goes UW. He has not been sharp throwing the ball this season, save for a few quarters. He still seems to be unable to control his right arm, sending passes too high or leading receivers too far. He'll need to be crisp, accurate, and smart. He's made amazing progress this season and this will be the yardstick. No matter what the coaches say, the game's on his shoulders. Period.
The purple visor will stay in the vault this Saturday. My bookie's calls will go unanswered. But I'll plant a Mark Foley sized one on Isaiah if he plays his best game.
posted by Justin Graden at 9:39 PM
3 Comments:
UW will win
1. What was so bad about Swimfan?
2. If UW were Mark Foley, then call me Dennis Hastert. Put that in your pipe and smoke it!
Swimfan was actually a cornerstone of the swim team stalker genre. It's inspired such films as... (thinking).... (thinking).... 40 Year Old Virgin.
So... you're gonna watch while I kiss Isaiah Stanback. Umm...
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